Active clinical trials for "Toxoplasmosis"

To collect information on the effectiveness and toxicity of clindamycin plus pyrimethamine and leucovorin calcium for the treatment of acute toxoplasmic encephalitis in adult patients with AIDS. Toxoplasmic encephalitis (encephalitis caused by Toxoplasma gondii) is the most frequent cause of focal central nervous system infection in patients with AIDS. If untreated, the encephalitis is fatal. At present, it is standard practice to give a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine to treat toxoplasmic encephalitis. The high frequency of sulfonamide-induced toxicity in AIDS patients often makes completion of a full course of therapy difficult. There is some information that high doses of parenteral (such as by injection) clindamycin used with pyrimethamine may be as effective as pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine in the management of the acute phase of toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with AIDS. Administration of parenteral clindamycin for prolonged periods of time, however, is costly, requires hospitalization, and is inconvenient for the patient. There is some indication that treatment of AIDS patients with acute toxoplasmic encephalitis with oral clindamycin may be effective. Leucovorin calcium is useful in preventing pyrimethamine-associated bone marrow toxicity.

The investigators propose a fast and inexpensive procedure to determine the prevalence of the Toxoplasmosis infection (Toxoplasma Gondii) in the general population, using response times in a cognitive task instead of costly medical tests. Therefore, the investigators aim to measure the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis and its socio-economic consequences in the general population.

Background : When a mother contracts toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, the parasite may be transmitted from to her unborn child. This results in congenital toxoplasmosis, which may cause damage to the eyes and nervous system of the child. To date, no method has been proved effective to prevent this transmission. In France, spiramycin is usually prescribed to women who have toxoplasma seroconversion in pregnancy, however its efficacy has not been determined. The standard treatment for toxoplasmosis is the combination of the antiparasitic drugs pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, but this strategy has not been evaluated for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Purpose : Randomized phase 3 trial to determine whether pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine is more effective than spiramycin to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis.

Pyrimethamine in combination with a sulphonamide is known to be effective in the treatment of toxoplasmosis. However, Pyrimethamine has not been approved by the Japanese regulatory body (Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency [PMDA]/ Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare [MHLW]). The pharmacokinetics (PK) of Pyrimethamine has been investigated following administration of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine tablet in healthy Japanese subjects. However, the study did not provide sufficient information for approval of Pyrimethamine in Japan; hence, PMDA has requested confirmation of the PK of Pyrimethamine in another PK study in Japanese and Caucasian healthy subjects. This study will be a single centre, open-label, parallel-group, single oral dose study to evaluate the PK, safety and tolerability of Pyrimethamine in healthy Japanese and Caucasian male subjects. Subjects will undergo a screening visit within 30 days prior to first dose of the study drug. On Day 1, subjects will be administered a single oral dose of pyrimethamine 50 milligrams (mg) along with calcium folinate 15 mg after an overnight fast of at least 10 hours. Subjects will continue to receive calcium folinate once daily until Day 8 of the treatment period. Blood sampling for PK analysis and safety assessments will be performed prior to dosing and over 22 days after dosing. Each subject will participate in the study for approximately 2 months from screening to follow-up.

To evaluate the safety and tolerance of atovaquone (566C80) in AIDS patients with central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis. To evaluate the efficacy of 566C80 in the acute treatment and suppression of CNS toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients who fail or who cannot tolerate conventional therapy.

This is an exploratory study in Egypt that will combine a treatment trial among early course schizophrenia (ECSZ) patients with key analyses suggested by rodent studies. Specifically, the study will test the provocative results from animal studies indicating an impact of Toxoplasma Gondii (TOX) exposure on novelty seeking. The study will also test whether exposure to TOX is associated with other cognitive and behavioral changes, as well as changes in overall social function. We will also explore the relative efficacy of Sodium Valproate (Depakote, DEP) in improving clinical and overall social function among TOX exposed and unexposed patients. Hypotheses At baseline, TOX exposure is associated with increased novelty seeking, clinical severity, and impaired cognitive and overall social function in patients with SZ. Adjunctive DEP treatment improves clinical symptoms, cognitive and social function in SZ, particularly among TOX exposed SZ patients. Exploratory hypothesis: adjunctive DEP reduces serological indices of TOX infection (VIP and TH levels).

To compare pyrimethamine and intravenous (IV) clindamycin vs. pyrimethamine and sulfonamides in the treatment of AIDS patients with central nervous system (CNS) Toxoplasma gondii.

To determine the manner in which pyrimethamine is metabolized and excreted in patients currently receiving zidovudine (AZT). An important goal of this measurement is to establish the optimal dose of pyrimethamine necessary to prevent the development of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients or delay the subsequent return of toxoplasmic encephalitis. Encephalitis caused by Toxoplasma gondii has emerged as the most frequent cause of focal central nervous system infection in patients with AIDS. Untreated, the encephalitis is fatal. The best treatment for this disease has not been determined. Presently it is standard practice to administer a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of pyrimethamine in patients with AIDS receiving AZT. Furthermore, there are reports that patients already exposed to toxoplasmosis may not have uniform absorption of pyrimethamine.

The investigators study aims to determine the effect of prophylactic therapy with Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on the recurrences of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis gondii. This is a randomized, double-masked, in patients with eye condition of acute Toxoplasma gondii retinochoroiditis. Volunteers will be recruited with a previous diagnosis of chorioretinitis presumed Toxoplasma gondii, which show active lesions compatible with recurrence. After the acute phase of treatment of all patients [1 tablet Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (800/160mg) 12/12h during 45 days], the same Stratified by gender) will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio between the group 1 - TMP-SMZ (prophylactic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 1 tablet every other day for 311 days) or group 2 - placebo (consisting of a placebo pill containing no active ingredient of similar appearance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 1 tablet every other day for 311 days). The primary outcomes are incidence of episodes of recurrent chorioretinitis by toxoplasmosis in the follow up of 12, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, and 120 months. Patients will be followed during the ten years in uveitis clinic at intervals defined as follows: return weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly for 2 months, then each 3 months for 9 months, and finally annually for 10 years.

To evaluate the effectiveness of pyrimethamine (given with leucovorin calcium versus placebo (an inactive substance) for the primary prophylaxis (prevention) of cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients. Cerebral toxoplasmosis is one of the most frequently encountered opportunistic infections in the course of AIDS. The mortality (death) rate is estimated to be greater than 50 percent. Pyrimethamine is a drug that appears promising for the primary prevention of cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients.