Primaquine in African Children: PAC study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11594437 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11594437 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | BAKMAL1606, 106698/Z/14/Z |
- Submission date
- 17/03/2017
- Registration date
- 09/05/2017
- Last edited
- 20/10/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Malaria is a disease that is spread by mosquito bites. It causes flu-like symptoms but can also cause serious illness and death. Malaria is a major problem in tropical areas like Africa. Research has shown that a drug called primaquine can reduce the malaria offspring in mosquitos which can then reduce malaria transmission. However, primaquine has a major disadvantage as it changes to act like bleach in the body. This is problematic to people who have naturally weak red blood cells and are lacking an enzyme that makes the chemicals that counteract bleach and drug metabolites called glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). The less G6PD in the red cells, the more damaging primaquine's is. It can cause red cells may burst open (haemolysis) which creates many health problems. Many malaria control programmes are unwilling to use primaquine because they think it is too dangerous and they cannot afford the cost, training or equipment to test for G6PD levels. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends using low dose primaquine even in malaria patients with G6PD deficiency, primaquine is not being used due to a lack of research, concerns about tests for G6PD and issues providing the medication to children. The aim of this study is to provide evidence that a low dose of primaquine is safe in G6PD deficient kids in order to reduce malaria rates and benefit communities.
Who can participate?
Children aged six months to 11 years old who have malaria.
What does the study involve?
Participants are allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group have a deficiency in G6PD and those in the second group have normal G6PD levels. Participants in each group are then randomly allocated to one of four dosing treatments which include primaquine and combination treatments and two placebo primaquine treatment. The doses vary with each participant’s age and weight and are given daily for three days. The placebo group only receives the medication once. Participants are followed up for 42 days to measure their iron deficiency level in their blood.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from knowing the status of their G6PD levels and from receiving information and counseling. There are risks with primaquine as it can cause anaemia (low blood iron).
Where is the study run from?
1. Kinshasa Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (Democratic Republic of Congo)
2. The Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (Uganda)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Feburary 2017 to November 2020
Who is funding the study?
DFID/MRC/Wellcome Trust (UK), grant reference number: MR/P006973/1
Who is the main contact?
Dr Bob Taylor
Contact information
Public
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Clinical Research Unit (MORU)
Mahidol University
420/6 Rajvithi Road
Rajthevee
Bangkok
10400
Thailand
Study information
| Study design | Multi-centre double blind open randomised parallel safety trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised parallel trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | ISRCTN11594437_PIS_14Feb17_V2_Uganda.pdf |
| Scientific title | Assessing the tolerability and safety of single low dose primaquine in African children with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Africa |
| Study acronym | PAC study |
| Study hypothesis | The aim of this study is to provide evidence for drug policy on the safety of the WHO recommended SLDPQ regimen when used under close to routine conditions to G6PDd African children with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee, 01/03/2017, ref: 53-16 |
| Condition | Uncomplicated falciparum Malaria, G6PD deficiency, Single low dose primaquine (SLDPQ) |
| Intervention | Participants are allocated to either the G6PDd group or the G6PD normal group based on their the results of a G6PD rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Participants are then randomly allocated as to which dosing group they receive using a computer generated randomisation list generated for each site. Treatment allocation is placed in a sealed envelope which is opened once participants receive their study number. The treatment allocation described the Artemisinin based combination treatment (ACT) to be given and the number of PQ/placebo pack. The four dosing groups are the following: 1. Artemether Lumefantrine (AL) + single low-dose primaquine (SLDPQ) 2. Artemether Lumefantrine (AL) + single low-dose primaquine (SLDPQ) placebo 3. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPP) + single low-dose primaquine (SLDPQ) 4. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPP) + single low-dose primaquine (SLDPQ) placebo The dosages for primaquine depends vary with age and the dosing for AL vary with weight (in kg). DHAPP+SLDPQ dosages are given daily for three days and vary with body weight (in kg). Those who receive the primaquine/placebo receive it once only at baseline. Follow up continues until day 42. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | Phase III/IV |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Artemether, lumefantrine, dihydroartemisinin, piperaquine, primaquine |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Profound anaemia (Hb concentration < 4g/dL) is measured using the HemoCue machine during the first days 21 days of follow up 2. Severe anaemia (Hb <5g/dL) with clinical features of severe malaria is measured using the HemoCue machine during the first 21 days of follow up |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Fractional change in haemoglobin on day seven vs. baseline, measured by HemoCue® at baseline and day seven 2. Proportion of patients with a fractional change of ≥ 25% measured by HemoCue® over the follow up period of 42 days 3. Determinants of changes in HemoCue® measured haemoglobin over the follow up period of 42 days 4. G6PD genotype (hemizygous male, homo-, heterozygous female, normal) and selected G6PD variants (e.g. G6PD A- 202 mutations) are assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline 5. G6PD enzyme activity is measured using a quantitative spectrophotometric method at baseline 6. Genotypes of other inherited blood disorders are assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline 7. Incidence of adverse events are measured using clinical and laboratory records over the follow up period of 42 days 8. Pharmacokinetic characteristics of PQ and carboxyPQ by measuring drug concentrations at baseline and at hours one, one and a half, two, three, four, six, eight, ten, 12, 24 hours 9. Pharmacokinetic characteristics of lumefantrine and piperaquine are measured using their drug concentrations at baseline, day three, seven and 28 10. CYP 2D6 genotypes are assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline 11. Asexual parasitaemia clearance time and half life are measured using malaria slide results at days one, two and three 12. Therapeutic efficacy of AL and DHAPP is measured using the WHO criteria at day 42 13. Gametocytaemia over time is measured using thick blood films at baseline and days one, two, three, seven, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 14. Proportion of patients with gametocytes over time is measured using those with a positive thick blood film at baseline and on days one, two, three, seven, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 |
| Overall study start date | 01/02/2017 |
| Overall study end date | 02/11/2020 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 6 Months |
| Upper age limit | 11 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 1,600 |
| Total final enrolment | 1137 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Aged six months to 11 years old 2. Clinically uncomplicated disease 3. Fever (≥ 37.5⁰C aural) or history of fever within the previous 72 hours 4. Positive malaria RDT (Uganda only) 5. Positive malaria slide for P. falciparum (mono or mixed infection) of any parasitaemia (Kinshasa only) 6. Informed consent provided by patient or relative/legal guardian |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Malaria danger signs, sign(s) of severe malaria, or decompensated anaemia, including: an inability to take or retain fluids or oral medications, confusion, prostration, convulsions, respiratory distress, passing of red or cola-coloured urine (putative “blackwater fever”) 2. Severe anaemia (Hb <6 g/dL) 3. Comorbid illness that requires treatment in hospital (physician’s judgement) 4. Patients on drugs known to cause haemolysis in G6PDd e.g. dapsone, nalidixic acid 5. Known to be allergic to PQ, AL, or DHAPP 6. Previous enrolment in the current trial or current enrolment in another trial |
| Recruitment start date | 17/07/2017 |
| Recruitment end date | 07/10/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Congo, Democratic Republic
- Uganda
Study participating centres
University of Kinshasa
Avenue Tombalbaye 68-78
Kinshasa
1015
Congo, Democratic Republic
Mbale Regional Referral & Teaching Hospital
Mbale
209
Uganda
Sponsor information
University/education
Research Services
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2 JD
United Kingdom
| Website | www.admin.ox.ac.uk |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/052gg0110 |
Funders
Funder type
Other
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/10/2022 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Current publication and dissemination plan as of 06/08/2020: Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request Previous publication and dissemination plan: Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed open access journal. IPD sharing plan: The current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | version V2 | 14/02/2017 | 01/06/2017 | No | Yes |
| Participant information sheet | version V2 | 14/02/2017 | 01/06/2017 | No | Yes |
| Other publications | Age-based dosing regimen development | 18/01/2018 | 21/10/2021 | Yes | No |
| Protocol file | version 2 | 01/09/2018 | 22/08/2022 | No | No |
| Results article | 30/11/2022 | 05/12/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 20/10/2023 | 20/10/2023 | Yes | No |
Additional files
- ISRCTN11594437_PIS_14Feb17_V2_Uganda.pdf
- Uploaded 01/06/2017
- ISRCTN11594437_PIS_14Feb17_V2.pdf
- Uploaded 01/06/2017
- ISRCTN11594437_PROTOCOL_V2_01Sep18.pdf
Editorial Notes
20/10/2023: Publication reference added.
05/12/2022: Publication reference added.
22/08/2022: Protocol file uploaded.
15/08/2022: The intention to publish date has been changed from 01/02/2022 to 01/10/2022.
21/02/2022: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/09/2017 to 17/07/2017.
21/12/2021: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/11/2021 to 01/02/2022.
21/10/2021: Publication reference added.
03/08/2021: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/08/2021 to 01/11/2021.
06/05/2021: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/05/2021 to 01/08/2021.
09/12/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 19/11/2019 to 02/11/2020.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/12/2020 to 01/05/2021.
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
23/09/2020: Internal review.
06/08/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 01/06/2020 to 19/11/2019.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
3. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/12/2019 to 07/10/2019.
4. The participant level data was changed from "Not provided at time of registration" to "Available on request"
5. The publication and dissemination plan was changed.
6. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
10/09/2018: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/07/2018 to 31/12/2019.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/03/2019 to 01/06/2020.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/07/2019 to 01/12/2020.
01/06/2017: Participant information sheet uploaded.
