To compare the response of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and malaria to artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) antimalarials and the response of children without SCD treated with ACT for malaria

ISRCTN ISRCTN96891086
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN96891086
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
25/09/2013
Registration date
02/10/2013
Last edited
23/09/2014
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Although there has been a general improvement in the availability of treatment for malaria, information on how currently recommended drugs work on patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is unavailable. This study will provide some evidence and tell us whether current doses for treating malaria in SCD patients (which are the same for patients without SCD) may be appropriate.

Who can participate?
Children with SCD aged 6 months to 12 years, and children without SCD, with uncomplicated malaria can participate in the study.

What does the study involve?
All children will have a blood test for malaria and any other test that would be deemed necessary for treatment by the doctor. Children with a confirmed diagnosis of malaria will be randomly allocated to one of two treatments: artesunate-amodiaquine or artemether-lumefantrine. Recruited children will attend follow-up visits so that doctors will check if they are recovering and how quickly, whether the malarial parasites are being cleared from their blood, and whether any initially cleared parasites will recur. The follow-up visits are also for the purpose of checking for possible side effects of the treatment. There will be at least eight follow-up visits. Children who do not recover as expected will be given alternative medications. On days 1 and 2, only a finger prick blood test will be done to check for the presence of parasites. On days 3, 7, 14, 28, 35 and 42, a small amount of blood (about a teaspoonful) will be taken to find out the state of certain components of the blood in addition to a parasite check.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participation?
There will be no direct financial benefits. Participation will allow investigators to find out if children with SCD show a similar response to treatment as children without SCD. However, the child will be watched closely for a period of six weeks during which any illness could be promptly diagnosed and treated without any additional costs. No direct incentives will be provided, although all treatment and laboratory costs during the period will be borne by the study, and all transport costs for the follow-up visits will be reimbursed. The volume of blood collected is small and similar to what is normally collected during similar illness, and is unlikely to affect the health of the participant. As with any drug, there is a small risk that participants may experience certain side effects associated with the use of these medicines. However, these drugs have been shown to be safe in children without SCD and the purpose of the follow-up visits is to find out if this is so in SCD patients. In addition, the investigators will be monitoring for these potential effects during the follow-up visits and would act appropriately should these occur.

Where is the study run from?
The study is run from Paediatric Sickle Cell Clinic and Emergency Department of the Department of Child Health, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (Ghana) and Outpatients Department of the Polyclinic, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (Ghana).

When is the study starting?
The study started in January 2011 and ended in December 2012.

Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the Consultative Council for Development Research of Denmark, through the DANIDA Fellowship Centre, Denmark.

Who is the main contact?
Dr George O. Adjei
goadjei@chs.edu.gh

Contact information

Dr George Adjei
Scientific

Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
University of Ghana Medical School
P. O. Box 4236
Accra
KB
Ghana

Phone +233 302 666987
Email goadjei@chs.edu.gh

Study information

Study designOpen label randomized clinical trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleArtesunate-amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria treatment in children with or without sickle cell disease: a randomized efficacy and safety trial
Study objectives1. The response to malaria treatment with artemisinin combination therapies in children with sickle cell disease is different from children without sickle cell disease.
2. The haematological profile of children with sickle cell disease treated with artesunate-amodiaquine is different from that of children treated with artemether-lumefantrine.
Ethics approval(s)Ethics and Protocol Review Committee, University of Ghana Medical School; Ref: MS-Et/M.1-P.5.4
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSickle cell disease/malaria
Intervention1. Artesunate-amodiaquine (Coarsucam®, Sanofi Aventis, France) - 25/50/100mg artesunate and 67.5/135/270mg amodiaquine, single daily dose, administered for three days according to body weight: 4.5-9kg (25mg/67.5mg), 1 tablet/dose; 9-18kg (50mg/135mg), 1 tablet/dose; 18-36kg (100mg/270mg), 1 tablet/dose; 36kg and over (100mg/270mg), 2 tablets/dose

2. Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem®, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) - 20mg artemether and 120mg lumefantrine administered at 0 and 8 hours on the first day, and then twice daily for two subsequent days according to body weight: 5-14kg, one tablet/dose; 15-24kg, 2 tablets/dose; 25-34kg, 3 tablets/dose; 35kg and over, 4 tablets/dose
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Artesunate-amodiaquine, artemether-lumefantrine
Primary outcome measure1. Parasite clearance rates in the initial 48 hours of treatment: survival analysis
2. Parasite reduction ratio on days 1, 2, and 3: the ratio of the parasite count before treatment to the parasite count on days 1, 2, and 3
Secondary outcome measures1. Cure rates as determined by PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR): the proportion of patients with ACPR on days 28 and 42
2. Parasitological response on days 28 and 42: any recurrence of parasitaemia after initial clearance till day 28 or 42
3. Changes in haematological profiles during the follow-up period: changes from baseline (day 0) in the following parameters: haemoglobin (Hb), total white blood cell count (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and platelet counts (PLT) on days 3, 7, 28, and 42
4. Incidence of adverse events: incidence of new or treatment-emergent adverse events on days 3, 7, 28 and 42
Overall study start date04/01/2011
Completion date31/12/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit6 Months
Upper age limit12 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants120 (60 SCD and 60 non-SCD)
Key inclusion criteria1. Children with SCD
2. Aged 6 months to 12 years
3. With acute P. falciparum malaria of parasite density < 200,000/µl
4. Consent obtained and willingness by parent or guardian to comply with the follow-up schedule
Key exclusion criteria1. Symptoms or signs of severe malaria requiring parenteral treatment
2. Weight less than 5 kg
3. Presence of danger signs of malaria
4. Known intolerance or allergy to study medications
5. Reported treatment with any of the study drugs one month preceding enrolment
6. Blood transfusion preceding 3 months before enrolment
Date of first enrolment04/01/2011
Date of final enrolment31/12/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Ghana

Study participating centre

Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Accra
KB
Ghana

Sponsor information

Danida Fellowship Centre (Denmark)
Research organisation

Hostrupsvej 22
DK-1950 Frederiksberg C
Copenhagen
DK-1950
Denmark

Phone +45 35 36 13 22
Email research@dfcentre.dk
Website http://www.dfcentre.com
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05qvpbw57

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

Consultative Research Committee for Development Research (Denmark) (FFU)/Danida Fellowship Centre, (DFC project no. 09-080RH)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 19/09/2014 Yes No