Comparison of doxycycline alone versus doxycycline plus rifampicin in their efficacy against lymphatic filariasis

ISRCTN	ISRCTN15216778
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15216778
Protocol serial number	Grant number: 39284
Sponsor	Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK)
Funder	Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA) - via the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK)

Submission date: 19/03/2009
Registration date: 30/04/2009
Last edited: 20/11/2012

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Infections and Infestations

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Achim Hoerauf, Director, MD
Scientific

Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology
University of Bonn, Faculty of Medicine
Sigmund Freud Str.25
Bonn
53105
Germany

Phone	+49 (0)228 287 15675
Email	hoerauf@microbiology-bonn.de

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	Comparison of doxycycline alone versus doxycycline plus rifampicin in their efficacy against lymphatic filariasis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Study acronym	A-WOL LF
Study objectives	1. To refine existing regimes of drugs with known activity against Wolbachia (doxycycline, rifampicin): 1.1. To provide a shortened treatment period compared to the "gold-standard" (200 mg doxycycline per day for 4 weeks) using the combination of doxycycline and rifampicin 1.2. To provide a reduction of the daily dosage of doxycycline from 200 mg to 100 mg 2. To verify an ameliorating effect of doxycycline and the combination of doxycycline and rifampicin on the dilation of supratesticular lymphatic vessels (i.e. subclinical lymphatic pathology) using the different drug regimes As of 01/12/2009 an additional follow-up timepoint after 18 months was approved by all three ethics committees for the secondary outcomes. Please see the secondary outcome measures section below for more details.
Ethics approval(s)	Ethical clearances have been obtained from the Committee on Human Research Publication and Ethics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana (approved 16th April 2008), from the Ethical Committee, University Clinic Bonn, Faculty of Medicine, Bonn, Germany (approved 18th March 2008) and from the Research Ethics Committee, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (approved 26th March 2008).
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti)
Intervention	The participants are randomised and assigned to one of the following seven treatment regimens: Treatment regimen 1 (n = 65): 4 weeks doxycycline 200 mg followed by 1 week placebo matching doxycycline (2 capsules/day) 3 weeks placebo matching rifampicin (3 or 4 capsules) Treatment regimen 2 (n = 39): 5 weeks doxycycline 100 mg (1 capsule/day) 5 weeks placebo matching doxycycline (1 capsule/day) 3 weeks placebo matching rifampicin (3 or 4 capsules) Treatment regimen 3 (n = 39): 4 weeks doxycycline 100 mg followed by 1 week placebo matching doxycycline (1 capsule/day) 5 weeks placebo matching doxycycline (1 capsule/day) 3 weeks placebo matching rifampicin (3 or 4 capsules) Treatment regimen 4 (n = 39): 3 weeks doxycycline 200 mg followed by 2 weeks placebo matching doxycycline (2 capsules/day) 3 weeks rifampicin (10 mg/kg BW, 3 or 4 capsules at 150 mg/day) Treatment regimen 5 (n = 39): 2 weeks doxycycline 200 mg followed by 3 weeks placebo matching doxycycline (2 capsules/day) 2 weeks rifampicin (10 mg/kg BW) followed by 1 week placebo matching rifampicin (3 or 4 capsules/day) Treatment regimen 6 (n = 39): 10 days doxycycline 200 mg followed by 25 days placebo matching doxycycline (2 capsules/day) 10 days rifampicin (10 mg/kg BW) followed by 11 days placebo matching rifampicin (3 or 4 capsules/day) Treatment regimen 7 (n = 39): 5 weeks placebo matching doxycycline (2 capsules/day) 3 weeks placebo matching rifampicin (3 or 4 capsules/day) The total duration of follow-up for all arms of our trial is 24 months after the start of drug administration. Contact details for Joint Principal Investigators: Prof Dr Ohene Adjei Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and Kumasi Centre of Collaborative Research (KCCR) University Post Office Kumasi, Ghana Tel: + 233 51 60351 Fax: + 233 51 62017 E-mail: oadjei@africaonline.com Dr Alexander Yaw Debrah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and Kumasi Centre of Collaborative Research (KCCR) University Post Office Kumasi, Ghana Tel: + 233 51 60351 Fax: + 233 51 62017 E-mail: yadebrah@yahoo.com
Intervention type	Drug
Phase	Phase II/III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)	Doxycycline, rifampicin
Primary outcome measure(s)	Current primary outcome measures as of 08/11/2012 (protocol change approved by the DMEC of this trial on 02/03/2011, before de-blinding on 24/05/2011): Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms verified as absence of worm nests (Filaria Dance sign [FDS]; adult filariae in dilated lymphatic vessels) in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, assessed 12 months after the start of drug administration. Previous primary outcome measures until 08/11/2012: Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by reduction in the number of worm nests (Filaria Dance sign [FDS]; adult filariae in dilated lymphatic vessels) in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, measured pre-treatment as well as 12 months after the start of drug administration. For all above mentioned primary and secondary outcome measures: Treatment regimens 2 to 6 will subsequently be tested first for superiority compared to placebo (regimen 7) and second for equivalence to the standard therapy (regimen 1).
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Current secondary outcome measures as of 08/11/2012 (protocol change approved by the DMEC of this trial on 02/03/2011, before de-blinding on 24/05/2011): 1. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms verified as absence of FDS in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, assessed 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 2. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by reduction in the number of FDS in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography compared to pre-treatment, determined 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 3. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by reduction of circulating filarial antigen (CFA) levels compared to pre-treatment, measured by TropBio® ELISA and ICT card test 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 4. Long-term sterilising effect of the female adult worms in the different treatment arms as assessed by microfilaria (mf) count (filtration method): 4.1 Reduction (%) or absence of microfilariae 4.2 Duration (months) of amicrofilaraemia 5. Reduction (%) or absence of Wolbachia ftsZ copy numbers/microfilariae compared to pre-treatment, assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 4, 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 6. Reduction of supratesticular lymphatic vessel dilation compared to pre-treatment, measured 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 7. Parasite specific immuno-globulin subclasses and cytokine responses, as well as other biomarkers such as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12 and 24 months after the start of drug administration Previous secondary outcome measures as of 01/12/2009, until 08/11/2012: 1. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by reduction in the number of worm nests in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, measured 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 2. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by absence of FDS in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, measured pre-treatment as well as 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 3. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by levels of antigenaemia (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] test) - reduction of circulating filarial antigen [CFA]) - measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 4. Long-term sterilising effect of the female adult worms in the different treatment arms as assessed by microfilaria (mf) count (filtration method) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis: 4.1. Reduction (%) or absence of microfilariae 4.2. Duration (months) of amicrofilaraemia 4.3. Reduction (%) or absence of Wolbachia ftsZ copy numbers/microfilariae assessed by PCR Measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 5. Reduction of supratesticular lymphatic vessel dilation measured pre-treatment as well as 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 6. Parasite specific immuno-globulin subclasses and cytokine responses, as well as other biomarkers such as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of drug administration For all above mentioned primary and secondary outcome measures: Treatment regimens 2 to 6 will subsequently be tested first for superiority compared to placebo (regimen 7) and second for equivalence to the standard therapy (regimen 1). Initial information at time of registration: 1. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by reduction in the number of worm nests in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, measured 24 months after the start of drug administration 2. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by absence of FDS in the supratesticular vessels detected by ultrasonography, measured pre-treatment as well as 12 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 3. Macrofilaricidal effect of the different treatment arms assessed by levels of antigenaemia (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] test) - reduction of circulating filarial antigen [CFA]) - measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 4. Long-term sterilising effect of the female adult worms in the different treatment arms as assessed by microfilaria (mf) count (filtration method) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis: 4.1. Reduction (%) or absence of microfilariae 4.2. Duration (months) of amicrofilaraemia 4.3. Reduction (%) or absence of Wolbachia ftsZ copy numbers/microfilariae assessed by PCR Measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 5. Reduction of supratesticular lymphatic vessel dilation measured pre-treatment as well as 12 and 24 months after the start of drug administration 6. Parasite specific immuno-globulin subclasses and cytokine responses, as well as other biomarkers such as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) measured pre-treatment as well as 4, 12 and 24 months after the start of drug administration For all above mentioned primary and secondary outcome measures: Treatment regimens 2 to 6 will subsequently be tested first for superiority compared to placebo (regimen 7) and second for equivalence to the standard therapy (regimen 1).
Completion date	30/04/2011

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Sex	Male
Target sample size at registration	299
Key inclusion criteria	Current inclusion criteria as of 08/11/2012 (protocol change approved by the DMEC of this trial on 02/03/2011): 1. Men aged between 18 - 50 years 2. Good general health without any clinical condition requiring long-term medication and with normal renal and hepatic laboratory profiles 3. Body weight (BW): ≥40kg 4. Presence of at least one scrotal worm nest detected by ultrasonography Previous inclusion criteria until 08/11/2012: 3. Body weight (BW): 40 - 70 kg
Key exclusion criteria	1. Known intolerance to the study drugs (doxycycline, rifampicin), or to ivermectin and/or albendazole 2. History of severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis 3. History of alcohol or drug abuse 4. Anti-filarial therapy within the last 10 months 5. Evidence of clinically significant neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, metabolic, rheumatologic or renal disease as far as it can be assessed by history of participants, physical examination, and/or laboratory examinations including blood and urine analysis 6. Laboratory evidence of liver disease (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], gamma-glutamyl transferase [gamma-GT] greater than 1.25 times the upper limit of normal results as stated by the manufacturer of dipstick tests, Roche®) 7. Laboratory evidence of renal disease (serum creatinine greater than 1.25 times the upper limit of normal results as stated by the manufacturer of dipstick tests, Roche®) 8. Laboratory evidence of diabetes (urine dipstick chemistry) 9. Behavioural, cognitive or psychiatric disease that in the opinion of the trial clinician affects the ability of the participant to understand and comply with the study 10. Severe asthma or respiratory disease (emergency room visit or hospitalisation) 11. Undergone splenectomy 12. Participation in other drug trials concurrent with this study 13. Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator (trial clinician), would risk the safety or rights of a participant in the trial or would render the subject unable to comply with the protocol
Date of first enrolment	01/05/2008
Date of final enrolment	30/04/2011

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Germany
Ghana

Study participating centre

Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology

Bonn
53105
Germany

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes
Study website	Study website	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes