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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00004403

Randomized Study of Albendazole in Patients With Epilepsy Due to Neurocysticercosis

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of antiparasitic treatment with albendazole on the severity and duration of epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis.

II. Determine the effect of a short course of albendazole on Taenia solium cysts present in the brain.

III. Determine the natural regression of cerebral T. solium cysts in patients given placebo and their response to treatment at the end of the study.

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Key information

Conditions

Epilepsy Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cestode Infections Communicable Diseases Cysticercosis Disease Attributes Helminthiasis Immune System Diseases Infections Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Parasitic Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Rare Diseases Seizures Signs and Symptoms Taeniasis

Age range

16 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind study. Patients are randomized to receive either albendazole and dexamethasone or placebo.

Patients receive phenytoin daily starting on day 1 and continuing until seizure free for 1 year. Albendazole and dexamethasone or placebo only is administered orally once daily on days 5-15.

Patients are asked to maintain a diary. Patients are followed on day 15 and 30, then every 3 months for 3 years.

Completion date provided represents the completion date of the grant per OOPD records

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

  • Presence of Taenia solium infection as demonstrated by serology and head CT Head CT showing no more than 20 cysts
  • At least 2 spontaneous seizures within the last 6 months excluding: Absence seizures Rolandic seizures Bilateral spike wave patterns compatible with genetic epilepsy

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

  • No prior therapy for cysticercosis

--Patient Characteristics--

  • Age: 16 to 65
  • Performance status: Not specified
  • Hematopoietic: Not specified
  • Hepatic: Not specified
  • Renal: Not specified
  • Neurologic: No focal deficits No motor deficits No cranial nerve lesions History of epilepsy of less than 5 years in duration No head CT evidence of the following: Arteriovenous malformations Trauma Cerebral infarcts or hemorrhages No other focal disease not attributable to cysticercosis No moderate or severe intracranial hypertension No status epilepticus
  • Other: No unstable condition due to systemic disease or cysticercosis Not pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Albendazole

Drug

Dexamethasone

Drug

Phenytoin

Drug

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2000
Study completion
2002
First posted
Oct 19, 1999
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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