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Systematic Empirical vs. Test-guided Anti-TB Treatment Impact in Severely Immunosuppressed HIV-infected Adults Initiating ART With CD4 Cell Counts <100/mm3

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
HIV-1 Infection
Interventions
Device: Xpert MTB/RIF®, Determine TB LAM, Chest X-ray
Drug: ART (Atripla, Truvada, Efavirenz, Combivir)
Drug: Rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol
Registration Number
NCT02057796
Lead Sponsor
ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases
Brief Summary

In countries with a high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence, TB and invasive bacterial infections are leading causes of early death in patients who initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) with advanced immunodeficiency.

We hypothesize that a systematic 6-month empirical TB treatment initiated 2 weeks before the introduction of ART in HIV-infected adults with severe immunosuppression (CD4\<100/mm3) and no overt evidence of TB will reduce the risk of death and invasive bacterial infections. This strategy will be compared to one of extensive TB testing using point-of-care tests (Xpert MTB/RIF® and urine lipoarabinomanan LAM) and chest X-ray to identify and treat only patients with at least one positive test suggestive of TB.

Detailed Description

Settings: Cambodia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda, Vietnam. Design: Multicentre, two-arm, unblinded randomized controlled superiority trial.

Objective: To compare the 24-week risk of death and occurrence of invasive bacterial infection between two experimental strategies in HIV-1 infected adults who start ART with a CD4 count \<100/mm3: (i) continuous extensive TB screening during follow-up each time the patient present with symptoms, versus (ii) systematic empirical TB treatment started 2 weeks before ART initiation.

Trial strategies:

At inclusion, participants will be randomized 1:1 in two strategies of TB testing and treatment: extensive TB screening, or systematic empirical TB treatment.

Extensive TB screening (arm 1): In this arm:

* TB screening point-of-care tests (Xpert MTB/RIF®, urine LAM) and chest X-ray will be used extensively at randomisation (in all patients) and during follow-up (in patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of TB);

* Only patients who meet standardized criteria for TB at inclusion or during follow-up will receive a standard TB treatment (2ERHZ/4RH);

* ART (tenofovir(TDF)-lamivudine (3TC)/emtricitabine(FTC) or zidovudine (AZT)-lamivudine+ efavirenz) will be started immediately after randomization in patients not put on TB treatment, and 2 weeks after initiation of TB treatment in others.

Systematic empirical TB treatment (arm 2): In this arm:

* TB screening point-of-care tests will not be used;

* All patients will start a 6-month standard TB treatment (2ERHZ/4RH) at randomization; ART (tenofovir-lamivudine/emtricitabine or zidovudine-lamivudine+ efavirenz) will be started 2 weeks after TB treatment initiation.

Both strategies will apply to the first 24 weeks in the trial (intervention period).

From week-24 to week-48, the choice of TB tests and the prescription of TB treatment will be left upon the decision of the investigator in both trial arms.

Inclusion time: 24 months. Follow-up: each patient will be followed 48 weeks. Statistical analysis: the primary analysis will be intention to treat. It will compare the 24-week probability of death or invasive bacterial infection between arms.

Sample size: 1050 participants. This will allow demonstration of a 40% reduction in the 24-week probability of death or invasive bacterial infection in arm 2, compared to arm 1 (α 5%; 1-β 80%).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1050
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥18 years;
  • HIV-1 infection as documented at any time prior to trial entry, as per national testing procedures;
  • CD4 <100 cells/mm3;
  • No history of antiretroviral drug use (except transient ART for PMTCT);
  • Able to correctly understand the trial and to sign the informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • HIV-2 co-infection;
  • Contra-indication to efavirenz;
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >5 times the upper limit of normal;
  • Creatinine clearance <50 ml/min;
  • Overt evidence that TB treatment should be started immediately;
  • History of TB treatment in the past 5 years;
  • Ongoing TB chemoprophylaxis (isoniazid preventive therapy);
  • Any condition that would lead to differ ART initiation (e.g. acute condition requiring investigations and/or treatment prior to ART initiation);
  • Current pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Xpert MTB/RIF®, Determine TB LAM, Chest X-rayART (Atripla, Truvada, Efavirenz, Combivir)Arm1 Extensive TB screening: In this arm, point-of-care tests for TB will be used at randomization (in all patients) and at each scheduled or unscheduled follow-up visit (in patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of TB and no clear alternative diagnosis); TB treatment will only be prescribed to patients with a diagnosis of TB
Rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutolART (Atripla, Truvada, Efavirenz, Combivir)Arm 2: Systematic Empiric treatment (Rifampicin,isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) ART In this arm, all patients will start a systematic 6-month TB treatment at randomization. TB screening tests will not systematically be used neither at randomization nor while patients are on TB treatment.
Xpert MTB/RIF®, Determine TB LAM, Chest X-rayXpert MTB/RIF®, Determine TB LAM, Chest X-rayArm1 Extensive TB screening: In this arm, point-of-care tests for TB will be used at randomization (in all patients) and at each scheduled or unscheduled follow-up visit (in patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of TB and no clear alternative diagnosis); TB treatment will only be prescribed to patients with a diagnosis of TB
Xpert MTB/RIF®, Determine TB LAM, Chest X-rayRifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutolArm1 Extensive TB screening: In this arm, point-of-care tests for TB will be used at randomization (in all patients) and at each scheduled or unscheduled follow-up visit (in patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of TB and no clear alternative diagnosis); TB treatment will only be prescribed to patients with a diagnosis of TB
Rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutolRifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutolArm 2: Systematic Empiric treatment (Rifampicin,isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) ART In this arm, all patients will start a systematic 6-month TB treatment at randomization. TB screening tests will not systematically be used neither at randomization nor while patients are on TB treatment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
All-cause mortality and incidence of invasive bacterial infections24 weeks

The primary endpoint is the composite of (i) 24-week all-cause mortality and (ii) 24-week incidence of invasive bacterial infections

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incidence of confirmed/probable/possible TB24 Weeks and 48 weeks
Incidence of grade 3 or 4 adverse events24 Weeks and 48 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital

🇻🇳

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope

🇰🇭

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

ISS ImmunoSuppression Service

🇺🇬

Mbarara, Uganda

CePReF Centre de Prise en charge de Recherche et de Formation

🇨🇮

Abidjan, Yopougon, Côte D'Ivoire

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