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High-dose Rifampicin for the Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis: a Dose-finding Study

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Tuberculosis, Meningeal
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Drug: Rifampicin
Drug: Other TB drugs
Drug: Adjuvant dexamethasone
Registration Number
NCT02169882
Lead Sponsor
Universitas Padjadjaran
Brief Summary

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis infection with high mortality. Current treatment regimens are not based on clinical trials. Rifampicin is a key drug for TBM, but its penetration into the brain is limited, suggesting that a higher dose may be more effective.

There are several highly relevant, outstanding questions related to the appropriate dose of rifampicin for TBM, before a multicenter phase 3 trial can be performed. These are:

1. Previous phase 2a randomized clinical trial (done in the same setting as this proposed study) suggests that high doses of intravenous rifampicin (600mg, circa 13 mg/mg) for TBM is safe and associated with a survival benefit in adults. Given that i.v. rifampicin is not readily available, this needs to be confirmed using an equivalent higher oral dose of rifampicin.

2. Recent pharmacokinetic analysis of a continuation trial comparing 600 mg i.v. rifampicin with 750 mg and 900 mg oral rifampicin suggests that an even higher dose may be needed; but this has not been examined

3. Based on those previous data, there is a need to explore a longer duration of high-dose rifampicin for a subsequent phase 3 randomized clinical trial; treatment response in the investigators previous trial suggest that the optimal duration may be \> 14 days.

4. There is a need to explore relevant treatment endpoints besides mortality including neurological, neuroradiological and inflammatory response.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Male or Female, aged 15 years or above.
  2. Clinical suspicion of TBM and CSF/blood glucose ratio < 0.5.
  3. None or less than 3 days of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy taken for the current infection.
  4. Patient or representative (if the patient is incapacitated) is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
  5. Willingness to allow storage of specimens.
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Exclusion Criteria

Patients may not enter the study if any of the following apply:

  1. Liver dysfunction (ALT > 5 times upper limit); kidney dysfunction (eGFR < 50 ml/min)
  2. Pregnancy or breastfeeding (negative urine pregnancy test for all females of child-bearing age).
  3. Confirmed cryptococcus meningitis (LFA), or confirmed bacterial meningitis (microscopy).
  4. Rapid clinical deterioration at time of presentation (e.g. signs of sepsis, decreasing consciousness or signs of cerebral oedema, or herniation)
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Rifampicin 450 mg (standard dose)PlaceboTwenty patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin and 2 tablets of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT). After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 450 mg (standard dose)Other TB drugsTwenty patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin and 2 tablets of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT). After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 900 mg per oralPlaceboTwenty patients will receive 2 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 1 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 900 mg per oralOther TB drugsTwenty patients will receive 2 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 1 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 900 mg per oralAdjuvant dexamethasoneTwenty patients will receive 2 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 1 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 1350 mg per oralRifampicinTwenty patients will receive 3 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 0 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 1350 mg per oralOther TB drugsTwenty patients will receive 3 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 0 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 1350 mg per oralAdjuvant dexamethasoneTwenty patients will receive 3 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 0 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 450 mg (standard dose)Adjuvant dexamethasoneTwenty patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin and 2 tablets of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT). After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Rifampicin 900 mg per oralRifampicinTwenty patients will receive 2 tablets of 450 mg Rifampicin and 1 tablet of placebo once daily for 30 days. Unconscious subjects will receive oral drugs via nasogastric tubes (NGT) After completion of one-month treatment, patients will receive 1 tablet of 450 mg Rifampicin. Along with study drug and placebo, patients will receive other oral TB drugs (INH, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) and pyridoxin, in accordance to National TB Program guidelines for 6 months. Patients will also receive dexamethasone in decreasing dose (in 6-8 weeks, according to TBM severity grade on admission)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rifampicin concentrations in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)Day 2 (+/- 1) after administration of study drugs

The rifampicin concentrations in plasma are measured from blood samples that are obtained by intensive pharmacokinetic sampling at 6 sampling time points (h0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 post dose). CSF rifampicin concentration will be measured using CSF sample taken by means of lumbar puncture at hour 3-6 post dose at the same day of blood sampling.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Sensitivity of GeneXpert for diagnosing TBMWithin 6 weeks

Every CSF sample from patients who come with suspicion of TBM will be inoculated in GeneXpert cartridge and standard culture measures (MODS), and the result will be compared.

Rifampicin concentrations in plasma and CSF at steady-stateDay 10 (+/- 1) after starting treatment with study drugs

The rifampicin concentrations in plasma are measured from blood samples that are obtained by intensive pharmacokinetic sampling at 6 sampling time points (h0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 post dose). CSF rifampicin concentration will be measured using CSF sample taken by means of lumbar puncture at hour 3-6 post dose at the same day of blood sampling.

Grade 3 and 4 and serious adverse eventsWithin 60 days

Determined by measurement of liver function, hematology, gastrointestinal intolerance and hypersensitivity at days 3, 7, 10, 14, 30, 45, and 60

Mortality180 days
Neurological responseWithin 60 days

Neurological responses that show both improvement (e.g. time to resolution of comma, time to fever resolution) and worsening (time to development of neurological deficits) will be measured and recorded at days 3, 7, 30 and 60.

Resolution of blood and CSF inflammatory response7 days

Inflammatory response will be measured at day 0 and day 7

Neuroradiological response60 days

Development of infarction or other complication of TBM will documented by performing and comparing brain MRIs that will be done within the first 5 day and 60 day (+/- 5 days) after randomization

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hasan Sadikin General Hospital

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Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

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