Praziquantel-Pharmacokinetic Study

Schistosomiasis Clinical Trial

Official title: Praziquantel Pharmacokinetics in Pregnancy and During Lactation

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of the study is to understand whether the drug praziquantel (PZQ) is metabolized or broken down differently when women are pregnant versus not pregnant. PZQ is used to treat schistosomiasis (worm infection). Researchers will study how PZQ is broken down among 15 women who are 12-16 weeks pregnant, 15 women who are 30-36 weeks pregnant, and 15 women nonpregnant women who are producing breast milk. All women will be 18 or older and otherwise healthy. The usual practice is to wait until after mothers have finished pregnancy and breast feeding before giving PZQ. Participants will receive 2 doses of PZQ separated by 3 hours. Study procedures will include a 24 hour hospital stay following administration of PZQ, blood, stool and urine samples, ultrasound if pregnant, and physical exams of mother and baby. Patient participation for mother/infant pair is about 9 months.

Clinical Trial Description

Schistosomiasis infects over 200 million individuals and remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, despite the availability of effective pharmacologic therapy with praziquantel (PZQ). Researchers propose to conduct a phase I study of the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of PZQ for the treatment of Schistosomiasis (S.) japonicum among pregnant and lactating women living in the province of Leyte, The Philippines. In practice, treatment of schistosomiasis is withheld for both pregnant and lactating post partum women in the Philippines as well as other countries endemic for schistosomiasis. Without treatment, these women accrue known morbidities identified among non-pregnant subjects including hepatic fibrosis, under-nutrition, and anemia. The overall aims of this study are to see if there are differences in PZQ PK and safety during pregnancy compared to post partum, to describe the kinetics of breast milk transfer of PZQ and to estimate the dose of PZQ received by a nursing infant whose mother is treated with PZQ. This protocol will enroll 15 pregnant women in early pregnancy (12-16 weeks gestation), 15 pregnant women in late pregnancy (30-36 weeks gestation) and 15 lactating nonpregnant women between 5 and 7 months postpartum. The study population will consist of S. japonicum infected women in study villages or at the Municipal Health Centers. Women must be: age 18 or older, otherwise healthy without disease of any major organ system, without history of seizures, chronic medical problem or any neurologic disorders, without history of severe allergic reaction to PZQ and willing to provide informed consent to participate. The pregnant women must: have a singleton pregnancy, be carrying a fetus without evidence of anomaly by ultrasound. Pregnant subjects will be treated with PZQ in early pregnancy (12-16 weeks gestation) or late pregnancy (30-36 weeks gestation), lactating nonpregnant (5-7 months postpartum inclusive ). A total dose of 60 mg/kg of study medication will be provided in 2 split doses over 3 hours as this has been shown to substantially reduce drug side effects. All subjects will be hospitalized overnight for intensive blood sampling and for monitoring for adverse events. Serial breast milk samples will be collected from lactating women. Plasma and breast milk will be assayed for PZQ concentration. PK parameters in pregnant and postpartum women will be compared and kinetics of praziquantel breast milk transfer and estimation of infant PZQ dose from breast milk will be determined. Safety assessments will be performed on pregnant women and their infants through 1 month postpartum, and on postpartum women through 2 weeks post dosing. This study is linked to Division of Microbiology and Infectious Disease (DMID) protocol 06-0039. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Schistosomiasis

• NCT number: NCT01288872
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: January 2012
• Completion date: August 2013