SyphilisPhase 4NCT02611765
Syphilis Response to Higher Penicillin Dosage: The 2.4 Versus 7.2 Study
A Phase 4 study testing Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units and Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units in people with Syphilis, run by Baylor College of Medicine.
Trial summary
Syphilis remains a significant health problem worldwide, with an estimated 10.6 million new cases per year. Due to shared transmission route and risk factors, co-infection with syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not uncommon. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Syphilis
- What is being tested?
- Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units and Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 64 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Sep 2008to Apr 2012
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosed with HIV by ELISA and confirmed by Western blot
- Positive Rapid Plasma Reagin and treponema pallidum particle agglutination tests
Who cannot join
- History of penicillin allergy
- Diagnosis of late latent syphilis
- Diagnosis of neurosyphilis
- Antibiotic use with significant activity against Treponema pallidum within the preceding two weeks
About this study
Official title: Syphilis Response to Higher Penicillin Dosage in HIV Co-Infected Patients
Syphilis remains a significant health problem worldwide, with an estimated 10.6 million new cases per year. Due to shared transmission route and risk factors, co-infection with syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not uncommon. Several studies have evaluated the response to syphilis treatment in HIV-infected patients. They support the claim that patients with HIV have a slower decrease in syphilis antibody titers, and that they may progress to neurosyphilis in earlier stages.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines has advocated treating HIV-infected patients who have primary, secondary syphilis or early latent syphilis with the same doses of penicillin as for HIV-uninfected patients (single dose of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G). The investigators designed a randomized controlled trial in order to compare the efficacy of three- versus single-dosed regimens of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) for the treatment of early syphilis in HIV-infected patients.
Read the detailed description
The investigators conducted a prospective, randomized, open label study at three clinical sites including Thomas Street Health Center and North West Clinic (Harris Health System), and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas. After obtaining written informed consent, the investigators randomly assigned patients to either a single intramuscular injection of 2.4 million units of BPG (standard therapy) or three doses (enhanced therapy) of intramuscular BPG administered weekly (a total of 7.2 million units).
Patients were eligible for inclusion in the study if they were 18 years of age or older and had a diagnosis of HIV. The diagnosis of syphilis was made based on a positive Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and treponema pallidum particle agglutination tests. Patients with primary, secondary and early latent syphilis were included.
Exclusion criteria were history of penicillin allergy, diagnosis of late latent syphilis, neurosyphilis, and antibiotic use with significant activity against Treponema pallidum within the preceding two weeks.
Follow-up period was 12 months. Serum samples were obtained at initial visit and follow-up visits every 3 months for serological testing for syphilis. Treatment success was defined as a decrease in RPR titer of >= 2 dilutions (4-fold) from the initial RPR titer during the follow-up period.
Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed
- Conditions
- Syphilis
- Being tested
- Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units, Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units
- Medical subject headings
- Syphilis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million unitsDrug
Also called Enhanced therapy
Three doses of intramuscular 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G administered weekly (a total of 7.2 million units).
Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million unitsDrug
Also called Standard therapy
A single dose of intramuscular 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced therapy | Experimental | Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units Three doses of 2.4 million units of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G administered weekly (a total of 7.2 million units) Receives: Drug: Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units |
| Standard therapy | Active comparator | Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units A single intramuscular injection of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G Receives: Drug: Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Treatment Success Defined as a Decrease in Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Titer of >= 2 Dilutions (4-fold)
Number of participants who achieve treatment success. Loss to follow-up was assumed to be a failure.
Measured: 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2008
- Primary completionApr 2012
- Study completionApr 2012
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for SyphilisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Baylor College of MedicineThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jose Serpa-Alvarez, Baylor College of Medicine
- Investigators
- Jose A Serpa-Alvarez, MD, Principal investigator, Assistant Professor (Medicine: Infectious Disease)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02611765
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H-22816
- Status last verified
- Apr 2016
- First submitted
- 19 Nov 2015
- Last updated
- 17 May 2016
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Andrade R, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Yasukawa K, Villarreal E, Ross M, Serpa JA. Single Dose Versus 3 Doses of Intramuscular Benzathine Penicillin for Early Syphilis in HIV: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 15;64(6):759-764. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw862.
PubMed 28200045
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 May 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Syphilis Response to Higher Penicillin Dosage in HIV Co-Infected Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02611765
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H-22816
- Conditions
- Syphilis
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor College of MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2008
- Primary completion
- Apr 2012 (actual)
- Study completion
- Apr 2012 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 11 Apr 2016
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Syphilis remains a significant health problem worldwide, with an estimated 10.6 million new cases per year. Due to shared transmission route and risk factors, co-infection with syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not uncommon. Several studies have evaluated the response to syphilis treatment in HIV-infected patients. They support the claim that patients with HIV have a slower decrease in syphilis antibody titers, and that they may progress to neurosyphilis in earlier stages.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines has advocated treating HIV-infected patients who have primary, secondary syphilis or early latent syphilis with the same doses of penicillin as for HIV-uninfected patients (single dose of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G). The investigators designed a randomized controlled trial in order to compare the efficacy of three- versus single-dosed regimens of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) for the treatment of early syphilis in HIV-infected patients.
Detailed description
The investigators conducted a prospective, randomized, open label study at three clinical sites including Thomas Street Health Center and North West Clinic (Harris Health System), and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas. After obtaining written informed consent, the investigators randomly assigned patients to either a single intramuscular injection of 2.4 million units of BPG (standard therapy) or three doses (enhanced therapy) of intramuscular BPG administered weekly (a total of 7.2 million units).
Patients were eligible for inclusion in the study if they were 18 years of age or older and had a diagnosis of HIV. The diagnosis of syphilis was made based on a positive Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and treponema pallidum particle agglutination tests. Patients with primary, secondary and early latent syphilis were included.
Exclusion criteria were history of penicillin allergy, diagnosis of late latent syphilis, neurosyphilis, and antibiotic use with significant activity against Treponema pallidum within the preceding two weeks.
Follow-up period was 12 months. Serum samples were obtained at initial visit and follow-up visits every 3 months for serological testing for syphilis. Treatment success was defined as a decrease in RPR titer of >= 2 dilutions (4-fold) from the initial RPR titer during the follow-up period.
Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced therapy | Experimental | Drug: Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million unitsBenzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units Three doses of 2.4 million units of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G administered weekly (a total of 7.2 million units) |
| Standard therapy | Active comparator | Drug: Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million unitsBenzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units A single intramuscular injection of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Diagnosed with HIV by ELISA and confirmed by Western blot
- Positive Rapid Plasma Reagin and treponema pallidum particle agglutination tests
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- History of penicillin allergy
- Diagnosis of late latent syphilis
- Diagnosis of neurosyphilis
- Antibiotic use with significant activity against Treponema pallidum within the preceding two weeks
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million unitsAlso: Enhanced therapyThree doses of intramuscular 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G administered weekly (a total of 7.2 million units). | Drug | Enhanced therapy |
| Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million unitsAlso: Standard therapyA single dose of intramuscular 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G | Drug | Standard therapy |
Primary outcome
Treatment Success Defined as a Decrease in Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Titer of >= 2 Dilutions (4-fold)
Time frame: 12 months
Number of participants who achieve treatment success. Loss to follow-up was assumed to be a failure.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 May 2016.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28200045Andrade R, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Yasukawa K, Villarreal E, Ross M, Serpa JA. Single Dose Versus 3 Doses of Intramuscular Benzathine Penicillin for Early Syphilis in HIV: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 15;64(6):759-764. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw862.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jose A Serpa-Alvarez, MD principal investigator
Assistant Professor (Medicine: Infectious Disease)
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 7.2 million units and Benzathine penicillin G intramuscular 2.4 million units in people with Syphilis, run by Baylor College of Medicine.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 May 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 11 Apr 2016). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Treatment Success Defined as a Decrease in Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Titer of >= 2 Dilutions (4-fold) (time frame: 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02611765, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 May 2016; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.