Multi-center Comparison of Fluconazole (UK-49,858) and Amphotericin B as Treatment for Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis
Flucytosine
+ Fluconazole
+ Amphotericin B
Meningitis, Cryptococcal
+ HIV Infections
See all eligibility criteria
Treatment Study
See protocol details
Summary
To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole (FCZ) and amphotericin B (AMB), alone or in combination with flucytosine (FLC), as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis in patients who have not been treated previously or who have relapsed after a previous successful treatment. Cryptococcal meningitis is an important cause of disease and death among patients with AIDS. Usually AMB is given either alone or with FLC to patients with this infection, but these treatments are not always effective and both have toxic effects. Animal studies and preliminary studies in humans show that FCZ is active in cryptococcal meningitis and suggest that it may be less toxic than either AMB or FLC. Cryptococcal meningitis is an important cause of disease and death among patients with AIDS. Usually AMB is given either alone or with FLC to patients with this infection, but these treatments are not always effective and both have toxic effects. Animal studies and preliminary studies in humans show that FCZ is active in cryptococcal meningitis and suggest that it may be less toxic than either AMB or FLC. Patients accepted into the study are randomly assigned to FCZ or AMB. Patients assigned to FCZ take FCZ by mouth daily for 10 weeks. Patients assigned to AMB are given intravenous injections of AMB daily for 6-10 weeks. Non-AIDS patients assigned to AMB also take FLC by mouth daily. The use of FLC in patients with AIDS is decided on an individual basis. Patients with AIDS who respond satisfactorily to FCZ receive maintenance therapy to prevent relapse for an additional 12 months. Patients with AIDS who respond to AMB may qualify for another Pfizer Central Research protocol. Patients without AIDS who respond to therapy are observed for 6 months for relapse. During therapy, samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (by lumbar puncture) are taken periodically in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug treatments and to identify possible toxic effects.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.Participants are divided into different groups, each receiving a specific treatment at the same time. This helps researchers compare how well different treatments work against each other.
Other Ways to Assign Treatments
Single-group assignment: Everyone gets the same treatment.
Cross-over assignment: Participants switch between treatments during the study.
Factorial assignment: Participants receive different combinations of treatments.
Sequential assignment: Participants receive treatments one after another in a specific order, possibly based on individual responses.
Other assignment: Treatment assignment does not follow a standard or predefined design.
Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Conditions
Criteria
