The document discusses delaying HIV-1 disease progression in individuals with co-infections, particularly helminths, in resource-limited settings. It highlights the prevalence of helminth co-infection among HIV-1 positive individuals in Africa and outlines a study aiming to evaluate the effects of treating helminth infections on HIV-1 disease markers. The study's objectives include assessing the impact of deworming therapies on CD4 counts and viral load in HIV-1 positive adults, while also addressing operational challenges and future research directions.

1. Delaying HIV-1 Disease Progression in Pre-HAART Positives Treating Endemic Co-infections Judd L. Walson, MD, MPH University of Washington Kenya Medical Research Institute Centre for Clinical Research

2. Today’s Talk Hypothesis testing in resource limited settings Pre-HAART Positives - explaining the focus Studies Unanswered Questions/Future Research

3. The office

4. Global Burden of Disease www.bvgh.org/GlobalHealthChallenge.asp

5. Copyright ©2002 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. Isaakidis, P. et al. BMJ 2002;324:702 No of clinical trials in Sub-Saharan Africa

6. Copyright ©2002 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. Isaakidis, P. et al. BMJ 2002;324:702 Burden of Disease and Number of Trials

8. Evidence Based Medicine for Resource Limited Settings

10. Pre-HAART Positives - explaining the focus Of the 22.5 million individuals infected with HIV-1 in Africa, only 31% of those in need are currently on ART. ART is expensive relative to other health care interventions (between $300 and $400 per individual per year). Delaying immunosuppression will “buy time” until the development of AIDS, the need for ART and will allow critical infrastructure to be developed. UNAIDS, 2007

11. Pre-HAART Package of Care PROVEN Septrin TB prophylaxis UNCLEAR BENEFIT Micronutrients Macronutrients Acyclovir Deworming Bednets Water filters

13. 0.3 log 10 increase 0.5 log 10 increase 1.0 log 10 increase Increase in likelihood of heterosexual transmission 20% 40% 100% Increase in risk of progression to AIDS or death 25% 44% 113%

14. Effect of modest VL reduction Gupta et al. JID 2007; 195 (Feb 15).

15. “ In most parts of the world there are two types of people, those that know they have worms,…and those that don’t”

16. Worms – Why NOT?

17. Epidemiology Over 2 billion people are estimated to be infected with at least one species of helminths. In fact, about 25% of the worlds population is infested with one or more soil transmitted helminth. Of the approximately 25 million people infected with HIV-1 in Africa, as many as 50-90% may also be infected with a soil transmitted helminth.

21. Distribution of helminths and HIV-1 in Africa Clinical Microbiology Reviews, October 2004, p. 1012-1030, Vol. 17, No. 4

23. www.mcld.co.uk/hiv/ ?q=The%20human%20immune%20... Immunology of response to infection

25. Helminth egg burden correlated with HIV-1 viral load J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Volume 31(1).September 1, 2002.56-62

26. Changes in HIV plasma viral load after treatment of helminths. Group A: persistently helminth-negative. Group B: successful treatment of helminths. Group C: persistently helminth-positive. No significant change in CD4 counts were observed. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Volume 31(1).September 1, 2002.56-62 P value of B compared to C = 0.04, A + C = 0.02

27. Cochrane Review Walson JL , John-Stewart G. Treatment of helminth co-infection in HIV-1 infected individuals in resource-limited settings. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD006419. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006419.pub2.

28. Year Study Design Outcomes Comparator Group Kallestrup Zambia 2005 Randomized Controlled Trial (no blinding) 64 Early Treatment 66 Delayed Treatment Plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 Count HIV and Helminth co-infected individuals - delayed therapy for helminths Modjarrad Zambia 2005 Observational Cohort Study 54 HIV and helminth co-infected individuals 57 HIV infected helminth uninfected Plasma HIV-1 RNA Helminth uninfected individuals Brown Uganda 2004 Observational Cohort Study 294 HIV and helminth co-infected individuals 253 HIV infected, helminth uninfected controls Plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 Count Helminth uninfected individuals Wolday Ethiopia 2002 Observational Cohort Study 56 HIV and helminth co-infected individuals Plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 Count Historical Self Controls Kassu Ethiopia 2003 Observational Cohort Study 21 HIV infected helminth negative participants, 9 HIV infected, helminth uninfected individuals CD4 Count Data on HIV infected individuals not presented Lawn Kenya 2000 Observational Cohort Study 30 individuals with HIV and schistosomiasis HIV-1 RNA levels Historical Self Controls Elliott Uganda 2003 Observational Cohort Study 39 HIV and helminth co-infected individuals 69 HIV infected, helminth uninfected controls CD4 Count Helminth uninfected individuals

29. Walson JL , John-Stewart G. Treatment of helminth co-infection in HIV-1 infected individuals in resource-limited settings. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD006419. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006419.pub2.

30. Treatment of helminth co-infection: short term effects on HIV-1 progression markers and immune activation

31. Study Justification There were no randomized clinical trials evaluating the effect of eradicating soil-transmitted helminths on markers of HIV-1 disease progression. Treatment of helminth co-infection may offer a useful strategy to delay HIV-1 progression among individuals in resource-poor settings?

32. Objectives To determine the prevalence and correlates of helminth co-infection in HIV-1 infected individuals in Kenya. To randomize 234 HIV-1 seropositive adults with CD4 counts greater than 250 cells/mm 3 to immediate versus delayed (twelve weeks) anti-helminth therapy. To determine the effect of deworming on markers of HIV-1 disease progression.

33. Outcomes The primary study outcomes were CD4 counts and log 10 plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in the two study arms. Secondary outcomes included CD4 counts and log 10 plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in the two arms stratified by helminth species.

34. Inclusion Criteria Antiretroviral na ï ve CD4 count >250 cells/mm 3 At least 18 years of age Able and willing to participate and give written informed consent. Have at least one stool specimen positive for a soil transmitted helminth.

35. Exclusion Criteria Received or receiving ART Received treatment for helminth infection in the past 6 months (by self report or chart review) Pregnant by urine HCG testing Other serious co-morbidities such as severe anemia, malaria or tuberculosis

36. 12 week follow up All patients with stool positive for helminth infection at week 12 treated with three 400 mg doses of Albendazole, regardless of initial randomization group. All patients referred for further HIV care at the conclusion of the study period, regardless of disease stage.

37. Obstacles Need to screen large numbers of patient samples for helminths Unclear what the prevalence of helminth infection is in adults at various geographic sites Sites are diverse, organized and assisted by different partners, differing capacities Budget - $50,000 (Initially)

39. The Mobile Study Team

46. Walson JL, Otieno PA, Mbuchi M, Richardson BA, Lohman-Payne B, et al. Albendazole treatment among adults with HIV-1 and helminth co-infection: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Submitted to AIDS , January 2008.

47. Effects on CD4 and Viral Load Walson JL, Otieno PA, Mbuchi M, Richardson BA, Lohman-Payne B, et al. Albendazole treatment among adults with HIV-1 and helminth co-infection: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Submitted to AIDS , January 2008.

49. Change in Log10 HIV-1 RNA

50. Change in CD4 Count

51. Next? Screening is relatively expensive and not sensitive – who to deworm? Are the findings transient? Need longer follow up. What is the outcome that matters – Focus on TIME TO QUALIFY FOR ART.

52. Empiric therapy of helminth co-infection to reduce HIV-1 disease progression.

53. Study Plan 850 individuals enrolled in Targeted Evaluation Month 0 Month 3 Month 6 Month 12 Month 15 Month 18 Month 21 Full Blood Count CD4 Count HIV-1 RNA Study Arm A Study Arm B Standard Care and Treatment Albendazole 400mg/day X 3 days Praziquantel 25mg/kg X 1 Albendazole 400mg/day for 3 days Albendazole 400mg/day for 3 days Albendazole 400mg/day for 3 days Albendazole 400mg/day for 3 days Full Blood Count CD4 Count HIV-1 RNA Full Blood Count CD4 Count Full Blood Count CD4 Count HIV-1 RNA Full Blood Count CD4 Count Month 9 Albendazole 400mg/day for 3 days Month 24 Albendazole 400mg/day for 3 days Albendazole 400mg/day X 3 days Praziquantel 25mg/kg X 1 Figure 1. Flow Chart of Planned Targeted Evaluation

54. Obstacles Need stable clinic sites to provide 2 years of follow up, including unscheduled visits Need well controlled laboratory facilities with QA/QC Again, working with different partners, different capacities

55. PHE Helminth Study Sites KEMIR/UW HQ Kisumu Study Office -Kisumu District Hosp -Patient Support Centre (PSC) Kisii Study Office -Kisii Provincial Hosp -Patient Support Centre (PSC ) Kilifi Study Office -Kilifi District Hosp -Comprehensive Care and Research Clinic (CCRC) -KEMRI/Wellcome Trust

56. Kisii Container Office No existing office/clinic No extra containers in Kisii Collaboration with Merlin Highest rate of enrollment!

58. Samples Delivered Daily Kilifi, Kisii, Kisumu Picked at approx 4:30pm Delivered to HQ NBO by 10am Have not lost one sample

59. Completing CRFs Programming DB Maintenance Recording Lab Results

60. Patient Enrolment Page

61. International Interns/Scholars ID Fellows RN Bioinformatics/MD Student MD Students Lab Technologists Local Intern Program 3 – 4 month rotation Information Technology/DB Statistics Nursing Accounting Small stipend

63. The HELMINTHS ANGELS

64. Questions that remain? Reduced sexual transmissibility or susceptibility Improved response to ARV’s Reduction in the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) Children vs. Adults PMTCT Improved response to vaccine Effects on TB, malaria, etc.

65. Additional Studies Currently finalizing protocol for ITN/Filter study PRIMARY AIM To determine the effect of insecticide treated bednets and a simple water purification system on markers of HIV progression (time to HAART eligibility, changes in CD4 counts, WHO Clinical Staging and mortality).

66. Acknowledgements All the study participants Grace John-Stewart, Phelgona Otieno, Ben Piper, Benson Singa, King Holmes, Barbara Payne, Barbra Richardson, Margaret Barrett, Chris Kealy, Rekha Patel, Rowena de Saram The fantastic study staff in Nairobi The staff of all of the study sites KEMRI CCR – Dr. Wasunna, Dr. Rashid Wellcome Trust Kilifi – Kevin Marsh, James Berkley, Eduard Sanders CDC – Marta Ackers, Jonathan Mermin, Becky Bunnell