Using Dexamethasone to Treat Lassa Fever

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the safety and tolerability of dexamethasone as an adjunct treatment for moderate to severe Lassa fever, alongside standard antiviral therapy with ribavirin. The study is a prospective open-label randomized controlled trial conducted at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Nigeria, where dexamethasone has shown promise in managing co-infections. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either ribavirin alone or ribavirin plus dexamethasone to assess the potential benefits of the corticosteroid in reducing immune-mediated damage associated with the disease.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 18 years
* LF confirmed by RT-PCR (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) with a cycle threshold (Ct) value \< 30
* Signs of significant health impairment as evidenced by any of the following:
* Alert, confusion, voice, pain, unresponsive (ACVPU) other than A
* Systolic blood pressure \< 90 mmHg
* Seizure(s), meningism, coma, focal neurological deficit
* AST (GOT) \>3xULN
* ALT (GPT) \> 3xULN
* KDIGO 2 or more severe based on serum creatinine only
* Active macroscopic bleeding
* O2 saturation \< 92

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy (evidenced by positive urine pregnancy test in women of child-bearing potential)
* Lactation following live birth
* Known intolerance and contra-indications to ribavirin or dexamethasone
* Patients who already received a corticosteroid within the preceding 7 days
* Investigator's valuation that patient might be put to substantial risk by participating in this trial
* Patients receiving end-of-life care as judged by the investigator

Where it's running

• Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital
  Irrua, Edo, Nigeria Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Mirjam Groger, Dr.
• Email: groger@bnitm.de
• Phone: +4940285380480

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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• Lassa Fever Vaccine for Adults and Children in West Africa

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.