About this trial
This randomized controlled superiority study will be conducted during 2023-2025. The eligible participants are adult people living with HIV (PLWH) who are newly diagnosed with early syphilis. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive single-dose benzathine penicillin G (BPG) (2.4 MU intramuscularly once) plus doxycycline (100 mg orally twice daily for 7 days) or single-dose BPG. The primary outcome is serologic response, defined as a decline of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer by 4-fold or greater, at week 24 and week 48; and the secondary outcomes include microbiologic response of syphilis and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) assessed by nucleic-acid amplification test (NAAT) at week 4.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
People living with HIV (PLWH) aged ≥18 years with early syphilis
Confirmed by a positive RPR titer with a reactive TPPA assay
Disqualifiers
PWH with RPR titers of <4
Subject has latent syphilis of unknown duration, late latent syphilis, or evidence of neurosyphilis, including ocular involvement.
Exposure to antibiotics with activity against T. pallidum within the preceding 4 weeks (penicillin, 3rd cephalosporin, doxycycline, macrolides)
A known or suspected infection requiring additional treatment with an antimicrobial active against T. pallidum at baseline (penicillin, 3rd cephalosporin, doxycycline, macrolides)
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Benzathine Penicillin G
- Doxycycline Capsule
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
National Taiwan University Hospital
Lead sponsor
National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch
Collaborator
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
Collaborator
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
Collaborator
Taoyuan General Hospital
Collaborator
National Cheng-Kung University Hospital
Collaborator
Chi Mei Medical Hospital
Collaborator
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
Collaborator
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital.
Collaborator