The study will include TBR HAT patients treated with suramin between 2000 and 2020 at three sites in Uganda and Malawi A natural history cohort composed of source data from approximately 200 patients from a published epidemiological study will be used as a comparator.

This study's objectives are to evaluate the efficacy and safety of suramin in the Stage 1 treatment of TBR HAT.

The study will include TBR HAT patients treated with suramin between 2000 and 2020 at three sites in Uganda and Malawi (e.g., the retrospective suramin-treated cohort). The study will include all the approximately 145 patients who are deemed eligible through chart review and who have sufficient data. A natural history cohort composed of source data from approximately 200 patients from a published epidemiological study will be used as a comparator.

The primary objective is to determine whether standard of care treatment with suramin, as currently practiced in Uganda and Malawi, leads to better health outcomes in patients with S1 TBR HAT than observed in a natural history cohort with source data from a published epidemiologic study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Suramin-treated cohort:

  • Patient records must meet all the following criteria to be included in the suramin-treated cohort:
  • Male or female of any age; age or sex must be included.
  • Treatment with at least four full doses of suramin (not including the test dose).
  • Onset date or duration of symptoms associated with S1 TBR HAT is available.
  • An outcome is required; any mention of a clinical outcome is acceptable.
  • Must live in an area endemic for TBR HAT
  • Documented HAT diagnosis
  • Positive parasitology for HAT (observed in blood sample or a standard test).

Natural History cohort:

• Treatment records from a cohort of approximately 200 patients who were hospitalized between 1901 and 1910 during the 1900-1920 HAT epidemic

• Treatment records must have sufficient information for analysis including:

  • Demographic data: age or sex must be included
  • Diagnosis: HAT diagnosis is confirmed by blood or lymph gland fluid analysis and parasites observed or HAT symptoms during the epidemic. For example, if the records state that a lymph node biopsy was performed, any result of the biopsy (e.g., documentation that trypanosomes were observed), a documentation of the HAT diagnosis, or mention of HAT symptoms such as sleepiness or excess sleeping are all acceptable. Symptoms alone are not sufficient, but a notation of biopsy and mention of HAT symptoms is acceptable.
  • Outcome: An outcome is required; any mention of a clinical outcome is acceptable.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patient records that meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from the suramin-treated cohort:

• Reported duration of symptoms for more than 2 months at time of presentation at a healthcare facility.
• Stage 2 TBR HAT as determined by examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using WHO criteria, which classify patients with the presence of trypanosomes in the CSF and/or a WBC count >5 cells/mm3 as Stage 2 TBR HAT at time of presentation to a healthcare facility.
• Evidence of Stage 2 TBR HAT symptoms at time of presentation to a healthcare facility.
• Required medication treatment for Stage 2 illness (melarsoprol) prior to time of presentation to a healthcare facility.
• Known to have had Trypanosoma Brucei Gambiense (TBG) HAT or became ill while travelling from an area known to be endemic for TBG HAT
• Duration of HAT symptoms for more than 6 months. Survival for more than 6 months with TBR HAT is unlikely.

Patient charts will be retrieved from three major TBR HAT treatment centers. The study will include approximately 145 patients with S1TBR HAT who have sufficient clinical data for analysis. The study will also include a natural history cohort of the eligible subset of the approximately 200 patients from the 1900-1920 TBR HAT epidemic who were hospitalized in the years 1901 through 1910; some of these patients received experimental treatments such as arsenic which may have had some temporary clinical improvement, but none received any treatment with demonstrated efficacy.