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Ocular Complications of Mpox in the Democratic Republic Congo

Mapping the Burden of Ocular Complications of Mpox in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC)

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06579885
Acronym
MPOX-EYE
Enrollment
320
Registered
2024-08-30
Start date
2024-10-28
Completion date
2025-08-29
Last updated
2026-03-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Monkeypox, Mpox (Monkeypox)

Keywords

ophthalmology, complications

Brief summary

This is an observational study in which patients diagnosed with mpox will be enrolled, will undergo standard ophthalmological examinations of their eyes to see if there are any complications of mpox. The study will primarily assess the presence of ophthalmological signs and symptoms at enrollment.

Detailed description

This is an observational study in which patients diagnosed with mpox will be enrolled in two clinics in remote settings in the DR Congo (Tunda and Kole general hospital) where mpox outbreaks are ongoing. After providing informed consent, participants will undergo standard ophthalmological examinations of their eyes to see if there are any complications of mpox. This includes history taking, clinical examination, technical examinations such as a dilated fundoscopic exam, a fluorescein test and a Schirmer test, and a conjunctival swab for tear collection for monkeypox virus (MPXV) detection. Pictures of the anterior and posterior segment will also be taken to aid later verification and interpretation of the study findings. If they are hospitalised for mpox (for clinical reasons or as part of their participation in another ongoing clinical trial at the study sites), they will be followed up for 14 days and examined during an unscheduled visit in the case of new or worsening severe issues. Otherwise, patients are followed up at day 14 (for those hospitalised), day 28 and day 59. Study participants will receive the same supportive eye care as non-study participants. Study participants will be compensated for their time lost and for transportation to the clinic. The study will primarily assess the presence of ophthalmological signs and symptoms at enrollment, but also aims to describe the complications of mpox that may arise after that point in time.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
CollaboratorNIH
Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale. Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient of any age or gender with laboratory-confirmed infection with MPXV * Laboratory confirmation of MPXV infection less than 48 hours before inclusion * Patient or culturally acceptable representative is willing and able to give informed consent or assent for participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

* Patients for whom, in the judgment of the recruiting physician, participation in the study would interfere with routine optimal clinical care.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Composite presence or absence of eye disease and visual deficiencies at presentationAt enrollmentComposite presence of * orbital lesions (exophthalmos, enophthalmos, oculomotor paralysis...) * affection of the adnexa * affection of the anterior segment * affection of the posterior segment * affection of the optic nerve

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Ocular signs & symptoms at presentation and during follow-upFrom enrollment until last follow-upPresence or absence of individual symptoms and signs over time
Visual acuity at presentation and during follow-upFrom enrollment until last follow-upResult of Optotype letters/numbers and/or E test over time
presence of MPXV in tear fluid at presentation and during follow-upFrom enrollment until last follow-upResult of MPXV-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on conjunctival swabs over time

Countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORLaurens Liesenborghs, Professor

Institute of Tropical Medicine

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 13, 2026