Mthatha

IMPI-3 - A Randomized Controlled Trial of High vs. Standard Dose Rifampicin for Effusive Tuberculous Pericarditis Phase 2b Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial The trial will enroll 100 adult participants with pericardial TB from two research sites in South Africa, with no exclusions being made on the basis of sex/gender, racial or ethnic group. Consenting participants will be stratified by HIV status and PCF GX-Ultra status, then randomized 1:1 to receive either standard of care anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) or standard of care plus high dose Rifampicin (RIF), both administered orally for 2 months, followed by a continuation phase of 4 months' RH at standard doses.

The Childhood Hypertension Consortium of South Africa (CHCSA) was established to build connections between healthcare providers and schools through community outreach, aiming to improve understanding of blood pressure and hypertension in children, especially those of African ancestry. Currently, South Africa lacks nationally representative blood pressure reference values for children and has no data on the true prevalence of pediatric hypertension. This study seeks to develop the first national normal blood pressure reference values and clinical guidelines for managing childhood hypertension in South Africa. Children aged 5 to under 18 years from all provinces and school quintiles in South Africa will be randomly selected to participate, ensuring a representative sample of urban, peri-urban, and rural settings. The study plans to recruit 22,464 children from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Black African, Coloured, White, and Indian/Asian groups. Blood pressure and body measurements will be taken to create South African-specific nomograms and develop hypertension management guidelines tailored to local needs. Participants will undergo blood pressure and anthropometric assessments during the study, which will collect data over five years. Researchers will measure blood pressure and body size to establish normative reference values and generate clinical practice guidelines. This information will help healthcare providers better identify and manage hypertension in South African children, with results expected to differ from current international standards. The study also includes community engagement to raise awareness and improve care for high blood pressure and related conditions.