Tailoring Maintenance Therapy to Cluster of Differentiation 5 Positive (CD5+) Regulatory B Cell Recovery in ANCA Vasculitis

November 14, 2025 updated by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Tailoring Maintenance Therapy to CD5+ Regulatory B Cell Recovery in ANCA Vasculitis

ANCA vasculitis is a pauci-immune systemic small vessel vasculitis. The anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are pathogenic and cause disease by activating neutrophils which damage blood vessels. CD means "cluster of differentiation" . CD5 is a type I transmembrane protein found on T cells, thymocytes, and some B cells. Cluster of Differentiation 20 (CD20) is a type III transmembrane protein found on B cells. The investigators previously detected an association between recovery of Interleukin 10 (IL-10)-secreting CD20+ and CD5+ regulatory B cells after immunotherapy (with rituximab and corticosteroids) and decreased risk of subsequent relapse in patients with ANCA-vasculitis. The investigators hypothesize that patients with complete reconstitution of a functional regulatory B cell repertoire after induction therapy are at low risk of relapse and may be monitored conservatively without further immunotherapy. The investigators will test this hypothesis through a proof of concept randomized controlled study. Patients with normalization of CD5+ regulatory B cells will be randomized to maintenance therapy with rituximab vs. close observation without immunosuppression. Patients whose peripheral CD5+ regulatory B cells remain low after induction therapy (who are at higher risk of relapse), will receive maintenance immunosuppression with rituximab. Patients needing or randomized to maintenance therapy who are unable to receive rituximab will receive azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, two standard alternative medications for maintenance immunosuppression.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that, in ANCA vasculitis, use of CD5+ B cells at the time of B cell reconstitution in the peripheral blood can be used to stratify patients between those with low % CD5+ B cells at greater risk of relapse who would need maintenance immunosuppression and those with normalized CD5+ B cells who would be at lower risk of relapse, and therefore may not need maintenance immunosuppression. The latter group will be randomized to either maintenance immunosuppression vs close clinical observation without maintenance immunosuppression. This study is not designed to evaluate the efficacy of new therapies in ANCA vasculitis. The treatment regimen used in the proposed study are routinely used in the treatment of patients with ANCA vasculitis and considered standard-of-care.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
9

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599-7155
        • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients 18-85 years old.
  • ANCA Glomerulonephritis (GN) or vasculitis per Chapel Hill Consensus Criteria, with documented current or previously positive Myeloperoxidase (MPO)- or Proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA by ELISA test. Patients with biopsy-proven, pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis are eligible if they have a positive ANCA test by immunofluorescent microscopy (IIFM).
  • Patients must be in complete remission for at least 1 month and after AT LEAST 3 MONTHS of induction of therapy with corticosteroids and rituximab (either 1000 mg IV x 2 or 375 mg/m2 IV x 4) OR corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide (monthly IV or daily oral doses). They must be on no more than 5 mg daily of oral prednisone or equivalent. Complete remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) score = 0.
  • Patients may be ANCA negative or positive at randomization.
  • B cells are not depleted anymore: B cell recovery reaches 1% CD19+ B cells (enough to allow determination of CD5+ B cells with confidence).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who have had ≥ 2 relapses (defined as recurrence of any signs or symptoms attributable to active vasculitis) previously as patients with multiple prior relapses may be at higher risk of future relapse and require maintenance therapy
  • Patients with persistent low-grade disease activity ("grumbling" disease defined as BVAS > 0 and ≤ 3)
  • Patients with active systemic infections or deep space infections within the 3 months prior to screening.
  • Patients participating in another clinical trial mandating maintenance therapy
  • Patients with drug-induced ANCA vasculitis (e.g. levamisole-adulterated cocaine)
  • Active tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus infections
  • For women of child-bearing potential, pregnancy, breastfeeding, unwillingness or inability to comply with effective contraception
  • Inability to come to scheduled visits

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: high CD5/ on maintenance
Subjects in remission with CD19+CD5+ 43% or greater, randomized to continue on maintenance immunosuppression (Maintenance Therapy Group)
Device: ENUMERATION OF CD5+ B Cells
A blood test is done to assess what percentage of CD5+ is present within CD19+. The result is then used to guide choice of arm.
Experimental: high CD5 / NO maintenance
Subjects in remission with CD19+CD5+ 43% or greater , randomized to NO maintenance immunosuppression (NO Maintenance Therapy Group)
Device: ENUMERATION OF CD5+ B Cells
A blood test is done to assess what percentage of CD5+ is present within CD19+. The result is then used to guide choice of arm.
Active Comparator: low CD5+ /on maintenance
Subjects in remission with Cluster of Differentiation 19 positive (CD19+) CD5+ lower than 43% will continue on maintenance immunosuppression (Maintenance Therapy Group)- no randomization.
Device: ENUMERATION OF CD5+ B Cells
A blood test is done to assess what percentage of CD5+ is present within CD19+. The result is then used to guide choice of arm.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to First Relapse
Time Frame: from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
The primary outcome measure is time to first relapse defined as recurrence of any signs or symptoms attributable to active vasculitis after a period of complete remission, with at least 2 minor or 1 major item on the BVAS score (BVAS≥2). Per protocol, complete remission is defined as a BVAS score = 0. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS, range 0-64). The total score is composed of 34 predefined items, units on a scale, grouped into 9 organ systems. Each item carries a weight from 1-3, depending on disease severity. A score of 0 indicates no disease activity; a higher score indicates worsening disease.
from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Experience Relapse
Time Frame: from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Relapse in each group was determined using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis(BVAS, range 0-64). The total score is composed of 34 predefined items grouped into 9 organ systems. Each item has a specified weight of either 3 or 1, depending on whether it reflects major or minor disease activity. A score of 0 indicates no disease activity; a higher score indicates worsening disease. Per protocol relapse is defined as BVAS >/= 2; however for reporting purposes relapse was defined as BVAS >/= 1 because the participant was treated based on the clinical relapse.
from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Frequency of Relapse
Time Frame: from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Frequency, as determined by number of relapse in each group. Per protocol relapse is defined as BVAS >/= 2; however for reporting purposes relapse was defined as BVAS >/= 1 because the participant was treated based on the clinical relapse.
from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Severity of Relapse
Time Frame: from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Severity of relapse as determined by number of major relapse in each group. Major relapse is defined as involving a major organ
from complete remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Time to Positive ANCA
Time Frame: from first negative ANCA test since start of study , if applicable- to end of study, maximum two years, as applicable
For participants who had a negative ANCA test, time to positive ANCA
from first negative ANCA test since start of study , if applicable- to end of study, maximum two years, as applicable
Frequency of Infections
Time Frame: from remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Frequency as determined by the number of infections
from remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Number of Infections, Categorized by Severity
Time Frame: from remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
number of mild/moderate/severe infections
from remission to end of study, approximately 2 years
Time to Interleukin (IL)-10 Secreting B Regulatory Cells > 45% or CD5+ B Cells > 43% of Total B Cells
Time Frame: from enrollment to end of study, approximately 2.5 to 3 years
Time to IL-10 secreting B regulatory cells > 45% or CD5+ B cells > 43% of total B cells
from enrollment to end of study, approximately 2.5 to 3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Vimal Derebail, MD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 28, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 27, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 27, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 4, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 4, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 8, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 26, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 14, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 18-2015
  • 5P01DK058335-18 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

9 to 36 months following publication

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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