Tacrolimus Combined With Low-dose Prednisone for Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

February 21, 2021 updated by: Da, Yuwei, M.D.

Effectiveness and Safety of Tacrolimus Combined With Low-dose Prednisone for Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis: A Real-world Study

This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tacrolimus combined with low-dose prednisone in the management of myasthenia gravis patients, compared to tacrolimus as initial immune monotherapy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

This is a single center, observational real-world study recruiting myasthenia gravis patients from Neurology Departments of Xuanwu Hospital, aiming to compare effectiveness and safety of 2 different inmunotherapy for MG. The study plans to recruit 160 MG participants and divides into 2 treatment groups according to physician's judgment and preferences of patients, one is combined immunotherapy group in which tacrolimus added with low-dose prednisone (0.25mg/kg/d), and the other is tacrolimus monotherapy group. Both groups can be treated with pyridostigmine to relieve symptoms. Patients are followed up at 1, 3 and 6 month after treatment initiation to assess the efficacy of both regimen. The primary outcome is the change of MG-ADL scores. Also, liver and renal functions are tested to monitor any side effects. Patients' clinical records are uploaded to an online database.

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.
Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

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.
160

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 Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Beijing
      • Beijing, Beijing, China, 100053
        • Recruiting
        • Yuwei Da

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 and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with Myasthenia Gravis

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18

  • Clinical Diagnosis of MG is confirmed based on typical clinical features of fluctuating muscle weakness, with at least 1 of the following supporting evidence:

    1. positive clinical response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
    2. positive AchR-Ab or MuSK-Ab testing
    3. decrement >10% in repetitive nerve stimulations study (RNS) or increased jitter on single-fibre electromyography (SFEMG)
  • MGFA clinical classification: I - IV
  • Baseline MG-ADL ≥ 3
  • Disease course from onset to enrollment ≤ 12 months
  • Cooperation to followup
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Initiation of immunosuppressant for MG prior to screening, including Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, Azathioprine, Methotrexate, Cyclosporine A, Mycophenolate Mofetil, Tacrolimus and Cyclophosphamide
  • Treatment of immunosuppressant for other concomitant disease 6 months prior to recruitment
  • Rapid immunosuppressive treatments like Intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange 1 month prior to recruitment
  • Thymectomy within 3 months prior to Screening
  • Concomitant chronic degenerative, psychiatric, or neurologic disorder that can cause weakness or fatigue
  • Consciousness, dementia or schizophrenia
  • Pregnancy or lactation, unwillingness to avoid pregnancy
  • Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, Liver or kidney dysfunction, Cataract, Severe osteoporosis, Femoral head necrosis; Hyperkalemia, HIV, Acute or chronic infection
  • Other conditions that would preclude participation

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

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
Combined Immunotherapy

MG patients are treated with tacrolimus combined with low-dose prednisone (0.25mg/kg/d).

Symptomatic treatment like pyridostigmine bromide can be added to relieve symptoms (≤480mg/d).
Drug: Pyridostigmine, Prednisone, Tacrolimus
Dose of tacrolimus should be initiated based on CYP3A5*3 polymorphism and adjusted to achieve blood trough concentration of 4.8-10.0 ng/ml. Prednisone is administrated with an initial dose of 0.25mg/kg/d and started to tamper with the achievement of MMS or the presence of any intolerable side effects. The rate of tampering is considered by the physician, usually no more than 5mg/month. If the participants failed to maintain MMS, dose of prednisone should be increased 5mg/week to 0.25mg/kg/d and maintained until MMS reached again. After MMS sustained for 1 month, prednisone dose would be tapered again with 2.5mg/month. Calcium and potassium supplements and gastric mucosa protectors could be addressed to avoid any adverse effects of prednisone. Treatment regimens are determined based on the physician's judgment and preferences of the patients. This study was observational and do not change the clinical course of patients.
Other Names:
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide
  • Deltacortone/Meticorten/Prednisone Acetate Tablets
  • Prograf/FK506
Tacrolimus monotherapy
MG patients are treated with tacrolimus as initial immune monotherapy. Symptomatic treatment like pyridostigmine bromide can be added to relieve symptoms (≤480mg/d).
Drug: Pyridostigmine, Tacrolimus
Dose of tacrolimus should be initiated based on CYP3A5*3 polymorphism and adjusted to achieve blood trough concentration of 4.8-10.0 ng/ml. Treatment regimens are determined based on the physician's judgment and preferences of the patients. This study was observational and do not change the clinical course of patients.
Other Names:
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide
  • Prograf/FK506

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
Change of MG-specific Activities of Daily Living scale (MG-ADL) from Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
The MG-ADL is an 8-item scale to assess symptoms of myasthenia gravis patients obtained by summing the responses to each individual item (Grades: 0,1,2,3). The score ranges from 0 to 24.
Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months

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
Time to achievement of minimal manifestations (MMS) or better
Time Frame: From Baseline to 6 months
The time duration from treatment initiation to the achievement of MMS or better. Clinical statuses of patients are assessed and categorized according to Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status (PIS). MM or better includes Minimal Manifestation (MM), Pharmacologic Remission (PR) or Complete Remission (CR).
From Baseline to 6 months
Time to achievement of Patient-Acceptable Symptom States
Time Frame: From Baseline to 6 months
The Patient-Acceptable Symptom States question is a simple yes or no query that asked: "Considering all the ways you are affected by Myasthenia, if you had to stay in your current state for the next month, would you say that your current disease state status is satisfactory?" This question reflects the patients assessment of their own health.
From Baseline to 6 months
Change of Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) Scores from Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
The QMG is a 13-item scale which measures ocular, bulbar, limb function and respiratory function. The total score ranges from 0 (no myasthenic findings) to 39 (maximal myasthenic deficits) obtained by summing the responses to each individual item (None=0, Mild=1, Moderate=2, Severe=3).
Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Change of Myasthenia Gravis Quantity-of-Life Scale (MG-QoL15) from Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
The MG-QOL15 is helpful in informing the clinician about the patient's perception of the extent of and dissatisfaction with myasthenia gravis (MG)-related dysfunction. MG-QOL15 evaluates patients' aspects about physical status, social adaptation and mental well-being.
Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Changes of MG-ADL subscores from baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Subscores of ADL items can reflect patients' assessment about different MG-related dysfunctions, including ptosis, diplopia, talking, chewing, swallowing, breathing and limbs function.
Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Serum IL-2 level
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Tacrolimus exerts its immunosuppressive effect by inhibiting the early phase gene expression during T-cell activation, including the pro-inflammation IL-2 gene. Thus serum IL-2 is tested as a target of tacrolimus and also a marker of in vivo auto-immune status after treatment.
Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Treatment Failure
Time Frame: Baseline to 6 months
Treatment failure is defined as discontinuation of tacrolimus therapy in patients who failed to achieve MMS or better or suffered from exacerbations (MG-ADL or QMG scores increase 50%) or myasthenia crisis.
Baseline to 6 months
Withdrawal
Time Frame: Baseline to 6 months
Participants quit the clinical trial for any reason including unsatisfied response, economic burden or poor compliance to treatment protocol. Patients may quit at any time they want.
Baseline to 6 months

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.
Da, Yuwei, M.D.

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.
  • Study Chair: Yuwei Da, M.D., Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

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.
January 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

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.
December 31, 2023

Study Completion (Anticipated)

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.
October 31, 2024

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).
February 21, 2021

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.
February 21, 2021

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.
February 24, 2021

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.
February 24, 2021

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.
February 21, 2021

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.
February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • 1.0

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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