Model Early Immunologic Stages of Pediatric Hematological Pre-lupus (PRELUDE)

June 25, 2026 updated by: University Hospital, Bordeaux

Model Early Immunologic Stages of Pediatric Hematological Pre-lupus in Order to Prevent SLE in Children.

Immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children is a pre-lupus condition if associated with the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), providing a unique model for understanding the natural history of autoimmunity, particularly that of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We will describe the shared and/or unique immunological pathways involved at diagnosis in 70 children with ITP and in 20 children with SLE, and compare them between ITP-ANA- (more often transient), ITP-ANA+ (pre-lupus condition, more often persistent) and SLE

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The development of an autoimmune disease (AID) requires several years. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) appear several years before the onset of the disease. However, it is difficult to identify the early mechanisms of autoimmunity in humans as most patients' samples are obtained at the time of diagnosis.

We hypothesize that immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children provides a unique model for understanding the initial mechanisms leading to autoimmunity. Children with ITP have common immune system dysfunctions leading to the production of anti-platelet antibodies. However, despite this supposedly common dysfunction, the course and degree of loss of tolerance of the immune system are very heterogeneous: the disease is transient in 75 to 80% of cases, and 15 to 20% of children with ITP have ANA and their course is usually persistent or chronic. This subgroup of children with hematological AID, ITP ANA+ meets the criteria for a broader form of AID: pre-lupus. We have recently shown that 16% of these children with pre-lupus / ITP-ANA+ progressed to complete SLE within a median of 3.8 years. Why do some children have transient or persistent ITP? limited or systemic ITP? We aim to describe the shared and/or unique immunological pathways involved at diagnosis in children with ITP ANA- (transient or persistent), with ITP ANA+ (pre-lupus condition, transient or persistent), and in patients with SLE (persistent by definition) In this exploratory, prospective, bi-centric cohort study, we will include 70 children with ITP and 20 children with SLE newly diagnosed, over 36 months with a 3-month follow-up for children with ITP-ANA- and SLE and a 48-month follow-up for children with ITP-ANA+. ANA positivity will be defined by a titer ≥ 1/160. Blood samples will be collected at inclusion and at 3 months (bio-collection), and further each 6 months for children with ITP-ANA+. ITP status will be defined at 3 months: transient or persistent. We will analyze the signaling pathways (B and T lymphocytes, cytokines, disruption of tolerance and inactivation of X) involved in these different pathophysiological distinct subgroups

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

105

Phase

  • 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 Backup

Study Locations

      • Bordeaux, France, 33076
        • Chu de Bordeaux- Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin - Hôpital des Enfants
        • Contact:
      • Toulouse, France, 31026
        • CHU Toulouse - Hôpital des Enfants
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

  • Inclusion criteria:

    • For patients :

      • Child or adolescent with newly diagnosed ITP or SLE according to the specific definitions of ITP or SLE, prior to any treatment,
      • Over 1 and under 18 years of age at diagnosis, weighing more than 7 kg.
      • Written consent from parents or guardians,
      • Patient affiliated to a social security scheme.
    • For controls :

      • Over 1 and under 18 years of age at diagnosis, weighing more than 7 kg.
      • Follow-up in the day hospital at the Bordeaux University Hospital, for a condition that does not affect the immune system
      • Matched on age,
      • Written consent from parents or guardians,
      • Patient affiliated to a social security scheme
  • Exclusion criteria:

    • For patients :

      • ITP secondary to a known cause: previous or concomitant immune deficiency, bone marrow or organ transplantation, other autoimmune disease, Evans syndrome (autoimmune hemolytic anemia or autoimmune neutropenia present at ITP diagnosis) or cancer with immunosuppressive therapy.
      • Treatment with immunomodulation or immunosuppressants (including immunoglobulins, corticoids, hydroxychloroquine), started prior to inclusion (day of sampling).
      • Pregnant women, women in labour and breastfeeding women
    • For controls :

      • Suffering from an immunological disease,
      • Infection within fifteen days prior to inclusion,
      • Immunomodulatory therapy.
      • Pregnant women, women in labour and breastfeeding women

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: Other
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Controls
Blood sampling is a routine biological procedure performed under the same conditions as during a follow-up consultation.
Monitoring for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus according to SLICC 2012 classification criteria
Other: ITP-ANA-
Blood sampling is a routine biological procedure performed under the same conditions as during a follow-up consultation.
Monitoring for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus according to SLICC 2012 classification criteria
Other: ITP-ANA+
Blood sampling is a routine biological procedure performed under the same conditions as during a follow-up consultation.
Monitoring for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus according to SLICC 2012 classification criteria
Other: SLE
Blood sampling is a routine biological procedure performed under the same conditions as during a follow-up consultation.
Monitoring for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus according to SLICC 2012 classification criteria

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Characterisation of B and T lymphocyte populations
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 visit.
Characterisation of B and T lymphocyte populations through the study of surface markers and intracellular factors. This panel will, in particular, enable the identification of effector B cells such as plasma blasts, subsets of auto-reactive 'double-negative' (DN) B cells, regulatory B cells, and follicular T helper (Tfh) and peripheral extra-follicular T helper (Tph) cells. Each population will be compared between the patients and the control group.
Baseline, Month 3 visit.
Plasma markers
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 visit.
Soluble cytokines and factors regulating B-cell survival (BAFF, TACI, IL-6, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, IFN-β, TGF-β, and the IFN-regulated chemokine CXCL10) will be quantified in plasma using a customised multiplex Luminex assay. Interferon alpha levels will be specifically measured using ultra-sensitive SIMOA (Single Molecule Array) technology.
Baseline, Month 3 visit.
Plasma markers
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 visit.
Circulating plasma autoantigens - soluble P-selectin and CD40L derived from platelet activation - will be measured by ELISA. The levels of circulating and mitochondrial DNA will be measured by quantitative RT-PCR in collaboration with V. Sisirak (DR CNRS, Immunoconcept). The overall activity of plasma DNases will be determined by an in vitro DNA degradation assay.
Baseline, Month 3 visit.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Single-cell transcriptomic analysis
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 visit , Month 6 visit , Month 12 visit, Month 18 visit, Month 24 visit , Month 30 visit, Month 36 visit, Month 42 visit and Month 48 visit.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing, a single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we will be able to quantify and analyse the transcriptomes of lymphocytes B This will enable us to characterise heterogeneous cell populations, as well as to reconstruct cell development pathways and model transcriptomic dynamics.

This technique will enable the modelling of signalling pathways involving B lymphocytes in the subgroup of ITP patients with positive AAN titres, and the development of an algorithm and a mathematical model of the progression of these cellular and molecular markers

Baseline, Month 3 visit , Month 6 visit , Month 12 visit, Month 18 visit, Month 24 visit , Month 30 visit, Month 36 visit, Month 42 visit and Month 48 visit.
Single cell epigenetic analysis
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 visit , Month 6 visit , Month 12 visit, Month 18 visit, Month 24 visit , Month 30 visit, Month 36 visit, Month 42 visit and Month 48 visit.

Using single-cell ATAC sequencing, we will be able to analyse the regions of DNA accessible to the transcription machinery. This will enable us to identify regulatory programmes such as signalling pathways. The analysis will also reveal heterogeneity amongst B-cell subpopulations, which may respond differently to signals.

This will provide insight into the epigenetic status of genes, or at least into which factors regulate this signalling pathway and how the cell adjusts its response depending on its situation or stage of maturity, or on the signal itself.

Baseline, Month 3 visit , Month 6 visit , Month 12 visit, Month 18 visit, Month 24 visit , Month 30 visit, Month 36 visit, Month 42 visit and Month 48 visit.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jérôme GRANEL, MD, University Hospital, Bordeaux

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 (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2033

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 25, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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