Efficacy of Short Course of Intravenous Dexamethasone and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Infection-Related Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (isHLH) (isHLH-IVD/IVIg)

October 1, 2026 updated by: Deba Prasad Dhibar, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate and Compare the Efficacy of Short Course of Intravenous Dexamethasone and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Infection-Related Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH)

Rationale/Gaps in Existing Knowledge: Therapy of Infection-associated Secondary Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) in adult lacks evidence from randomized trial guiding first-line immunomodulation and current therapeutic practice primarily extrapolated from decades old pediatric HLH protocols and retrospective studies. In presence of infection very expensive therapy with intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is preferred over Dexamethasone, however the comparative efficacy of IVIG and Dexamethasone alone remains undefined, especially in resource-constraints settings. (ii) Novelty: This will be among the first randomized controlled trials in adults with infection-associated sHLH, directly comparing efficacy of IVIG with Dexamethasone. The study uniquely integrates clinical outcomes with economic feasibility in a low-middle income setting. (iii) Objectives: Primary objectives will be to compare the efficacy of intravenous (IV) Dexamethasone and IVIG in achieving clinical remission and recovery of HLH-associated cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, GM-CSF) and Ferritin level. Secondary objectives include assessment of hematologic recovery, adverse events, and short-term mortality. (iv)Method: In this Randomized controlled open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial participants with sHLH, will be allocated (1:1) to receive either short-course of IV Dexamethasone or IVIG along with infection-directed standard care and will be followed-up for 4 weeks to evaluate predefined clinical outcome and laboratory parameters. (v) Expected Outcome: The study aims to establish whether IV Dexamethasone is non-inferior to IVIG for achieving clinical remission, recovery of HLH-associated cytokines level and reduction of short-term mortality. Results are expected to reform evidence-based, cost-effective therapeutic strategies for infection-associated sHLH and improve access to care in resource-constraint healthcare systems.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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.

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 (Estimated)

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.
116

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.
  • Phase 3

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.

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Gender: Male/female
  • h-Score probability ≥ 80%
  • Known microbiological etiology
  • Mild HLH not responding to infection specific targeted antimicrobial therapy (> 72 hours)
  • Mild HLH developing new organ dysfunction
  • Moderate to severe HLH with life threatening organ dysfunction

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Primary (familial) HLH
  • Malignancy associated HLH
  • HLH associated with autoimmune disease
  • EBV associated HLH
  • Pregnancy
  • Receiving immune modulator therapy within 2 moths
  • Participants with HIV
  • Consent not given
  • Known hypersensitivity to IVIG or Dexamethasone
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Chronic kidney disease

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: IVIg

Will receive intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy
Drug: Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy

Injection IVIg (400 mg/kg Body weight) over an hour IV infusion X 5 days (total cumulative dose 2g/kg).

Drug: Targeted antimicrobial therapy & standard care

Infection specific targeted antimicrobial therapy along with standard medical care
Experimental: IVD

Will receive intravenous Dexamethasone (IVD)
Drug: Targeted antimicrobial therapy & standard care

Infection specific targeted antimicrobial therapy along with standard medical care

Drug: Intravenous Dexamethasone (IVD) therapy

Injection Dexamethasone (10mg/m2) in 100 ml 0.9% normal saline (NS) over half an hour IV infusion X 3 days

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
Clinical remission
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Number of participants become persistently asymptomatic without fever for ≥72 hours with h-Score probability <80% and without any HLH-related new organ dysfunction at 1 week and 4 weeks of the IVIG/IVD intervention
4 weeks
The recovery of HLH-associated cytokines
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Number of participants having reduction of HLH-associated cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, GM-CSF) and Ferritin level from the pre-intervention baseline at 1 week and 4 weeks of the IVIG/IVD intervention
4 weeks

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
Recovery of the hematological parameters
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Number of participants with recovery or normalization of the hematological parameters (hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, and platelet count)
4 weeks
Adverse events/ adverse drug reactions
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Number of incidence of any adverse events and adverse drug reactions
4 weeks
Duration of hospital stay
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Number of days of hospital admission
4 weeks
Incidence of relapse of HLH: Recurrence of HLH after achieving clinical remission
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Number of participants having recurrence of HLH after achieving clinical remission
4 weeks

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.
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

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.
Indian Council of Medical Research

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: Deba Prasad Dhibar, MD, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

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)

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.
October 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 30, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 30, 2029

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).
October 1, 2026

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.
October 1, 2026

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.
October 6, 2026

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.
October 6, 2026

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.
October 1, 2026

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.
October 1, 2026

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.
  • PGI/IEC/2026/SPL-1447

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

All the reasonable data requests should be submitted to the principal investigator (DPD) for consideration.

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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