Rituximab to Treat Hepatitis C-Associated Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

April 10, 2012 updated by: Michael C Sneller, MD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Rituximab (Anti-CD20) for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Associated Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of Rituximab (anti-CD20) in the treatment of patients with hepatitis C associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (HCV-CV) who have failed or are intolerant to interferon-alpha/ribavirin therapy. Up to 75 patients may be screened to enroll 34 adult patients with active HCV-CV in this randomized, non-blinded phase I/II trial. Patients will be randomized to receive either Rituximab 375 mg/M(2) on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 beginning at the time of enrollment or standard therapy. Patients in both groups will be maintained on stable doses of any immunosuppressive therapies that they were receiving at the time of enrollment. Response to Rituximab will be assessed by clinical and laboratory parameters.

Although the cause of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is not known, a critical component is the presence of cryoglobulins-abnormal proteins that white blood cells called B lymphocytes produce in response to the chronic hepatitis C infection. Rituximab decreases the number of B cells. The Food and Drug Administration approved Rituximab in 1997 for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Patients between 18 and 75 years of age with hepatitis C and signs and symptoms of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis may be eligible for this study. They must have failed, or been unable to tolerate, treatment with IFN-a and ribavirin. Candidates will be screened with a history and physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood and urine tests, 24-hour urine collection and chest X-ray, if clinically indicated.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive Rituximab upon entering the study or 6 months after entering the study. Those whose treatment is delayed 6 months will be followed once a month at NIH for disease evaluation and blood tests during that time.

Patients will be given Rituximab intravenously (through a vein) once a week for 4 weeks. For the first dose, patients will be admitted to the hospital for at least 24 hours after the infusion for monitoring. Subsequent infusions will be given on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on how the infusion is tolerated. The day before each infusion they will have a history and physical examination, blood work, and other tests, such as X-rays, as clinically indicated.

After the four infusions, patients will be followed for drug side effects and response to treatment. They will have blood tests every week for 4 weeks and will then return to NIH for 1 day every month for 12 months for a physical examination, blood tests, and X-rays, if medically indicated. Visits may be more frequent, if necessary, and patients may be asked to stay longer than a day if test findings requ...

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Although the cause of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is not known, a critical component is the presence of cryoglobulins-abnormal proteins that white blood cells called B lymphocytes produce in response to the chronic hepatitis C infection. Rituximab decreases the number of B cells. The Food and Drug Administration approved Rituximab in 1997 for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Patients between 18 and 75 years of age with hepatitis C and signs and symptoms of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis may be eligible for this study. They must have failed, or been unable to tolerate, treatment with IFN-a and ribavirin. Candidates will be screened with a history and physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood and urine tests, 24-hour urine collection and chest X-ray, if clinically indicated.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive Rituximab or standard therapy for 6 months after entering the study. All patients will be followed once a month at NIH for disease evaluation and blood tests during that time.

Patients will be given Rituximab 375 mg/m2intravenously once a week for 4 weeks. The day before each infusion they will have a history and physical examination, blood work, and other tests, such as X-rays, as clinically indicated.

After the four infusions, patients will be followed for drug side effects and response to treatment. They will have blood tests every week for 4 weeks and will then return to NIH for 1 day every month for 12 months for a physical examination, blood tests, and X-rays, if medically indicated. Visits may be more frequent, if necessary.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

47

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

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

16 years to 73 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Diagnosis of HCV-CV: must have all of the following

HCV infection documented by serology and/or plasma HCV RNA.

One or more organ system with objective evidence of active vasculitis such as:

Palpable purpura;

Glomerulonephritis (defined by the presence of glomerular hematuria and/or new or worsening proteinuria);

Acute peripheral neuropathy.

Detectable cryoglobulins and/or RF.

Failure of treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin to control manifestations of HCV-CV OR intolerance to IFN-alpha/ribavirin regimen.

Patients must have a personal physician responsible for the care of their HCV.

Ages of 18 and 75 years

Willingness to use effective contraception during and for 12 months following Rituximab treatment. Effective contraception methods include abstinence, surgical sterilization of either partner, barrier methods such as diaphragm, condom, cap or sponge, or hormonal contraception.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Recent (within 4 weeks) initiation of or increase in immunosuppressive therapy.

Active systemic infection (other than hepatitis C).

Pregnancy or breast feeding.

Prior treatment with Rituximab.

Known allergy to murine proteins.

Significant renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min).

Presence of life-threatening HCV-CV; defined as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (defined as a doubling of the serum creatinine over a 3 month period), CNS vasculitis, cardiac disease due to active vasculitis, or GI vasculitis (defined by ischemic bowel, perforation, or infarction).

Significant hepatic insufficiency as manifested by Child-Pugh classification of B or C.

History of variceal bleeding, encephalopathy.

History of liver transplantation.

Co-infection with either HBV or HIV.

Any underlying medical condition that in the judgment of the investigator would put the patient at increased risk for serious infusion-related adverse events.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Immediate treatment
Patients receive treatment with four weekly infusions of rituximab 375mg/m2 immediately following randomization.
Drug: Rituximab
anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody
Other: Delayed treatment
Patients treated with standard therapy (corticosteroids, plasma exchange, etc.). After 6 months, they are eligibile to cross over and receive four weekly infusions of rituximab.
Drug: Rituximab
anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percent of Patients in Remission
Time Frame: month 6
The primary endpoint was the difference in rate of remission between the 2 arms at 6 months from study entry.
month 6

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Michael C Sneller, MD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

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

December 1, 2001

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 5, 2002

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2002

First Posted (Estimate)

January 7, 2002

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 16, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 10, 2012

Last Verified

April 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 020096
  • 02-I-0096 (Other Identifier: NIAID Intramural protocol number)

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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