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Intravenousimmunoglobulin (IVIg) for the Treatment of Inflammatory Myopathies

Primary Purpose

Dermatomyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis, Polymyositis

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Gamma Globulin
Sponsored by
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
About
Eligibility
Locations
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Dermatomyositis focused on measuring Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis, Muscle Immunopathology, Intravenous High-Dose Immunoglobulin, Inclusion Body Myositis

Eligibility Criteria

undefined - undefined (Child, Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Selected patients should have PM, IBM or DM. Specifically they should have a) proximal muscle weakness; b) no evidence of clinical, histological or family history of another neuromuscular illness; c) elevation of muscle enzymes during the course of the disease; d) typical skin rash in case of DM; and e) diagnostic muscle biopsy. Suitable candidates for IVIg should be patients with active, bonefide disease who: have been treated with steroids but had: a) no response or incomplete response (as defined by continued muscle weakness) to high-dose therapy or b) a good response to steroids but inability to taper the dose without a flare of disease activity or c) unacceptable steroid side effects such as gastrointestinal hemorrhages, osteonecrosis, hyperglycemia, extreme weight gain etc., and have been treated with one immunosuppressive drug (such as azathioprine, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, Cyclosporine) but without benefit or with unacceptable side effects. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Pregnant or nursing women (confirmed by a screening pregnancy test). Critically ill patients such as those requiring intravenous pressors for maintenance of cardiac output due to severe cardiomyopathy, patients with respiratory insufficiency and patients with severe muscle weakness requiring help for basic self care. Children below age 18. Patients with severe renal or hepatic disease, severe COPD or coronary artery disease or other systemic medical problems often seen when PM or DM is associated with severe cases of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma. Patients with known allergic reaction to IVIg. Serum IgA less than 11mg/dl.

Sites / Locations

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
November 3, 1999
Last Updated
March 3, 2008
Sponsor
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00001261
Brief Title
Intravenousimmunoglobulin (IVIg) for the Treatment of Inflammatory Myopathies
Official Title
The Efficacy of High-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Patients With Inflammatory Myopathies: A Three Month Randomized Trial With Option for Cross-Over
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2002
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
May 1990 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
undefined (undefined)
Study Completion Date
July 2002 (undefined)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Name of the Sponsor
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

4. Oversight

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Inflammatory myopathies are a group of muscle diseases characterized by muscle weakness, high levels of muscle enzymes in the blood, and inflammation of the tissue surrounding muscle fibers (endomysium). The diseases making up the inflammatory myopathies are grouped into three subsets: I) Polymyositis (PM) II) Dermatomyositis (DM) III) Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Inflammatory myopathies are thought to be autoimmune processes and are treated with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. However, many patients who initially respond to these treatments develop resistance to the therapy or experience side effects causing the treatments to be stopped. Researchers believe that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may provide patients with PM, DM, and IBM a safer and more effective alternative to standard therapies for the diseases. IVIg is a drug that has been used successfully to treat other immune-related diseases of the nervous system. The study will take 60 patients and divide them into two groups. Group one will receive 2 injections of IVIg once a month for three months. Group two will receive 2 injections of placebo "inactive injection of sterile water" once a month for three months. Following the three months of treatment, group one will begin taking the placebo and group two will begin taking IVIg for an additional 3 months. The drug will be considered effective if patients receiving it experience a significant improvement (>15%) in muscle strength.
Detailed Description
The inflammatory myopathies are a group of acquired muscle diseases characterized by subacute onset of progressive proximal muscle weakness, elevated serum muscle enzymes and endomysial inflammation. They comprise 3 clinically distinct subsets: polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM) and Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). Because immune-mediated mechanisms are primarily responsible for the clinical manifestations of these conditions, the treatment of choice is with corticosteroids or immunotherapy drugs. Although most of the patients initially respond to these drugs, a number of them become resistant or develop unacceptable side effects that necessitate their discontinuation. The need for a more effective and safe immunotherapy in patients with PM, DM or IBM prompted the present study using high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). IVIg is an immunomodulating agent which has been shown to be effective and safe in the treatment of a number of patients with immune-related neuromuscular diseases. This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 30 patients, who will receive IVIg or placebo for 3 months and then will cross-over to the alternate therapy for another period of 3 monthly infusions. The monthly dose of IVIg is 2 GM/Kg divided into two daily doses. The drug will be considered effective if patients experience an increase of more than 15% in their baseline muscle strength. Muscle strength will be assessed with a series of objective dynamometric measurements performed before and at the end of each monthly infusion.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Dermatomyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis, Polymyositis
Keywords
Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis, Muscle Immunopathology, Intravenous High-Dose Immunoglobulin, Inclusion Body Myositis

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Enrollment
120 (false)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Gamma Globulin

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Selected patients should have PM, IBM or DM. Specifically they should have a) proximal muscle weakness; b) no evidence of clinical, histological or family history of another neuromuscular illness; c) elevation of muscle enzymes during the course of the disease; d) typical skin rash in case of DM; and e) diagnostic muscle biopsy. Suitable candidates for IVIg should be patients with active, bonefide disease who: have been treated with steroids but had: a) no response or incomplete response (as defined by continued muscle weakness) to high-dose therapy or b) a good response to steroids but inability to taper the dose without a flare of disease activity or c) unacceptable steroid side effects such as gastrointestinal hemorrhages, osteonecrosis, hyperglycemia, extreme weight gain etc., and have been treated with one immunosuppressive drug (such as azathioprine, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, Cyclosporine) but without benefit or with unacceptable side effects. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Pregnant or nursing women (confirmed by a screening pregnancy test). Critically ill patients such as those requiring intravenous pressors for maintenance of cardiac output due to severe cardiomyopathy, patients with respiratory insufficiency and patients with severe muscle weakness requiring help for basic self care. Children below age 18. Patients with severe renal or hepatic disease, severe COPD or coronary artery disease or other systemic medical problems often seen when PM or DM is associated with severe cases of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma. Patients with known allergic reaction to IVIg. Serum IgA less than 11mg/dl.
Facility Information:
Facility Name
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
City
Bethesda
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
20892
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
1658649
Citation
Dalakas MC. Polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion-body myositis. N Engl J Med. 1991 Nov 21;325(21):1487-98. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199111213252107. No abstract available.
Results Reference
background
PubMed Identifier
2702045
Citation
Dalakas M. Treatment of polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1989 Dec;1(4):443-9. doi: 10.1097/00002281-198901040-00005. No abstract available.
Results Reference
background
PubMed Identifier
3599350
Citation
Roifman CM, Schaffer FM, Wachsmuth SE, Murphy G, Gelfand EW. Reversal of chronic polymyositis following intravenous immune serum globulin therapy. JAMA. 1987 Jul 24-31;258(4):513-5. doi: 10.1001/jama.1987.03400040111034. No abstract available.
Results Reference
background

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Intravenousimmunoglobulin (IVIg) for the Treatment of Inflammatory Myopathies

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