A Randomized, Multicenter Open Label Study Comparing Early Administration of Azathioprine Plus IFX to Steroids Plus Azathioprine for Acute Severe Colitis (ACTIVE)
Ulcerative Colitis
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Ulcerative Colitis
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age > 18 years.
- Diagnosis of UC according to Lennard-Jones criteria (Appendix 1).
- Endoscopically demonstrated colorectal lesions localized above the anal margin and extending at least up to 15cm proximally (Endoscopic Mayo subscore ≥ 2).
- Acute flare requiring hospitalization
- Severe acute flare of UC with a Lichtiger Index score > 10 at Day -3
- Adequate contraception for male or female subjects of childbearing potential, which will be continued throughout the study and at least 3 months after study termination.
3.2 EXCLUSION CRITERIA
- Pregnant or breast-feeding woman.
- Previous treatment with infliximab.
- Treatment with adalimumab or golimumab within 8 weeks before randomization
- Treatment with vedolizumab within 4 weeks before randomization
- Azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine treatment initiated more than 4 weeks before screening.
- Ongoing intravenous steroids for more than 96 hours at time of the screening
- Contraindication for anti-TNF therapy
- Indication for immediate surgery.
- History of colorectal dysplasia.
- Diagnosis of Crohn's disease or indeterminate colitis
- Positive stool tests for amoebiasis and/or positive bacteriological culture for Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia and Campylobacter and/or presence of Clostridium difficile B toxin in the stools.
- Renal failure (creatininemia > upper limit of normal laboratory value).
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- HIV, HBV viral infection (except the presence of positive anti-HBs antibodies) with serology not older than 3 months.
- Uncontrolled bacterial or active viral infection.
- Past medical history of malignant condition in the last 5 years (including leukaemia, lymphoma and myelodysplasia) except for baso-cellular cutaneous cancers.
- Past medical history of myocardial infarction or heart failure.
- Intradermal reaction to Tuberculin (Tubertest® 5 units) > 5mm or positive interferon-gamma release assay (Quantiferon®)
- Active tuberculosis
- Untreated latent tuberculosis (see national recommendations. Appendix 2).
- Abnormal blood count with polynuclear neutrophils < 1,500 G/L or white cells < 3,000, or platelets < 100,000 G/L.
- Unexplained rise higher than 3 times the normal level for transaminases, alkaline phosphatases and/or higher than twice the normal level for bilirubin.
- Severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition that may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in judgement of the investigator, would make the subject inappropriate for entry in this study.
- Subjects who, in the opinion of the investigator, will be uncooperative or unable to comply with study procedures.
- Participation in another clinical trial.
Sites / Locations
- Chu Besancon
- CHU de CLERMONT FERRAND- Hopital Estain
- APHP- Hopital BEAUJON
- Hopital Louis Mourrier
- Henri Mondor Hospital
- Chu Kremlin Bicetre
- CHRU Lille
- Chu Montpellier
- CHU de NICE- Hopital Archet 2
- Hopital Saint Louis
- Hopital St Antoine
- Hopital Saint Joseph
- CHU RENNES - Hopital Pontchaillou
- Chu Rouen
- Chu Saint Etienne
- CHU NANCY - Hopital Brabois
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Combination therapy arm
Azathioprine arm
Infliximab 5 mg/kg plus Azathioprine 2-2.5 mg/kg/day. Azathioprine will be introduced at day 5-7 and continued until week 52. Azathioprine dose regimen will be between 2 and 2.5 mg/kg/d, as close as possible to 2.5 mg/kg/d, or to 1.5 mg/kg/d for 6-mercaptopurine, in one daily intake.
Intravenous steroids will be continue until day 2. Then, steroid therapy will be orally administered at a dose of 40-60 mg/day ou 1 mg/kg/day prednisolone (or equivalent) and progressively reduced by 10mg step every week to 20mg per day, and then reduced by 5mg step every week until stopped. Hydrocortisone intake to prevent steroid weaning will be authorized until supradrenal function normalization. In patients with clinical response at day 7, Azathioprine will be introduced at day 5-7 and continued until week 52. Azathioprine dose regimen will be between 2 and 2.5 mg/kg/d, as close as possible of 2.5 mg/kg/d, or of 1.5 mg/kg/d for 6-mercaptopurine, in one daily intake.