Active clinical trials for "Autoimmune Diseases"

Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease specific to the skin and mucous membranes characterized by the production of IgG4 isotype autoantibodies (AC) directed mainly against two proteins involved in interkeratinocyte adhesion: desmoglein 1 (Dsg1 ) and desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) (1-3). The binding of auto-AC on these proteins disrupts their adhesion function, resulting in inter-keratinocyte dysjunction called "acantholysis" responsible for the formation of intraepidermal bubbles. Treatment of pemphigus is typically based on systemic corticosteroids. High doses are usually necessary because of the frequent cortico-resistance of the disease. In recent years, several studies have focused on the treatment of pemphigus with anti-CD20: rituximab. The "Ritux 3" study (NCT00784589), a randomized, multicentre, randomized, non-blind clinical trial involving 90 patients, found that the use of rituximab as first-line therapy in combination with short corticosteroid therapy was extremely effective and that cortisone sparing was thus obtained limited the occurrence of side effects of treatment. On the other hand, this study showed that the 2 rituximab maintenance infusions of 500 mg to M12 and M18 allowed the maintenance of a high rate of complete remission up to the 3rd year of follow-up. Questions remain to explain the long-term action of rituximab, in particular that of the evolution of these auto-reactive B cells (specific DSG) away from lymphocyte reconstitution B, as well as the evolution of auto-AC. anti-DSG and total IgG CAs, so as to ensure that the disappearance of the auto-reactive compartment is not accompanied by a long-term overall immunosuppression (and therefore a possible risk of infection). The immunological changes induced in the long term as well as the precise mechanism of action of these treatments and particularly rituximab which allows a complete remission 5 years after treatment in many patients remain little known.

A Study of CD19/BCMA Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Therapy for Patients With Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Coral is conducting a large study comparing and predicting the relative effectiveness of different medications for autoimmune patients. Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) who have been diagnosed with either Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease and are undergoing treatment are eligible to participate. Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Psoriasis (Ps) will also be enrolled. A novel clinical test will be performed to predict the responsiveness of a particular patient to different immune modulating therapies used in these conditions.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (50 mg/d), administered for 12 weeks, on patients with mild Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO).

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Levamisole plus prednisone can further improve the efficacy，extend the remission duration and reduce the dosage of prednisone for newly diagnosed warm antibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

This study will assess the feasibility of using cytokine expression profiles in blood samples as a method for evaluating rheumatoid polyarthritis

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated disorder of peripheral nerves. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are a first line therapy for CIDP. The investigators used a transcriptomic approach to compare the gene expression profiles in the peripheral blood of patients having a CIDP or autoimmune diseases, before and after IVIg treatment, in order to identify their mechanism of action in this condition, to lead to a better understanding of CIDP pathophysiology, and potentially determine factors associated with the response to the treatment.

This pilot trial studies how well fluorine F 18 clofarabine positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) works in imaging patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. Fluorine F 18 clofarabine is an imaging agent or tracer which may be taken up by inflammatory tissue in the body. Diagnostic imaging, such as PET/CT scans, can be used to measure the amount of injected tracer that is taken up by inflammatory tissue. PET/CT scan may help to determine how fluorine F 18 clofarabine is distributed throughout the body.

The purpose of this study is to determine, in comparison to a placebo control, the response to two dosage strengths of a topical gel formulation of nitroglycerin, MQX-303, in the determination of finger blood flow and skin temperature in the fingers of patients with moderate to severe Raynaud's phenomenon, follwoing exposure to cold temperatures. Blood flow is determined by scanning laser Doppler equipment and skin temperature is measured using attached thermistor probes. Following baseline measurements, the study gel is applied, the hand is placed in a cold chamber, and then blood flow and skin temperature are monitored for the next two hours. Each patient will receive multiple doses on different days so that each can serve as his/her own control in interpreting the response.

This is a pilot imaging study to determine whether molecular imaging with 18^F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), 11^C-Methionine (MET) PET/CT, and salivary gland magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Dotarem (gadoterate meglumine) have the potential to characterize and quantify disease manifestations in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) subjects. This will be achieved by assessing the associations and consistency between the imaging techniques studied, clinical assessments (salivary and tear flow and clinical scores), laboratory biomarkers, and histological findings on minor salivary gland biopsy. In this study, healthy volunteers will be enrolled in Group A and pSS subjects in Group B. The subjects will be required to undergo screening and baseline assessments including unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow and Schirmer's test; an imaging visit (Visit 1); a sample collection visit (Visit 2) for repeat of selected baseline assessments and a minor salivary gland biopsy for pSS subjects only; and a follow-up visit. The total duration of participation in the study will be up to 11 weeks.