Clinical Trial: Effect of Ranitidine on Hyper-IgE Recurrent Infection (Job's) Syndrome

Study Status: Terminated
Recruit Status: Terminated
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Study Assessing the Role of Pathogen-Specific IgE and Histamine Release in the Hyper-IgE Syndrome and the Effect

Brief Summary:

This study will examine the safety and effectiveness of ranitidine (Zantac) in patients with Hyper-IgE recurrent infection syndrome, a disease characterized by recurrent infections of the ears, sinuses, lungs and skin, and abnormal levels of the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Patients age 2 and older who have Hyper-IgE recurrent infection syndrome and who have had chronic or frequent infections in the last 12 months may be eligible for this study.

Participants are randomly assigned to take ranitidine or placebo in pill or liquid form twice a day for 12 months. In addition to treatment, patients undergo the following procedures during visits scheduled on day 0 of the study (baseline) and at 3, 12, 15 and 24 months. Evaluations at 6, 9, 18 and 21 months are by telephone.

  • Medical history and physical examination - baseline and 3 and 24 months.
  • Clinical severity score - baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months.
  • Dermatology exam - baseline and 3, 12, 15 and 24 months.
  • Pulmonary function test - baseline and 12 and 24 months.
  • Chest CT - baseline and 12 and 24 months.
  • Quality of life assessment - baseline and 3, 12, 15 and 24 months.
  • Pregnancy testing - baseline and 3, 12, 15 and 24 months.
  • HIV test - baseline and 12 and 24 months.
  • Contraception evaluation - baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months.
  • Missed school/work days assessment - baseline and 3, 12, 15 and 24 months.
  • Medication a

    Detailed Summary: Hyper-immunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome (HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by eczema, recurrent skin and lung infections, elevated serum IgE, and multiple connective tissue and skeletal abnormalities. The autosomal dominant form of HIES is caused primarily by a mutation in the STAT3 gene. Patients with HIES produce IgE antibodies specific for Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, two of the common pathogens in this population. We hypothesize that the presence of pathogen-specific IgE, combined with continuous exposure to these ubiquitous agents, leads to chronic IgE-mediated histamine release from basophils and mast cells, with subsequent pathogen-specific immune tolerance and an increase in pathogen-specific T regulatory cells. We plan to test this hypothesis through clinical and immunologic evaluation of HIES patients before, during, and after histamine-2 receptor (H2) blocker therapy with ranitidine through a prospective, placebo-controlled crossover study. We chose this therapy because histamine has been shown to stimulate interleukin-10 (IL-10), a major down regulatory cytokine, through the H2 receptor, and clinical improvement has been observed in several patients treated with H2 blockers. Laboratory studies will include determinations of pathogen-specific immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4):IgE ratios, basophil activation, IL-10 producing regulatory T-cells, cellular proliferative responses to staphylococcal and candidal antigens, and functional testing of regulatory T-cells. Clinical evaluations will include comprehensive history and physical examination, dermatologic evaluation, genetic evaluation for clinical severity scoring of HIES, pulmonary function tests, and chest computerized tomography (CT) examination. Through this study, we will further our understanding of the immunologic abnormalities of HIES and determine whether a larger prospective, double-blind trial of H2 blockade as adjunctive therapy for HIES is indicated.
    Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

    Current Primary Outcome: Number of Infections in Subjects With HIES. [ Time Frame: 1 year on intervention ]

    Patients received one year of treatment medication and one year of placebo. New infections (bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic) were defined as those requiring an addition or change of an antimicrobial (including topical, oral or intravenous therapies) or those requiring a medical procedure (i.e., incision and drainage of a skin abscess, warm soaks to aid abscess drainage or sinus drainage).


    Original Primary Outcome: To determine whether Ranitidine therapy decreases the number of infections in subjects with HIES.

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • New Skin Infections [ Time Frame: 12 months placebo/12 months ranitidine ]
      Patients reported the number of new skin infections
    • New Lung Infections [ Time Frame: 12 months placebo and 12 months ranitidine ]
      Number of new infection while on placebo or study drug
    • Clinical Severity Score [ Time Frame: one year on ranitidine and one year on placebo ]
      Scoring that was completed every 3 months. Clinical severity scored had outcomes that could range from 0 to 121 with 0 being the least severe and 121 being the most severe.


    Original Secondary Outcome: To determine if Ranitidine therapy in HIES subjects decreases chronic infections, clinical severity, different types of infection; number of days missed from work/school; improves the patient's quality of life; improves skin findings during therapy.

    Information By: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

    Dates:
    Date Received: September 8, 2007
    Date Started: September 2007
    Date Completion:
    Last Updated: February 1, 2013
    Last Verified: February 2013