Clinical Trial: Rituximab for the Treatment of Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Rituximab Therapy for the Induction of Remission and Tolerance in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (ITN021AI)

Brief Summary:

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is the most common type of small blood vessel inflammation in adults. ANCA-associated vasculitis includes Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Rituximab is a man-made antibody used to treat certain types of cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of rituximab in treating patients with WG and MPA.

Study hypothesis: Rituximab is not inferior to conventional therapy in its ability to induce disease remission by Month 6.


Detailed Summary:

Current conventional therapies for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are associated with high incidences of treatment failure, disease relapse, substantial toxicity, and patient morbidity and mortality. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study will evaluate the efficacy of rituximab with glucocorticoids in inducing disease remission in patients with severe forms of AAV (WG and MPA).

The study consists of two phases: a 6-month remission induction phase, followed by a 12-month remission maintenance phase. All participants will receive at least 1 g of pulse intravenous methylprednisolone or a dose-equivalent of another glucocorticoid preparation. Depending on the participant's condition, he or she may receive up to 3 days of intravenous methylprednisolone for a total of 3 g of methylprednisolone (or a dose-equivalent). During the remission induction phase, all participants will receive oral prednisone daily (1 mg/kg/day, not to exceed 80 mg/day). Prednisone tapering will be completed by the Month 6 study visit.

Next, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms. Arm 1 participants will receive rituximab (375 mg/m^2) infusions once weekly for 4 weeks and cyclophosphamide (CYC) placebo daily for 3 to 6 months. Arm 2 participants will receive rituximab placebo infusions once weekly for 4 weeks and CYC daily for 3 to 6 months. During the remission maintenance phase, participants in Arm 1 will discontinue CYC placebo and start oral azathioprine (AZA) placebo daily until Month 18. Participants in Arm 2 will discontinue CYC and start AZA daily until Month 18. Participants who fail treatment before Month 6 will be crossed over to the other treatment arm unless there are specific contraindications. Participants in either group who reach clinical remission before they complete 6 mo
Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Current Primary Outcome: Disease Remission [ Time Frame: 6 months post-randomization ]

A Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) score of 0 with prednisone taper successfully completed at six months. The BVAS/WG is a validated disease activity index. The BVAS/WG is designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis and consists of a set of items divided into nine organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease.


Original Primary Outcome: Ability of rituximab to induce complete remission during the first 6 months after randomization

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Rate of Selected Adverse Events Experienced by Participants Receiving Rituximab Versus Those Receiving Conventional Therapy [ Time Frame: Through common close-out (defined as 18 months after the last participant is enrolled in the trial) ]
    The adverse event rate for the following events considered related to vasculitis: Death; Grade 2 or higher leukopenia or thrombocytopenia; Grade 3 or higher infections; Hemorrhagic cystitis (grade 2 or lower needs confirmation by cytoscopy); Malignancy; Venous thromboembolic event (deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism); Hospitalization resulting either from the disease or from a complication due to study treatment; Infusion reactions (within 24 hours of infusion) that result in the cessation of further infusions (including cytokine release allergic reaction); Cerebrovascular accident
  • Percentage of Participants Who Have a BVAS/WG Score of 0 and Have Successfully Completed the Glucocorticoid Taper by 6 Months Post-randomization [ Time Frame: 6 months post-randomization ]

    The 2-sided 95% CI of the percentage of participants who have a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and have successfully completed the glucocorticoid taper by 6 months post-randomization and the 2-sided 95% CI of the difference between two arms for assessing the superiority of rituximab to control

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

  • The Duration of Complete Remission (BVAS=0, Off Glucocorticoids), the Time to Limited and/or Severe Flare After Remission in the Two Treatment Groups [ Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization ]

    Duration of complete remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and a completing taper of Prednisone to the first flare, BVAS/WG score of greater than 0, or an increase in Prednisone dosing.

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

  • The Duration of Remission (BVAS=0), the Time to Limited and/or Severe Flare After Remission in the Two Treatment Groups [ Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization ]
    Duration of remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and a completing taper of glucocorticoid by 6 months post-randomization to the first flare, BVAS/WG score of greater than 0, or an increase in Prednisone dosing.
  • Time to Remission (BVAS=0) From the Visit 1 Baseline Visit in the Two Treatment Groups [ Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization ]

    Time to complete remission is defined as the number of days from baseline visit (Visit 1) to a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0.

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

  • Time to Complete Remission (BVAS=0, Off Glucocorticoids) From the Visit 1 Baseline Visit in the Two Treatment Groups [ Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization ]

    Time to complete remission is defined as the number of days from baseline visit (Visit 1) to a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and completing taper of glucocorticoid by 6 months post-randomization.

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease



Original Secondary Outcome: Rate of Selected Adverse Events Experienced by Participants Receiving Rituximab Versus Those Receiving Conventional Therapy

Information By: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Dates:
Date Received: February 24, 2005
Date Started: January 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: March 23, 2017
Last Verified: March 2017