View clinical trials related to Autoimmune Diseases.
Filter by:Autoimmune diseases present a special challenge to clinicians and the aim of this protocol is to serve as a last-line effort for patients with unmanageable disease. The primary purpose of this study is to assess feasibility in terms of toxicity and engraftment of a less toxic, nonablative conditioning regimen of Campath-1H, moderate dose fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide for patients with severe autoimmune diseases.
Rituximab (a monoclonal antibody raised against CD20) is used to treat various immune disorders. In some cases such as treatment of humoral acute rejection of renal transplant, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, vasculitis or cryoglobulinemia, rituximab is often associated with plasma exchange. The pharmacokinetic of the rituximab can be affected by plasma exchange but the knowledge is poor in this matter. The aim of the study is to explore the influence of plasma exchange on the pharmacokinetic of rituximab. The results of this study should conclude if plasma exchange leads to a significant decrease of plasma concentration of rituximab or not, and if the decreased of the concentration is associated with a decrease in efficacy.
Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in for more than 2,500 years. Ashwagandha is one of the most widely utilized herbs in the system. It is thought to affect the endocrine, immune, nervous, and cardiopulmonary systems. This study is designed as a preliminary investigation of the effects of Ashwagandha on stress, inflammation, and immune modulation. Participants will take the liquid extract in cow's milk twice a day for five days. The results of initial, one-day, and final blood draws will be compared to determine participant's beginning and ending levels of cortisol, inflammatory cytokines, and immune-cell activation (CD4 T-cells, CD8 T-cells, B cells and natural killer cells). Measurements will be completed using flow cytometry and ELISA assay. The purpose of this study is to determine which effects of Ashwagandha are most suitable for further investigation.
In the Netherlands, the human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination will be added to the National Vaccination Program for girls to protect against the development of cervical cancer. The vaccine protects against HPV type 16 & 18, which cause about 75% of cervical cancer. Studies have shown that the vaccine is effective in healthy subjects in preventing infection by HPV 16 & 18. However, no evidence exists on the immunogenicity and safety of HPV vaccination in patients with an immune system disorder, such as primary humoral immunodeficiency (i.e. hypogammaglobulinemia) or autoimmune diseases. Concerns exist that vaccination may cause an aggravation of the underlying disease. In addition, the immune response to vaccination may be diminished due to immunosuppressive therapy or the underlying disease. Objective: The primary goal of the current study is to study the immunogenicity of HPV vaccination in patients with an autoimmune disease and a primary humoral immunodeficiency. Based on retrospective analysis with other vaccines we hypothesize that patients with autoimmune diseases who are under immunosuppressive medication and patients with a immune system disorder have a decreased serological response to HPV vaccination, and that the produced HPV antibodies titers decrease more rapidly than in healthy individuals. The secondary objective is to explore safety of HPV vaccination and immune regulatory mechanisms induced by vaccination in a subset of patients. The investigators hypothesize that HPV vaccination is safe and that HPV-induced regulatory T cells are able to prevent an increase in the activity of an autoimmune disease.
The purpose of this pilot trial is to determine whether a conversion from calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to a regimen consisting of efalizumab and sirolimus is associated with an increase in T regulatory cells, white cells that control the immune system and can prevent autoimmune diseases like arthritis or rejection of foreign organs,and does not result in an increase in acute rejection.
While glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants ameliorate manifestations of autoimmune diseases in many patients, current therapies are insufficient to control the disease in a subset of patients, and their clinical prognosis remains poor due to the development of vital organ failure, cumulative drug toxicity and to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and malignancy. Immunoablative chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has recently emerged as a promising experimental therapy for severely affected patients, providing them the potential to achieve treatment-free, long-term remission. The rationale for applying ASCT to autoimmune diseases has been the hope that immunoablation could eliminate inflammation-driving pathogenic cells from the immune system, and that regeneration of the patients' immune system from hematopoietic precursors could re-establish immunological tolerance.
Increase prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity is found in patients with chronic urticaria. About 5-34% of chronic urticaria patients is associated with the presence of thyroid autoimmunity who are euthyroid status whereas 5-10% of them with either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan together with antithymocyte globulin before a stem cell transplant works in treating patients with autoimmune neurologic disease that did not respond to previous therapy. In autoimmune neurological diseases, the patient's own immune system 'attacks' the nervous system which might include the brain/spinal cord and/or the peripheral nerves. Giving high-dose chemotherapy, including carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan, and antithymocyte globulin, before a stem cell transplant weakens the immune system and may help stop the immune system from 'attacking' a patient's nervous system. When the patient's own (autologous) stem cells are infused into the patient they help the bone marrow make red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets so the blood counts can improve.
This study, done in collaboration with Cornell University in New York, will explore the potential role of the body s immune response to gluten in ataxia. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by the ingestion of wheat gluten and related proteins in genetically susceptible individuals. Some people with celiac disease also develop ataxia, which is a loss of muscle coordination, leading to imbalance. The cause of the associated ataxia is not well understood, but it is suspected to be related to the immune response towards gluten in these patients. Preliminary results indicate that antibodies in people with celiac disease can react with brain proteins, which might have a role in the associated neurologic deficits. The aim of this study is to characterize the immune response in the ataxia that is associated with celiac disease. People 18 years of age and older with 1) ataxia and no celiac disease, 2) ataxia plus celiac disease and 3) matched healthy control subjects will be enrolled at the NIH. People with celiac disease only will be enrolled at Cornell University. All participants have a blood sample drawn for various tests of immune function as well as genetic tests. Healthy volunteers also have a history and physical examination if they have not had one done at NIH in the past year. Some patients may require additional clinical evaluations for clinical or diagnostic reasons.
This is an observational study designed to help researchers understand the genetics and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, and to identify biomarkers for disease and disease complication prediction.