Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME) Clinical Trial
Official title:
B-lymphocyte Depletion Using the Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibody Rituximab in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalopathy (CFS/ME). A Multicentre, Randomized, Double-blind and Placebo Controlled Phase-III Study With Rituximab Induction and Maintenance Treatment.
The hypothesis is that a subgroup of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalopathy (CFS/ME) have a chronically activated immune system and may benefit from B-lymphocyte treatment using the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab with induction and maintenance treatment.
We have published a case series of pilot patient observations with B-cell depletion in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalopathy (CFS/ME) (Fluge and Mella, BMC Neurol, 2009). Subsequently, we published a small randomized and double-blind phase II study using rituximab induction two infusions two weeks apart (Fluge et al, Plos One, 2011). We have completed an open label phase II study with 29 patients using rituximab induction and maintenance treatment (six rituximab infusions over 15 months, with follow-up for three years, unpublished). We hypothesize that a subgroup of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalopathy (CFS/ME) have a chronically activated immune system involving B-lymphocytes, possibly a variant of an autoimmune disease, and that patients may benefit from B-cell depletion therapy. Three substudies will be performed: Endothelial function: assessment of Flow-Mediated Dilation and skin microcirculation at baseline and repeated during the time interval 17-21 months. Cardiopulmonary exercise test for two following days: assessment at baseline and repeated during the time interval 17-21 months. Gastrointestinal function: assessment at baseline and repeated during the time interval 17-21 months. ;