Cryoglobulinemia Vasculitis Clinical Trial
Official title:
ANRS HC 21 VASCU IL-2, Evaluation of the Cellular Immune Response, Clinical Efficacy and Tolerance After IL-2 Therapy in HCV-related Vasculitis Patients, Resistant to Conventional Therapy.
A systemic Vasculitis is found in 5 to 10% of HCV infected patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). It mainly involves the skin, peripheral nerve and the kidney and may be life threatening. Twenty to 30% of HCV-MC Vasculitis patients are resistant to conventional therapy (i.e. antiviral therapy and/or immunosuppressors) and still have an active disease. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are necessary in such patients. We recently described a regulatory T cell (Treg) deficiency in HCV-related Vasculitis patients. Immunomodulatory effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) are well established, notably the preferential expansion of Treg able to suppress inflammatory responses mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
A systemic Vasculitis is found in 5 to 10% of HCV infected patients with mixed
cryoglobulinemia (MC). It mainly involves the skin, peripheral nerve and the kidney and may
be life threatening (15% of death). Twenty to 30% of HCV-MC Vasculitis patients are
resistant to conventional therapy (i.e. antiviral therapy and/or immunosuppressors) and
still have an active disease. An antiviral therapy with Peg-interféron is generally
prescribed to control Vasculitis lesions and to slow down the hepatic fibrosis progression.
Thus, new therapeutic approaches are necessary in such patients. We recently described a
CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) deficiency in HCV-related Vasculitis patients.
Immunomodulatory effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) are well established, notably the
preferential expansion of Treg able to suppress inflammatory responses mediated by CD4+ and
CD8+ T cells.
Objective : To evaluate the cellular immune response after IL-2 therapy in HCV-MC Vasculitis
patients, resistant to conventional therapy.
Methods : This is an open prospective phase I/II trial. Four cycle of subcutaneous IL-2
therapy (3 millions IU/day from day 1 to 5 every 21 days will be carried out at W1, W3, W6,
and W9). The first cure will be carried out with half-dose of IL-2 (1.5 millions IU/day) in
the hospital. If the tolerance is satisfactory, the later cures will be done ambulatory. All
patients will be followed after IL-2 therapy (S11 to S37).
End points :
1. Clinical tolerance: Absence of Vasculitis flare during and after IL-2 therapy.
2. Immunologic follow-up of Treg and of HCV cellular immune response before, during and
after IL-2 therapy.
3. Clinical efficacy: follow-up of clinical manifestations of HCV-MC Vasculitis during and
after IL-2 therapy.
Schedule : Duration of patients' inclusion period is estimated 18 months. Duration of
therapy and follow-up is estimated 9 months. Analysis of data will last 7 months. Overall
duration: 34 months
;
Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment