View clinical trials related to Immunosuppression.
Filter by:The objective of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of Myfortic with CellCept in liver transplant patients. Myfortic and CellCept are both immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) drugs. CellCept is commonly used after liver transplantation but gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are very common, sometimes necessitating in its discontinuation. Myfortic is a new drug similar to CellCept, except it is enteric-coated. Our hypothesis is that Myfortic has less GI side effects than CellCept and also has comparable effectiveness to CellCept.
This was a study to compare less intense immunosuppression with a more traditional approach. The hypothesis was that less immunosuppression will provide similar protection against rejection than typical 2-3 drug therapy.
Liver transplant subjects will be given Mycophenolate (MMF) and Tacrolimus in order to help prevent post-transplant rejection.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of alemtuzumab after kidney transplantation as part of a multitherapy regimen to prevent kidney graft loss and death and to avoid steroids and chronic use of calcineurin inhibitors in pediatric renal transplant recipients 1 to 20 years of age.
This study sought to determine the safety of the varicella vaccine pre- and post-transplantation when given to pediatric patients listed for solid organ transplantation. The study assessed the antibody response to a two-dose vaccine regimen and determined the durability of that antibody response at several intervals in the post-transplant period. As a secondary objective, the relationship between antibody titers and different variables were explored
We plan to study whether the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar™) is safe and effective in protecting children who have had a solid organ transplantation and healthy children from pneumococcal infections. We expect that two or more doses of Prevnar™ will result in similar antibody responses among transplant recipients compared with healthy control subjects, and that children who have undergone solid organ transplant will have a similar number of serious vaccine-related adverse events within 7 days after Prevnar™ as the healthy patients.
Individuals absorb Cellcept (MMF/Mycophenolate Mofetil) at different rates and it is difficult to determine an individuals level of Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF, trade name Cellcept)from a single measurement. We will enroll 20 subjects. Plasma samples to be collected pre-MMF dose (trough level) and at 30 and 120 min after the morning dose of MMF.This will be done weekly for the first month and then monthly for the next 6 mths. We hope to use a calculation of the subjects total MMF level during the first month to set a trough target level to use during the next 6 months.
This study will examine the safety and effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody called humanized anti-Tac (HAT, also called daclizumab) to treat children and adolescents with uveitis (chronic inflammatory eye disease) associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Monoclonal antibodies are genetically engineered proteins made in large quantities and directed against a specific target in the body. The HAT antibody is designed to prevent a specific chemical interaction needed for immune cells to produce inflammation. Current treatments for uveitis include steroids and immune-suppressing drugs. These treatments do not always work or they may cause significant side effects. This study will determine whether daclizumab can improve uveitis in children and reduce the need for other medicines. Patients between 6 and 18 years of age with active non-infectious JIA-associated uveitis requiring treatment with anti-inflammatory medications as often as three times a day or more may be eligible for this study. Each candidate is screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, eye examination, and the following specialized tests: - Fluorescein angiography to evaluate the eye's blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken using a camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating the presence of inflammation. - Optical coherence tomography to measure retinal thickness. The eyes are examined through a machine that produces cross-sectional pictures of the retina. These measures are repeated during the study to determine changes, if any, in retinal thickening. - Stereoscopic color fundus photography to examine the back of the eye. The pupils are dilated with eye drops to examine and photograph the back of the eye. Upon entering the study, participants receive a 90-minute infusion of daclizumab through a catheter (plastic tube) placed in an arm vein. They return to the clinic after 14 days and again after 28 days for repeat eye examinations, blood tests, and daclizumab infusions. Four weeks after the third infusion, patients are examined for response to treatment. Those who have benefited from daclizumab may continue receiving monthly infusions of the drug for up to one year. A blood test and eye examination are done at the time of each infusion. Patients whose disease has remained active 12 weeks after the first infusion are taken off the study and treated with other medications.
This study will evaluate whether therapy that suppresses the immune system given to treat inflammatory diseases of the eye is associated with a greater risk of death and of cancer. Inflammatory diseases of the eye, including uveitis, scleritis, and mucous membrane pemphigoid, are major blinding diseases. For some patients, treatment with corticosteroids is not enough to control the diseases. Researchers expect to gain information about whether immunosuppressive therapy is suitable for patients and which substances should be avoided. Also, the study will evaluate the frequency of short-term complications with immunosuppressive therapy as well as benefits that the therapy can bring to treatment of eye diseases. The medical charts of patients up to age 65 (median age range of 21 to 65) who have had an inflammatory, noninfectious eye disease may be examined for this study. A database will be constructed through a chart review of patients seen in the uveitis clinic of the National Eye Institute since 1977 and three other sites. Patients who are considered exposed to immunosuppressive therapies will be compared with two groups: the general U.S. population and an internal group of patients with the same inflammatory eye diseases who did not receive immunosuppression. Data regarding about 10,000 to 15,000 patients will be collected. Patients will not be identified by the chart reviews. The incidence of cancer will be examined as well as the outcomes of immosuppressive therapy as measured by control of the eye disease, visual sharpness, changes in the use of corticosteroids, and rates of remission-when disease symptoms are lessened. Also examined will be medical charts of a control group of patients who did not receive immunosuppressive therapy for their uveitis. Data on cancer incidence would be more difficult to obtain, requiring personal contact with patients. In such situations, patients will be contacted by phone or mail, and those providing informed consent will be asked about their medical history, including previous occurrence of cancer and other conditions. For patients who have died, the researchers will attempt to communicate with the next of kin regarding this medical information.
This study will try to identify markers of immune activity in uveitis patients that correlate with the state of disease activity. Uveitis is a group of inflammatory eye diseases that can cause vision loss. The study will examine whether certain substances in the blood can predict a reactivation of disease before it occurs, and how therapy may influence the activity of these substances. Previous studies have found some possible markers called GITR (glucocorticoid induced TNF related family receptor), SOCS (suppressors of cytokine secretion), and interleukin-15. Markers such as these may help guide physicians in safely tapering medicines in uveitis patients. Patients 18 years of age and older with sight-threatening uveitis may be eligible for this study. Participants are slowly tapered off their medicines when their disease is stable and there is no evidence of significant inflammation. If the disease remains inactive during tapering, all drug therapy is eventually stopped. Patients have eye examinations about every 1 to 3 months when the disease is quiet and every 2 to 4 weeks during flare-ups. Blood samples are drawn 2 to 3 times a year. In addition, patients may have the following procedures if needed: - Eye photography: Eye drops are given to enlarge the pupils for a thorough eye examination, and a special camera is used to take photographs. - Fluorescein angiography: This test checks for abnormalities of eye blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken with a special camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating possible abnormalities.