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Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

NCT number NCT01179893
Other study ID # 07-0280-B
Secondary ID
Status Completed
Phase Phase 4
First received August 9, 2010
Last updated August 9, 2010
Start date March 2007
Est. completion date July 2010

Study information

Verified date August 2010
Source University Health Network, Toronto
Contact n/a
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority Canada: Health Canada
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Immunomodulation is effective in treating patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), but prior studies have not adequately defined if plasma exchange (PLEX) in superior to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. This study aimed to determine if PLEX was superior to IVIG in the treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Patients with MG requiring immunomodulation are randomized to IVIG or PLEX and treated with a full course of immunomodulation. The quantitative myasthenia gravis score (QMGS) will be evaluated as the primary efficacy parameter at day 14 to determine if PLEX is superior to IVIG.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Completed
Enrollment 87
Est. completion date July 2010
Est. primary completion date July 2010
Accepts healthy volunteers No
Gender Both
Age group 18 Years and older
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria:

- >18 years old

- diagnosis of moderate-severe MG (defined as a Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score QMGS >10.5)

- worsening weakness requiring a change in therapy judged by a neuromuscular expert

Exclusion Criteria:

- Worsening weakness secondary to concurrent medications (e.g. Aminoglycosides)

- Worsening weakness secondary to infection

- Change in corticosteroid dosage in the 2 weeks prior to screening

- Other disorders causing weakness or fatigue

- Known absolute IgA deficiency (risk of anaphylactic reaction to IVIG)

- History of anaphylaxis or severe systemic response to IVIG or albumin

- Pregnancy or breastfeeding

- Active renal failure precluding volume of IVIG (risk of volume overload with IVIG) as judged by the investigators

- Clinically significant cardiac disease precluding IVIG volume as judged by the investigators

- Known hyperviscosity or hypercoaguable state (risk of stroke with IVIG)

- Known coagulopathy with bleeding

- On another current study medication or protocol within 4 weeks of screening

- Patients with known refractory status to either IVIG or PLEX

- Poorly controlled or severe hypertension (exacerbation by IVIG)

- Patient refuses treatment with either IVIG or PLEX

- Patient refuses follow-up with electrophysiological studies

- Patient unable or unwilling to give informed consent

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


Intervention

Biological:
IVIG
Intravenous immunoglobulin
Procedure:
PLEX
Plasma exchange: removal of pathogenic antibodies and constituents and replacement with albumin.

Locations

Country Name City State
Canada University Health Network Toronto Ontario

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
University Health Network, Toronto Grifols Therapeutics Inc.

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

References & Publications (1)

Zinman L, Ng E, Bril V. IV immunoglobulin in patients with myasthenia gravis: a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 2007 Mar 13;68(11):837-41. — View Citation

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary Change in Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score (QMGS) from baseline to day 14 after treatment QMGS is a validated clinical measure of myasthenia gravis ranging from 0 points (no myasthenic weakness) to a maximum of 39 points, with a defined change of 3.4 units required for clinical significance. QMGS at day 14, and patients followed to day 60 No
Secondary QMGS Score change at days 21 and 28 from start of treatment. Change in QMGS with time to see if effect ad day 14 is sustained. 28 days No
Secondary Post intervention status Categorical scale of improvement, worsening, or no change for myasthenia gravis. Day 14, 21 and 28 No
Secondary Single fiber electromyography: jitter, percent abnormal pair, percent blocking Electrophysiological assessment of neuromuscular transmission. Days 14 and 28 compared to baseline No
Secondary Repetitive Nerve stimulation studies Assessment of decrement Days 14 and 28 No
Secondary Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody titers Laboratory assay of pathogenic antibody Day 28 (if positive at baseline) No
Secondary AntiMUSK antibody Laboratory measure of pathogenic antibody Day 28 (if positive at baseline) No
Secondary Need for ICU admission, ventilation, intubation Myasthenic deterioration and crisis 60 days Yes
Secondary Hospitalization Myasthenic deterioration and crisis 60 days Yes
Secondary Need for additional myasthenic treatment Myasthenic deterioration or crisis Day 60 Yes