View clinical trials related to Relapsing Polychondritis.
Filter by:Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by episodic inflammation of cartilaginous structures. Pro-inflammatory chemokines involved in the recruitment of monocytes and modulation of macrophage function, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, and interleukin (IL)-8, are significantly elevated in active RP compared with controls.The activation of monocytes and macrophages may play an important role in the pathophysiology of RP. The levels of serum Th1 cytokines (interferon, IL-2 (IL-2) and IL-12 (IL-12) were significantly correlated with disease status，which suggested that RP may be a Th1-mediated disease process. IL-2 is a kind of lymphocyte growth factor. At lower doses, regulatory T cells exhibit dominant amplification because of their more sensitivity to IL-2. Regulatory T cells can inhibit the growth of effector T cells and then play an immunosuppressive role. The investigators hypothesized that low-dose IL-2 could be a novel therapy in active RP patients. This clinical study will explore the efficacy and immunological evaluation of low dose IL-2 in the treatment of RP.
The purpose of this study is to test the safety of the study drug abatacept and see what effects (good and bad) it has in patients with relapsing polychondritis.
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, immune-mediated disease associated with inflammation in cartilaginous structures and other tissues throughout the body. Prognosis can be poor, especially in cases where there is acute involvement of the laryngotracheal cartilages leading to airway destruction, which are resistant to treatments such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressive or cytotoxic drugs. The pathogenesis remains unclear although it is thought that autoimmune reactions to antigens present in cartilages, such as type II collagen and matrilin may evoke symptoms. There are no known clinical or laboratory measures that predict the expression of specific disease manifestations or the overall disease course. Two recently published case reports have shown an association with elevated serum IL-6 levels and relapsing polychondritis. In these case reports, both patients with refractory relapsing polychondritis were treated with tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to the Interleukin 6 receptor, and achieved sustained response to the drug. This single patient trial aims to evaluate the response to Tocilizumab in an eight year old boy with relapsing polychondritis who has been shown to have elevated serum IL-6 levels and who has responded poorly to conventional therapies. The study hypothesis is that Tocilizumab will be able to control the disease in this patient.