Does CMV Reactivation Cause Functional Impairment of CMV Specific CD4+ T-cells? The Potential for Valaciclovir to Prevent CMV-mediated Adverse Modulation of the Immune System in Patients With ANCA-associated Vasculitis
试验速览
- 阶段
- 2 期
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 38
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Proportion of patients with CMV reactivation and time to CMV reactivation
研究概览
简要总结
The purpose of this study is to determine whether Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients can be effectively and safely reduced using an antiviral agent (valaciclovir) and whether this in turn improves the function of the immune system thereby also improving the body's ability to fight other infections.
The primary hypothesis is that repeated episodes of CMV reactivation in AAV patients drive the expansion and functional impairment of CMV-specific T-cells, with increased susceptibility to infection. Inhibition of CMV replication with valaciclovir will block further stimulation of CMV specific T-cells and increase the functional capacity of the immune system.
详细描述
Infection is the commonest cause of death in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The investigators have shown that the expansion of CD4+CD28- T-cells present in patients with AAV is driven by CMV and this expansion is associated with increased infection risk. It is suggested that these cells are driven by CMV reactivation and express markers of T-cell exhaustion with reduced cytokine production and inhibitory receptor expression. However the phenotype of CMV-specific T cells in those with extreme expansions of CD4+CD28- T-cells has not been explored.
The investigators aim to investigate the phenotype of CMV-specific T-cells comparing those patients with extreme expansions of CD4+CD28- T-cells to those with smaller expansions and relate this to CMV reactivation. The investigators will monitor CMV reactivation in urine and blood monthly by qPCR. This will be correlated with the expansion of CD4+CD28- T-cells and the phenotype of these cells, specifically looking at cytokine production and inhibitory receptor expression. The investigators will identify CMV-specific T-cells by MHC class II tetramers or by stimulating with CMV lysate. The investigators will proceed to undertake a randomised controlled trial with valaciclovir or no treatment to investigate whether the reduction of CMV reactivation improves the phenotype of CD4+CD28- T-cells in these patients.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Basic Science
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 16 Years 至 —（Child, Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Documented diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis (now called Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis), microscopic polyangiitis or renal limited vasculitis according to Chapel Hill Consensus Conference criteria.
- •In stable remission (no documented clinical disease activity) for at least 6 months prior to entry.
- •On maintenance immunosuppression with prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine alone or in combination (maximum 2 agents).
- •Documented evidence of CMV infection (CMV-specific immunoglobulin G detected in peripheral blood).
- •Documentation that female patients of child bearing potential are not pregnant and using an appropriate form of contraception.
- •Written informed consent for study participation
排除标准
- •Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (eGFR<15ml/minute/1.73m2).
- •Other significant chronic infection (HIV, HBV, HCV, TB).
- •B-cell or T-cell depleting therapy within 12 months.
- •Treatment with anti-CMV therapies in last month
- •Underlying medical conditions, which in the opinion of the Investigator place the patient at unacceptably high risk for participating in the study.
- •Inability to fully or appropriately participate in the study.
研究组 & 干预措施
Valaciclovir
Active treatment with valaciclovir
干预措施: Valaciclovir (Drug)
结局指标
主要结局
Proportion of patients with CMV reactivation and time to CMV reactivation
时间窗: Over 12 month period
As assessed by measurable viral load on quantitative blood and urine CMV PCR.
次要结局
- Proportion of patients experiencing adverse events sufficient to stop treatment(Over 6 month period (treatment period))
- Change in the proportion of the CD4+ CMV specific T cell population from baseline to 6 months(Baseline to 6 months)
- Change in markers of inflammation from baseline to 6 months(Baseline to 6 months)
- Persistence of valaciclovir effect on proportion of CD4+ CMV-specific T cells at 6 months post treatment (i.e. change from 6 months to 12 months)(6 months to 12 months)
研究者
Professor Lorraine Harper
Professor of Nephrology
University of Birmingham