Efficacy of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Acute GVHD Treatment

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: Acute Graft Versus Host Disease
• Interventions: Drug: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); Drug: Prednisone; Drug: Dexamethasone

• Registration Number: NCT06904599
• Lead Sponsor: Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose E. Gonzalez

Brief Summary

Graft-versus-host disease is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with high morbidity and mortality. The standard treatment is corticosteroids, and based on the response within 3 to 7 days, a second-line therapy is added, which is expensive and not easily accessible. The administration of human chorionic gonadotropin has shown therapeutic effectiveness in 50% of patients in reported clinical cases.

Detailed Description

The study will include 20 patients with recent-onset allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and GVHD who attend the Hematology Service at the University Hospital and meet the inclusion criteria, to receive conventional treatment with steroids (prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days) or combined treatment (hCG 2500 IU, IM + prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-02-01
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-31
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-03
• Primary Completion: 2026-01-31
• Study Completion: 2026-01-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 years or older.
• Any gender.
• Post-allogeneic transplantation status (haploidentical or identical) of hematopoietic cells.
• Presenting recently onset aGVHD, grades 2 to 4, and requiring systemic steroid use as determined by the treating physician.
• Have not received steroids (Prednisone ≥1 mg/kg/day or equivalent dose of another steroid) for more than 3 days in the last week.
• Willing to participate in the study by signing informed consent.
• If the subject is female and has the potential to procreate (a woman is considered fertile from menarche to postmenopausal stage or after undergoing a permanent contraceptive method), she agrees to use one of the following contraceptive methods from the start of the study and for 30 days after the protocol: oral hormonal contraception, intrauterine device, barrier methods (diaphragm, male or female condom, and foam, sponge, or spermicide film), or agrees to remain abstinent. Women who have been postmenopausal for more than a year, undergone hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy are not considered to have reproductive potential.
• If the subject is male, he agrees to use one of the following contraceptive methods from the start of the study and for 30 days after the protocol: male condom, or remain abstinent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Arterial or venous thrombosis in the past 3 months.
• History of thromboembolic disease requiring full-dose anticoagulation.
• Diagnosis of active malignant disease.
• Uncontrolled infection.
• Chronic use of supplemental therapy with sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and/or testosterone).
• Women with a positive pregnancy test at the time of the initial evaluation.
• Women or men of reproductive age who are unwilling to take appropriate precautions to avoid an unwanted pregnancy from the start of the protocol until 30 days after the protocol.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Study group	Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)	Oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days or IV dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg/day for 14 days + human chorionic gonadotropin 2500 IU intramuscular on days 1, 3, and 5 of the protocol. Patients who have at least a partial response by day 7 will receive 3 weekly doses for an additional 4 weeks.
Study group	Prednisone	Oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days or IV dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg/day for 14 days + human chorionic gonadotropin 2500 IU intramuscular on days 1, 3, and 5 of the protocol. Patients who have at least a partial response by day 7 will receive 3 weekly doses for an additional 4 weeks.
Study group	Dexamethasone	Oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days or IV dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg/day for 14 days + human chorionic gonadotropin 2500 IU intramuscular on days 1, 3, and 5 of the protocol. Patients who have at least a partial response by day 7 will receive 3 weekly doses for an additional 4 weeks.
Control group	Prednisone	Oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days or IV dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg/day for 14 days.
Control group	Dexamethasone	Oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days or IV dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg/day for 14 days.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Measurement of GVHD response	1 year	The primary outcome measure for this study is the effectiveness of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) when combined with steroids in the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in patients with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). This could be assessed using clinical criteria such as improvement in skin, liver, gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall patient condition, evaluated at specified time points (e.g., day 7, day 14, and at the end of the treatment regimen).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León; 🇲🇽 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico