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Azathioprine Versus Placebo in Pemphigus Vulgaris Treated With Prednisolone

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Pemphigus Vulgaris
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00626678
Lead Sponsor
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Brief Summary

Description: Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune, chronic and recurrent blistering disease with unknown etiology that affects mucosa and skin of patients with significant morbidity and mortality.

The treatment back-bone is based on prednisolone administration. There are controversies on the opportunity of adding immunosuppressive drugs. For some, they are just corticosteroid sparing drugs. For others, they are disease modifying drugs.

The purpose of this trial is to compare efficacy and safety of azathioprine vs. placebo in new cases of pemphigus vulgaris treated with prednisolone.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this trial is to compare efficacy and safety of azathioprine vs. placebo in new cases of pemphigus vulgaris treated with prednisolone.

Official Title: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Trial of Azathioprine in New Cases of Pemphigus Vulgaris Receiving Prednisolone

Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial of Azathioprine versus Placebo in new cases of Pemphigus Vulgaris treated with Prednisolone

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver), Placebo Controlled, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study

Condition Intervention Phase Pemphigus Vulgaris Drug: Azathioprine Drug: Prednisolone Other: Placebo Phase II

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • Lesions clinically consistent with pemphigus vulgaris
  • Diagnosis confirmed by histology in terms of acantholysis within past month
  • Positive DIF
Exclusion Criteria
  • Any nursing or pregnant woman
  • Any history of chronic diseases including liver disease, Chronic Renal Failure, Chronic Heart Failure or Ischemic Heart Disease
  • Present diagnosis of hepatitis confirmed by serology or elevated hepatic enzymes;
  • Clinically significant concurrent medical disease or laboratory abnormalities evidenced by one or more of the following:
  • Hepatobiliary AST or ALT ≥ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN);alkaline phosphatase ≥ 1.5 × ULN; or, total bilirubin > 90% of the ULN;
  • Renal serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL; or, significant proteinuria > 2+ on urinary dip test;
  • Hematologic hemoglobin < 11 mg/dL; leukocytes < 3.5 × 109/L; neutrophils < 1.5 × 109/L; or, platelets < 100 × 109/L; Presence of anemia, leukopenia or thrombocytopenia
  • Any sign of patient's non-compliance
  • Known hypersensitivity to study drugs, prednisone or azathioprine
  • Participating in another clinical trial at the time of screening and enrollment

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
1AzathioprineOral administration of prednisone and azathioprine throughout study
1PrednisoneOral administration of prednisone and azathioprine throughout study
2PrednisoneOral administration of prednisone and placebo throughout study
2PlaceboOral administration of prednisone and placebo throughout study
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
• Disease activity indexThroughout study; first two weeks every day, then weekly for two weeks, then monthly for eleven months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total dose of corticosteroidAt the end of study
Occurence of any adverse eventThroughout study
Occurence of Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse eventThroughout study
Adverse events resulting in discontinuation and assessed by the investigators as at least possibly related to treatmentThroughout study

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

🇮🇷

Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

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