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Study Comparing Two Tapering Strategies of Prednisone in Myasthenia Gravis

Information source: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.

Condition(s) targeted: Myasthenia Gravis

Intervention: Prednisone - Azathioprine (Drug)

Phase: Phase 4

Status: Active, not recruiting

Sponsored by: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Tarek Sharshar, MD PH, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Summary

Pathology - Generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) is cause of muscle weakness that can have a

significant impact on daily life activity but can also be, when respiratory or bulbar muscles are involved, life-threatening.

Rationale - Additionally to thymectomy, which indication of is still debated in absence of

thymoma, the long-term treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis includes usually prednisone and azathioprine. However, the most used scheme for prescribing and tapering corticosteroid in MG resulted in a very important cumulative dose of prednisone. Indeed, at twelve month, more than 50 percent of patients are still daily treated with at least 18 mg of prednisone and the proportion of patients who are in remission and no longer taking prednisone is very low (Palace and NEWSOM Davis, Neurology 1998). Prolonged corticosteroid therapy is accompanied with various and major side effects, hypertension, osteoporosis, weight gain, glaucoma. Therefore, tapering, eventually discontinuing, prednisone earlier is a relevant therapeutic goal. For this reason, the investigators will compare to the standard one, a strategy consisting of a rapid decrease in corticosteroid.

Objective - To assess whether, in patients with generalized MG requiring a long-term

treatment with corticosteroids and azathioprine, that the strategy of rapid tapering allows discontinuing more rapidly the prednisone for equivalent efficacy than the classical strategy.

Clinical Details

Official title: Comparison of Two Tapering Strategies of Prednisone in Patients With Generalised Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Prednisone and Azathioprine: a Single-blind Randomised Controlled Multicenter Study

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Primary outcome: Proportion of patients who have reach minimal manifestation state (according to MGFA criteria) and are not treated with prednisone after 12 months of treatment and have not relapsed during the next 3 months.

Secondary outcome:

Cumulative dose of prednisone at twelve months

Proportion of patients having reached minimal manifestation state 12 months

Time for reaching the improvement or minimal manifestation state (MGFA criteria)

Frequency of exacerbations within the first 15 months after randomization

Frequency of treatment by IvIg or plasma exchange within the first 15 months after randomization

Frequency and type of complications related to prednisone.

Frequency and type of complications of azathioprine

Detailed description: Rapid strategy consists of decreasing the prednisone dose if at each monthly consultation the patient fulfils the criteria for improvement or minimal manifestation state, in order to discontinue it before twelve months. The starting dose is 0. 75 mg/kg/day. Classical strategy consists of decreasing the prednisone dose if at each monthly consultation the patient fulfils the criteria for minimal manifestation state, in order to discontinue it before twelve months. The starting dose is 1. 5 mg/kg/2days. Duration of follow-up is 15 months. In both arms, Myasthenia Muscular Score (MMS), activities of Daily Living Scale (ADLS), MGFA Clinical Classification and MGFA Post-Intervention Status as well as prednisone and azathioprine side effects will be monthly assessed by a senior neurologist who will be blind for treatment group. A second physician, who is aware of the patient's therapeutic group, will then prescribe prednisone dose and tapering for a month, according to MGFA Post-Intervention Status. In case of worsening, prednisone dose will be increased. In case of exacerbation, the patients will be hospitalised for eventually IvIg infusion or plasma exchange. In case of a severe side effect, prednisone will be reduced irrespectively of MGFA Post-Intervention Status. In case of side effect, azathioprine will be replaced by mycophenolate mofetil.

Eligibility

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: 80 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Written consent of the patient, after informing

- Generalized MG of grade III, IV or V - Classification MGFA

- Follow-up on 15 months possible and accepted by patients

Exclusion Criteria:

- Age<18 or >80 years

- Pregnancy

- Myasthenia of grade I or II of MGFA

- Patients already treated with prednisone or azathioprine

- Contraindication for prednisone or azathioprine

- Other associated disease requiring a treatment with prednisone or azathioprine

- Weight >100kg

- Invasive thymoma

Locations and Contacts

Hopital Raymond Poincaré, Garches 92380, France
Additional Information

Starting date: June 2009
Last updated: July 13, 2015

Page last updated: August 23, 2015

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