Study to Evaluate the Amount of Medications That May be Removed From the Body During Plasmapheresis
Information source: Thomas Jefferson University
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Kidney Transplantation; Plasmapheresis
Intervention: tacrolimus (Drug); mycophenolate mofetil (Drug); daclizumab (Drug); intravenous immune globulin (Drug); plasmapheresis (Procedure)
Phase: Phase 4
Status: Withdrawn
Sponsored by: Thomas Jefferson University Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Mark Chaballa, PharmD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University
Summary
Based on the limited amount of experience with plasmapheresis and CytoGam concomitant use,
the researchers seek to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (drug absorption, distribution, and
elimination) of this therapy. The researchers are also interested in evaluating the
pharmacokinetics of the various immunosuppressant medications that patients will receive
such as tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and daclizumab.
Clinical Details
Official title: Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Plasmapheresis in Cross Match Positive or ABO Incompatible Kidney Allograft Recipients
Study design: Observational Model: Case-Only, Time Perspective: Prospective
Detailed description:
Kidney transplantation has emerged as a desired treatment of choice for patients with end
stage renal disease. Although transplantation has become increasingly successful, there
continues to be risks associated with it. Prior to performing a kidney transplant patients
are cross-matched (a test to determine whether or not they have preformed antibodies to the
donor). Preformed antibodies result from a previous pregnancy, blood or platelet transfusion
or prior transplant. Performing a transplant in patients who have preformed antibodies
against the donor generally results in hyperacute rejection (when the immune system attacks
the new kidney). This hyperacute rejection usually results in kidney loss in a very high
percentage of patients. Due to these consequences, pre-transplant cross-matching has
emerged as a standard of care. Although hyperacute kidney loss has now been avoided, a
large population of highly sensitized patients that has little hope of receiving a
transplant has been identified.
A number of groups have studied methods to lower specific antibody levels in a variety of
clinical settings. The two primary methods used today in transplantation are plasmapheresis
(the separation of plasma from cells, and the removal of solutes, immune globulins, and
medications) and administration of immune globulin therapy. Employing either of these
techniques individually or jointly has substantially reduced acute rejection and improved
kidney survival in these highly sensitized patients. The immune globulin treatments that
have been studied have included large variations in dosage as well as differences in immune
globulin products. The results from these small studies have not identified one therapy,
product or dosage that could be considered standard of care.
The kidney transplant work-up also consists of matching ABO blood group between donor and
recipient. Transplantation against the recipient blood group has resulted in very poor
outcomes due to antibody mediated rejection (when the immune system attacks the kidney).
However, due to the shortage of organs available for transplantation, the increasing number
of patients awaiting a transplant and the favorable outcomes with live donor transplant,
some transplant programs have developed protocols for transplanting against the recipient
ABO blood group. These protocols are centered around plasmapheresis and treatment with
immune globulin. As with the positive cross-match patients stated earlier, the standard of
care has yet to be identified.
Dr. Lloyd Ratner, currently at Columbia University and former Chief of Transplant at Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital and his former colleagues at Johns Hopkins University have
studied the use of plasmapheresis in combination with Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin
Intravenous (CytoGam) to reverse a positive cross match and to transplant organs against ABO
incompatible blood groups. This has enabled over 20 kidney transplants to be performed with
patient and graft survival at one year being very similar to our traditional cross match
negative and ABO compatible patients. These results are generally considered outstanding
given the fact that antibody mediated rejection historically had a 75 to 100% incidence of
graft loss.
The treatment protocol that is used consists of plasmapheresis treatments alternating with
CytoGam infusions every other day for 3 to 9 treatments prior to transplantation and another
1-5 treatments after transplant. Plasmapheresis is increasingly performed to treat various
infectious, immunological, metabolic and inherited diseases. In this procedure, plasma and
cellular components of blood are separated and solutes in plasma, including drugs may be
removed. Generally, a volume of 1 to 1. 5 times the plasma volume is removed and replaced
with an equivalent volume of crystalloid or colloid. The procedure removes solutes or drugs
from the blood compartment and the tissue stores remain unaffected except for
re-equilibration with decreasing plasma concentrations. After each plasmapheresis treatment
patients receive an infusion of CytoGam which is used to "inactivate" the remaining
antibody. However, it is not known to what extent subsequent treatments of plasmapheresis
remove CytoGam that patients received only hours or days prior.
During the treatment phase with plasmapheresis patients also receive a number of other
medications such as immunosuppressants for the prevention and treatment of graft rejection,
antibiotics for prevention and treatment of infection and various other medications for
related illnesses. The effects that plasmapheresis may have on removal of these medications
is not known for many of these agents. This information would be helpful for the potential
need to re-dose or give supplemental doses of medications. This is extremely important for
the immunosuppressant medications since under-dosing of these agents may result in serious
negative outcomes. Due to these many unknown aspects it would be useful to know the extent
of drug removal during plasmapheresis treatments. This would enable more precise dosing and
ultimately better patient care.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: 75 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient is a male or female.
- Age of 18-75.
- Patient must have the ability to provide informed consent.
- Positive cross-match with intended donor and/or ABO incompatible with intended donor.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients under the age of 18 or over the age of 75.
- Women that are currently pregnant.
- Patient has a history of any illness that, in the opinion of the investigator(s),
might confound the results of the study or pose additional risk to the patient.
Locations and Contacts
Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
Additional Information
Starting date: February 2003
Last updated: March 5, 2014
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