Kidney Diseases, Kidney Transplant, Kidney Transplantation, Renal Transplant, Renal Transplantation
Conditions
Keywords
Organ Rejection, Corticosteroids, Child, Adolescent, Immunosuppression, Steroids
Brief summary
Over the last 40 years, corticosteroids (steroids) have been an important part of drug regimens used to prevent organ rejection and to maintain the immune health of individuals who have received organ transplants. Unfortunately, the negative physical effects of steroids can be severe, especially in children. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of a steroid-free treatment regimen for children and adolescents who have received kidney (renal) transplants.
Detailed description
Corticosteroids (steroids) have been a cornerstone of immunosuppressive therapy for kidney (renal) transplantation for over 40 years. However, poor growth and bone loss caused by the use of steroids are devastating to pediatric kidney recipients. The negative physical implications of steroid use also greatly impacts patients' compliance to their prescribed steroid-containing regimens. The development of a steroid-free regimen for post-transplant pediatric patients is sorely needed. This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a steroid-free based treatment regimen in children and adolescents who have received kidney transplants, compared to a standard of care steroid-based regimen. Participants in this study will be pediatric patients with end-stage kidney disease who will undergo kidney transplantation at the start of the study. Patients will participate in this study for 3 years. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to one of two groups. The study includes 23 study visits over 3 years. A physical exam, medication history, adverse events reporting, blood pressure readings, growth assessment, and blood collection will occur at most visits. At the time of transplantation, participants will have a kidney biopsy. Participants will also undergo cataract screening within 4 months of transplantation.
Interventions
DRUGDaclizumab
Steroid-Based Immunosuppression(Prednisone) arm: 1 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 (e.g., standard dose of daclizumab induction until the second month post-transplant) Steroid-Free Immunosuppression (Extended daclizumab induction) arm: 2 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, and months 4, 5, and 6 (e.g., extended daclizumab induction until the sixth month post-transplant)
DRUGMycophenolate mofetil (MMF)
Intravenous MMF was dosed at 1200 mg/m\^2/day in two divided doses preoperatively and for the first 48 hours postoperatively. Oral MMF was dosed at 600 to 900 mg/m\^2/day in two divided doses; the dose range allowed for dose titration according to tolerability and side effects of MMF. This regimen was used in both arms.
DRUGPrednisone
Administered as 10 mg/kg peri-operatively followed by 2 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \<40 kg and 1.5 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \>40 kg. The prednisone dosing was tapered as follows: by the end of wks 1, 2, 4,6,12 and 16, dosages were 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15 and 0.1 mg/kg/day, respectively. The prednisone dose of 0.1 mg/kg was achieved by no later than 6 months post-transplant.
DRUGTacrolimus
Taken orally from immediately preoperatively to those\>age 5 yrs. (starting dose= 0.1 mg/kg/dose twice daily (BID) for living donor recipients; 0.1 mg/kg/dose daily for deceased donor recipients).Subjects \<age 5 yrs. received drug from immediately preoperatively at 0.15 mg/kg/dose BID (two preoperative doses) for living donor recipients and 0.15 mg/kg/dose daily (one preoperative dose) for deceased donor recipients. Postoperatively: 0.07 mg/kg/dose BID w/adjustment to achieve target levels of 12-14 ng/mL (days 0-7), 10-12 ng/mL (wks. 2-8), 7-10 ng/mL (wks. 9-12) &5-7 ng/mL \>= 12 wks. Evidence of drug toxicity on any protocol biopsy resulted in a further lowering of the drug target level to 4-6 ng/mL before yr 1 & 3-5 ng/mL after yr 1 post-transplant. This regimen was used in both arms.
DRUGGanciclovir
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Prophylaxis: All participants will receive intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg/day beginning after transplantation until tolerating oral medications, at which time oral valganciclovir will be initiated and continued for a minimum of 100 days.
DRUGValganciclovir
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Prophylaxis: All participants will receive intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg/day beginning after transplantation until tolerating oral medications, at which time oral valganciclovir will be initiated and continued for a minimum of 100 days.
DRUGTrimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)/Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Prophylaxis: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra®) 2 mg/kg by mouth will be administered daily at bedtime for a minimum period of the first 6 months post-transplant. If unable to tolerate Septra®, inhaled pentamidine (8 mg/kg to a maximum dose of 300 mg monthly) or Dapsone (2 mg/kg PO to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day) may be substituted for a minimum of the first 6 months post-transplant. For UTI prophylaxis, if Septra® is not tolerated, nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin®), 2.5 mg/kg/day, may be given at bedtime up to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day.
Sponsors
Astellas Pharma Inc
Hoffmann-La Roche
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Primary recipient of a kidney transplant * Meets site-specific transplant criteria * Panel Reactive Antibody (PRA) of 20% or less * Willing to use acceptable forms of contraception * Parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent, if applicable
Exclusion criteria
* Previous treatment with steroids within 6 months prior to transplantation * Received en-bloc kidney or other kidney that does not meet protocol-specified requirements * Received an organ from an human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical donor or a non-heart-beating donor * Received a solid organ other than a kidney * Received a bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplant * Received a repeat kidney transplant * Currently receiving an investigational pharmacologic or biologic agent * Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected or infected with another immunodeficiency virus * Hypersensitivity to murine products or the study drugs or their formulations * Inability to measure height accurately * Pregnant or breastfeeding
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Difference in Linear Growth by Treatment Assignment at 1 Year Post Kidney Transplantation | One year post kidney transplantation procedure | Standardized Z-scores were computed following a formula using an age- and gender-specific calculation provided by the NHANES III 2000 Growth Data set. The Z-score system expresses anthropometric values of height as several standard deviations (SDs) below (e.g., a negative value) or above (a positive value) the reference mean or median value. In this study the measure was used to test whether there is a difference in the change in height between the treatment groups: Steroid-Based versus Steroid-Free |
| Comparison by Treatment Assignment in the Number of Biopsy-Proven Acute Rejections Within 12 Months Post Kidney Transplantation | Up to one year post kidney transplantation procedure | Biopsy-proven acute renal (kidney) rejection \[1, 2\]. 1. Diagnosis of acute rejection was made by renal biopsy using the Banff 97 criteria. The Banff 97 diagnostic category for renal allograft biopsies is an international standardized histopathological classification. Acute rejection is defined by a renal biopsy demonstrating a Banff 97 classification of Grade IA or greater, with higher scores indicating more severe rejection\[2\] 2. Ref: Racusen LC et al. The Banff 97 working classification of renal allograft pathology. Kidney Int, 55: 713-723, 1999 |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Recruitment details
Twelve pediatric kidney transplantation centers in the United States enrolled 130 subjects (less than 21 years of age) who received a primary kidney transplant from a deceased or living donor. Subject enrollment occurred between March 2004 and July 2006.
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Steroid-Free Immunosuppression Subjects received extended daclizumab induction until the sixth month post-transplant (2 mg/kg pretransplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 and months 4, 5, and 6), and maintenance combination tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) immunosuppression. Anti-viral prophylactic treatment included: 1.) gancyclovir or oral valgancyclovir for at least the first 100 days post-transplantation and 2.) trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for a minimum first 6 months post-transplantation. Refer to Registration Assigned Interventions for more details. | 60 |
| Steroid-Based Immunosuppression Subjects received prednisone immunosuppression (10 mg/kg peri-operatively followed by 2 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \<40kg and 1.5 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \>40 kg, tapering according to the trial's protocol), standard daclizumab induction until the second month post transplant (1 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8), and maintenance tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) immunosuppression. Anti-viral prophylactic treatment included: 1.) gancyclovir or oral valgancyclovir for at least the first 100 days post-transplantation and 2.) trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for a minimum first 6 months post-transplantation. Refer to Registration Assigned Interventions for more details. | 70 |
| Total | 130 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | Graft Failure | 3 | 4 |
| Overall Study | Lost to Follow-up | 3 | 1 |
| Overall Study | Moved from area | 1 | 7 |
| Overall Study | Other | 0 | 1 |
| Overall Study | Physician Decision | 1 | 2 |
| Overall Study | Protocol Violation | 0 | 2 |
| Overall Study | Withdrawal by Subject | 2 | 1 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Steroid-Free Immunosuppression | Steroid-Based Immunosuppression | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 11.8 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 | 11.9 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1 | 11.9 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.8 |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 60 participants | 70 participants | 130 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 20 Participants | 28 Participants | 48 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 40 Participants | 42 Participants | 82 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 64 / 70 | 56 / 60 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 60 / 70 | 52 / 60 |
Outcome results
Primary
Comparison by Treatment Assignment in the Number of Biopsy-Proven Acute Rejections Within 12 Months Post Kidney Transplantation
Biopsy-proven acute renal (kidney) rejection \[1, 2\]. 1. Diagnosis of acute rejection was made by renal biopsy using the Banff 97 criteria. The Banff 97 diagnostic category for renal allograft biopsies is an international standardized histopathological classification. Acute rejection is defined by a renal biopsy demonstrating a Banff 97 classification of Grade IA or greater, with higher scores indicating more severe rejection\[2\] 2. Ref: Racusen LC et al. The Banff 97 working classification of renal allograft pathology. Kidney Int, 55: 713-723, 1999
Time frame: Up to one year post kidney transplantation procedure
Population: All Enrolled Subjects
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Steroid-Free Immunosuppression | Comparison by Treatment Assignment in the Number of Biopsy-Proven Acute Rejections Within 12 Months Post Kidney Transplantation | 18 Rejection Events |
| Steroid-Based Immunosuppression | Comparison by Treatment Assignment in the Number of Biopsy-Proven Acute Rejections Within 12 Months Post Kidney Transplantation | 19 Rejection Events |
Comparison: The difference was analyzed using a Fisher's exact test.p-value: 0.85Fisher Exact
Primary
The Difference in Linear Growth by Treatment Assignment at 1 Year Post Kidney Transplantation
Standardized Z-scores were computed following a formula using an age- and gender-specific calculation provided by the NHANES III 2000 Growth Data set. The Z-score system expresses anthropometric values of height as several standard deviations (SDs) below (e.g., a negative value) or above (a positive value) the reference mean or median value. In this study the measure was used to test whether there is a difference in the change in height between the treatment groups: Steroid-Based versus Steroid-Free
Time frame: One year post kidney transplantation procedure
Population: All Enrolled Subjects
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid-Free Immunosuppression | The Difference in Linear Growth by Treatment Assignment at 1 Year Post Kidney Transplantation | 0.37 Standard Deviation Score (SDS) | Standard Deviation 0.76 |
| Steroid-Based Immunosuppression | The Difference in Linear Growth by Treatment Assignment at 1 Year Post Kidney Transplantation | 0.35 Standard Deviation Score (SDS) | Standard Deviation 0.82 |
Comparison: The endpoint is assessed using a Wilcoxon nonparametric test and missing values are imputed using the last observation carried forward.p-value: 0.79Wilcoxon Nonparametric Test