Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Conditions
Keywords
skin, lupus, intravenous immunoglobulin, ivig
Brief summary
The purpose of this research study is to show that non-steroidal treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can replace current systemic immunosuppressive therapy in cutaneous lupus erythematosis (CLE) patients.
Detailed description
The ultimate goal of this pilot project is to generate proof-of-concept data showing that treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can replace current systemic immunosuppressive therapy in cutaneous lupus erythematosis (CLE) patients. This project has relevant clinical implications due to the severe side effects of and lack of response to current therapies. From the review of literature, it can be postulated that: 1. the beneficial effects of IVIg for patients with CLE should be prompt, with marked improvement within a few weeks; 2. clinical improvement should last several weeks after the last infusion; and 3. remission may be prolonged by maintenance IVIg therapy. Although this is only a non-controlled study, the investigator expects that IVIg will improve CLE, including those resistant to standard treatments. It is anticipated that treatment with IVIg will facilitate healing of extensive cutaneous lesions and achieve rapid remission. Maintenance therapy with repeated monthly pulses of IVIg is expected to keep the disease in remission during the treatment-free follow up observational period. The results will provide the basis a multicenter randomized controlled study to identify which CLE subsets will benefit the most and which protocol will provide the optimal clinical outcome.
Interventions
All enrolled subjects will receive IVIg treatment following the protocol that proved to be efficacious in the treatment of patients with autoimmune blistering diseases as well as some patients with CLE. The drug will be administered at 500 mg/kg/day on consecutive days up to a total of 2 g/kg/month for 3 months in the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) at University of California, Irvine. After 3 months of treatment, IVIg will be discontinued and the subjects will be monitored for additional 6 months for a possible relapse. In the case of relapse, which is expected to occur in \<25% subjects, the subjects will be re-treated by the standard protocol.
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the trial. * Subjects who are willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures. * Be at least 18 years of age at time of informed consent. * Have had a diagnosis of CLE * Currently has active CLE (any subtype) established by standard clinical and histo- and immunopathologic criteria * Falls into one of the two following cohorts: * Cohort 1 - Has received a standard systemic therapy without a therapeutic response for a minimum of one month * Cohort 2 - Has not received any systemic treatment
Exclusion criteria
* Subject is not over 18 years of age. * Subject cannot understand or follow directions. * Subject is a female of child-bearing potential and unwilling to use a form of highly effective birth control. * Subject is pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breast feeding. * Subject has a known history of immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit | Disease activity will be measured using the CLASI activity score that describes the activity of the disease. This score ranges from 0-70, with higher scores indicating more severe skin disease. This clinical assessment tool enables standardized assessments of response to therapy. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis. |
| Skindex 29 | Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit | The subjects also evaluated their skin-specific quality of life with the Skindex-29 - the questionnaire consisting of 29 items used to calculate three subscales: symptoms (pain, itch, burning, sensitivity), emotions (depression, anxiety, embarrassment, anger) and functioning (sleep, relationships with others). All assessments were repeated at all study visits. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit | At clinic visits, the investigator will categorize the change in disease activity in each patient as improved, unchanged, or worse since the last visit. Estimated change in disease activity will be based on the investigator's subjective assessment of the patient's skin disease. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis. |
| Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit | At clinic visits, the investigator will categorize the change in disease activity in each patient as improved, unchanged, or worse since the last visit. Estimated change in disease activity will be based on the investigator's subjective assessment of the patient's skin disease. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis. |
| Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit | Disease activity will be measured using the CLASI activity score that describes the damage of the disease. This score ranges from 0-70, with higher scores indicating more severe skin disease. This clinical assessment tool enables standardized assessments of response to therapy. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis. All patients were measured identically in all visits. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| IVIg as a Monotherapy IVIg will be used as a first line treatment. Topical treatment will be stopped at the beginning of IVIg therapy.
IVIg: All enrolled subjects will receive IVIg treatment following the protocol that proved to be efficacious in the treatment of patients with autoimmune blistering diseases as well as some patients with CLE. The drug will be administered at 500 mg/kg/day on consecutive days up to a total of 2 g/kg/month for 3 months in the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) at University of California, Irvine. After 3 months of treatment, IVIg will be discontinued and the subjects will be monitored for additional 6 months for a possible relapse. In the case of relapse, which is expected to occur in \<25% subjects, the subjects will be re-treated by the standard protocol. | 16 |
| Total | 16 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | IVIg as a Monotherapy |
|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 1 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 15 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 15 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 1 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 9 / 16 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 16 |
Outcome results
Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS)
Disease activity will be measured using the CLASI activity score that describes the activity of the disease. This score ranges from 0-70, with higher scores indicating more severe skin disease. This clinical assessment tool enables standardized assessments of response to therapy. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis.
Time frame: Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | Initial | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 1st Visit | 94 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 30 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 2nd Visit | 84 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 29 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 3rd Visit | 94 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 52 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 4th Visit | 86 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 19 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 5th Visit | 85 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 14 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 6th Visit | 72 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 37 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 7th Visit | 68 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 33 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 8th Visit | 81 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 17 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Activity Score (CLASI - TAS) | 9th Visit | 71 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 13 |
Skindex 29
The subjects also evaluated their skin-specific quality of life with the Skindex-29 - the questionnaire consisting of 29 items used to calculate three subscales: symptoms (pain, itch, burning, sensitivity), emotions (depression, anxiety, embarrassment, anger) and functioning (sleep, relationships with others). All assessments were repeated at all study visits. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis.
Time frame: Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 3rd Visit | 92 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 12 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 4th Visit | 90 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 15 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 5th Visit | 81 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 21 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 6th Visit | 79 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 23 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 7th Visit | 83 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 30 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 8th Visit | 99 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 11 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | Initial | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 1st Visit | 97 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 3 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 2nd Visit | 94 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 9 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Skindex 29 | 9th Visit | 82 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 21 |
Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS)
Disease activity will be measured using the CLASI activity score that describes the damage of the disease. This score ranges from 0-70, with higher scores indicating more severe skin disease. This clinical assessment tool enables standardized assessments of response to therapy. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis. All patients were measured identically in all visits.
Time frame: Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | Initial | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 1st Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 2nd Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 3rd Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 4th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 5th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 6th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 7th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 8th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Total Damage Score (CLASI - TDS) | 9th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI)
At clinic visits, the investigator will categorize the change in disease activity in each patient as improved, unchanged, or worse since the last visit. Estimated change in disease activity will be based on the investigator's subjective assessment of the patient's skin disease. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis.
Time frame: Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 8th Visit | 150 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 77 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | Intial | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 1st Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 2nd Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 3rd Visit | 136 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 79 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 4th Visit | 104 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 48 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 5th Visit | 105 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 52 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 6th Visit | 117 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 37 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 7th Visit | 133 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 47 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Improvement (PSAI) | 9th Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 29 |
Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS)
At clinic visits, the investigator will categorize the change in disease activity in each patient as improved, unchanged, or worse since the last visit. Estimated change in disease activity will be based on the investigator's subjective assessment of the patient's skin disease. Results expressed relative to the mean initial value of all patients, taken as 100%. Each proceeding visit will be relative to the initial visit. A decrease in percentage represents improvement while an increase in percentage indicates worsening of CLE. Visits occur on a month-to-month basis.
Time frame: Initial, 1st Visit - 9th Visit
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | Initial | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 1st Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 0 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 2nd Visit | 98 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 8 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 3rd Visit | 100 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 10 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 4th Visit | 97 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 18 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 5th Visit | 92 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 19 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 6th Visit | 92 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 18 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 7th Visit | 92 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 20 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 8th Visit | 90 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 18 |
| IVIg as a Monotherapy | Mean Percent Change in Physician's Subjective Assessment of Severity (PSAS) | 9th Visit | 90 Percent of Baseline | Standard Deviation 17 |