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IL-2 in Refractory Autoimmune Encephalitis

Effect of IL-2 in Refractory Autoimmune Encephalitis Patients: A Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02714959
Enrollment
10
Registered
2016-03-22
Start date
2016-03-31
Completion date
2019-06-12
Last updated
2021-09-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Encephalitis

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether low-dose IL-2 is effective in refractory autoimmune encephalitis.

Detailed description

Autoimmune encephalitis is a recently recognized etiology of encephalitis which is mediated by various autoantibodies targeting neural cells or synapses. The responses to immunotherapy is generally good, considerable proportion of patients with autoimmune encephalitis have unfavorable clinical outcomes. Recently, depletion of regulatory T cell (Treg cell) is reported in variable autoimmune diseases and multiple studies have shown that low-dose interleukin-2(IL-2) specifically activates Treg cells to control autoimmunity and inflammation. Protocol: This study is a single arm open-label study assessing clinical responses to the administration of low-dose IL-2 in autoimmune encephalitis patients who are refractory to first- and second-line immunotherapy. Objective: To assess the efficacy of low-dose IL-2 in autoimmune encephalitis, resistant to first- and second- line immunotherapy. Methods: This is a single arm open-label study. Each patients will receive four cycles of subcutaneous Proleukin (Interleukin-2, IL-2) (Week-1; 1.5 million IU (MIU)/d from Day-1 to Day-5, Week-3, -6, -9; 3MIU/d from Day-1 to Day-5) in the hospital. The patients will be followed up for 3 months (Week-21). Primary outcome - clinical efficacy by modified Rankin Scale Secondary outcome - Immunologic follow-up of Treg cells before, during, and after IL-2 therapy, quality of life, cognitive function, side effect of low-dose IL-2

Interventions

Sponsors

Seoul National University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age \> 18 years * Clinical diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis * Positive for autoantibody (serum and or CSF) : NMDAR, anti-leucine-rich glioma inactivated-1(LGI-1), contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPA) 1, AMPA2, GABAB-R, anti-Hu, -Yo, -Ri, -Ma2, -CV2/collapsing response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5), -amphiphysin, or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) * Refractory to first-line (high-dose steroid or intravenous immunoglobulin) and second line (rituximab or cyclophosphamide) immunotherapy * Written informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

* low hemoglobin \<8.0 g/dL, absolute neutrophil count\<1600/mm3, lymphocytes \<600/mm3, platelets \<140,000/mm3 * heart failure (≥ grade III NYHA), hepatic insufficiency (aspartate amino transferase \>200 IU/L, amino alanine transferase, \>200 IU/L), or lung failure * Positive for HIV serology, active hepatitis B * Significant abnormality in chest X-ray other than these linked to the diseases under investigation * Infection * Other progressive neurological degenerative disease. * Poor venous access not allowing repeated blood tests * pregnant or lactating women

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Change of modified Rankin scaleWeek 0,12

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)Week 21Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Cognitive functionWeek 21Mini-mental state examination (MMSE)
The change of percentage of regulatory T (Treg) cellsWeek 1, 3, 5, 9, 12, 21
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0Week 1, 3, 5, 9, 12, 21
Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE)-31Week 21Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE)-31

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 26, 2026