Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus (APPLE)

NCT ID: NCT00065806

Last Updated: 2013-08-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 221 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2003-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2009-12-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is:

1. To assess the efficacy of a lipid-lowering agent (atorvastatin) on the development of atherosclerosis that predisposes children with SLE to cardiovascular events in adulthood.

2. To assess the safety of intermediate-term (36 months) treatment of children and young adults with atorvastatin.

3. To further characterize the course of SLE in children and young adults, by establishing a cohort of pediatric SLE patients to be followed prospectively.

4. To establish a mechanism for conducting clinical trials in rare pediatric rheumatic diseases using the Children's Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA).

Detailed Description

Children and adolescents with SLE represent 15% of all SLE patients. Children with SLE suffer high morbidity that affects many organ systems, reduces their quality of life, and shortens their lifespan. As more children with SLE survive into adulthood, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has emerged as a major concern. SLE is a significant risk factor for myocardial infarction and death in young premenopausal women with SLE, even after controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Acceleration of atherogenesis in SLE most likely reflects SLE-associated vascular immune and inflammatory changes.

Although limited, the data on cardiovascular and lipid abnormalities in children with SLE implicate atherosclerosis as an important cause of long-term morbidity and mortality. The 3-hydroxy-3-methlglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, reduce mortality and morbidity from atherosclerosis in adults and have intrinsic anti-inflammatory and immune modulatory properties. These anti-inflammatory and immune modulatory activities may have particular benefit in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis in SLE. This trial will evaluate atorvastatin in children with SLE in the largest cohort of pediatric SLE patients ever studied prospectively.

Children in this study will be randomized to receive either atorvastatin or a placebo. All children will be followed for 3 years, during which they will have 15 study visits. Study visits will generally last 2 hours and will include medical interview, medication review and pill count, physical examination, and blood and urine tests. Cardiovascular-specific outcome measures will include assessments of high sensitivity CRP; fasting lipid profile; homocysteine level; apolipoprotein A, B1, and Lp(a); carotid intima media thickness (IMT); and tensor diffusion/MRI.

Conditions

Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic

Keywords

Pediatric lupus; Atherosclerosis; SLE; HMG CoA reductase inhibitor

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

1

Patients will be treated with dietary intervention (AHA Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes \[TLC\] diet, \[http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/cgi-bin/chd/step2intro.cgi\]), cardiovascular risk factor reduction counseling, hydroxychloroquine, low-dose aspirin, a multivitamin containing folate, plus atorvastatin at 10 mg or 20 mg depending on the patient's weight. Patients weighing more than 50 kg will receive 10 mg qd atorvastatin for the first month, which will be increased to 20 mg qd at the Day 30 visit and continue through month 36. Participants weighing less than 50kg will receive a maximum of 10 mg po qd for 36 months.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Atorvastatin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Participants weighing more 50 kg will receive 10 mg of atorvastatin po qd as a starting dose, which will be increased to 20 mg po qd at the Day 30 visit and continue through month 36. Participants weighing less than 50 kg will receive a maximum of 10 mg po qd for 36 months.

2

Patients will be treated with dietary intervention (AHA Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes \[TLC\] diet, \[http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/cgi-bin/chd/step2intro.cgi\]), cardiovascular risk factor reduction counseling, hydroxychloroquine, low-dose aspirin, a multivitamin containing folate, plus placebo at 10 mg or 20 mg depending on the patient's weight. Patients weighing more than 50 kg will receive 10 mg qd placebo for the first month, which will be increased to 20 mg qd at the Day 30 visit and continue through month 36. Participants weighing less than 50kg will receive a maximum of 10 mg po qd for 36 months.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo atorvastatin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Participants weighing more 50 kg will receive 10 mg of placebo po qd as a starting dose, which will be increased to 20 mg po qd at the Day 30 visit and continue through month 36. Participants weighing less than 50 kg will receive a maximum of 10 mg po qd for 36 months.

Interventions

Atorvastatin

Participants weighing more 50 kg will receive 10 mg of atorvastatin po qd as a starting dose, which will be increased to 20 mg po qd at the Day 30 visit and continue through month 36. Participants weighing less than 50 kg will receive a maximum of 10 mg po qd for 36 months.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo atorvastatin

Participants weighing more 50 kg will receive 10 mg of placebo po qd as a starting dose, which will be increased to 20 mg po qd at the Day 30 visit and continue through month 36. Participants weighing less than 50 kg will receive a maximum of 10 mg po qd for 36 months.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Lipitor; Atorvastatin Calcium

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Meets American College of Rheumatology (ACR) revised diagnostic guidelines for SLE
• Weight of 25 kg (55 lbs) or more
• Outpatient
• Ability to complete self-report questionnaires in either English or Spanish
• Willingness to comply with recommended diet
• Acceptable methods of contraception

Exclusion Criteria

• Drug-induced lupus
• Liver disease (ALT or aspartate aminotransferase greater than 2 X normal value)
• Myositis (CK greater than 3 X normal value)
• Inability to obtain adequate-quality IMT images
• Current use of oral or parenteral tacrolimus or cyclosporine
• Dialysis or serum creatinine reater than 2.5 mg/dL
• Active nephrotic syndrome (urinary protein greater than 3 g/24 h and serum albumin less than 2.3 g/dl)
• Total cholesterol greater than 350 mg/dL
• Xanthoma
• Familial hypercholesterolemia
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Use of estrogen-containing contraceptives (e.g., Lo-Ovral)
• Unable to adhere to study regimen
• Life-threatening non-SLE illness that would interfere with ability to complete the study
• Current drug or alcohol abuse
• Anticipated poor compliance
• Participation in another drug intervention study within 30 days of study enrollment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 10 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Laura Schanberg

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Laura Schanberg

Associate Director, Professor

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Laura E. Schanberg, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Duke Medical Center

Locations

Duke Medical Center / Duke Clinical Research Institute

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

References

Gurion R, Tangpricha V, Yow E, Schanberg LE, McComsey GA, Robinson AB; Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus Investigators. Avascular necrosis in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: a brief report and review of the literature. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2015 Apr 23;13:13. doi: 10.1186/s12969-015-0008-x.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 25902709 (View on PubMed)

Robinson AB, Tangpricha V, Yow E, Gurion R, Schanberg LE, McComsey GA; APPLE Investigators. Vitamin D status is a determinant of atorvastatin effect on carotid intima medial thickening progression rate in children with lupus: an Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus (APPLE) substudy. Lupus Sci Med. 2014 Sep 10;1(1):e000037. doi: 10.1136/lupus-2014-000037. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 25396067 (View on PubMed)

Robinson AB, Tangpricha V, Yow E, Gurion R, McComsey GA, Schanberg LE; APPLE Investigators. Vitamin D deficiency is common and associated with increased C-reactive protein in children and young adults with lupus: an Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus substudy. Lupus Sci Med. 2014 Apr 30;1(1):e000011. doi: 10.1136/lupus-2014-000011. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 25396060 (View on PubMed)

Ardoin SP, Schanberg LE, Sandborg CI, Barnhart HX, Evans GW, Yow E, Mieszkalski KL, Ilowite NT, Eberhard A, Imundo LF, Kimura Y, Levy D, von Scheven E, Silverman E, Bowyer SL, Punaro L, Singer NG, Sherry DD, McCurdy DK, Klein-Gitelman M, Wallace C, Silver RM, Wagner-Weiner L, Higgins GC, Brunner HI, Jung L, Soep JB, Reed AM, Thompson SD; APPLE investigators. Secondary analysis of APPLE study suggests atorvastatin may reduce atherosclerosis progression in pubertal lupus patients with higher C reactive protein. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Mar;73(3):557-66. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202315. Epub 2013 Feb 22.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 23436914 (View on PubMed)

Schanberg LE, Sandborg C, Barnhart HX, Ardoin SP, Yow E, Evans GW, Mieszkalski KL, Ilowite NT, Eberhard A, Imundo LF, Kimura Y, von Scheven E, Silverman E, Bowyer SL, Punaro M, Singer NG, Sherry DD, McCurdy D, Klein-Gitelman M, Wallace C, Silver R, Wagner-Weiner L, Higgins GC, Brunner HI, Jung L, Soep JB, Reed AM, Provenzale J, Thompson SD; Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus Investigators. Use of atorvastatin in systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adolescents. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Jan;64(1):285-96. doi: 10.1002/art.30645.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 22031171 (View on PubMed)

Schanberg LE, Sandborg C, Barnhart HX, Ardoin SP, Yow E, Evans GW, Mieszkalski KL, Ilowite NT, Eberhard A, Levy DM, Kimura Y, von Scheven E, Silverman E, Bowyer SL, Punaro L, Singer NG, Sherry DD, McCurdy D, Klein-Gitelman M, Wallace C, Silver R, Wagner-Weiner L, Higgins GC, Brunner HI, Jung L, Soep JB, Reed A; Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus Investigators. Premature atherosclerosis in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: risk factors for increased carotid intima-media thickness in the atherosclerosis prevention in pediatric lupus erythematosus cohort. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 May;60(5):1496-507. doi: 10.1002/art.24469.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 19404953 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

NIAMS-090

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

N01AR022265

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

Pro00006680

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id