Cyclic Oral Methylprednisolone Trial in Multiple Sclerosis

NCT ID: NCT01305837

Last Updated: 2013-07-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2013-07-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether cyclic oral methylprednisolone once every month has an effect on the intrathecal inflammation in patients suffering from progressive multiple sclerosis.

Detailed Description

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is presumably T-cell mediated and it is the most common non-traumatic cause of disability affecting young people. 85 % of the MS causes starts out as relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and 15 % as primary progressive MS (PPMS). It has been found that after 10 years 40-45 % of the RRMS patients will convert to a more progressive state of disease, secondary progressive MS (SPMS).

Until recently it has been believed that the progression seen in MS occurred because of axonal loss and neurodegeneration could occur independently of inflammation. Now neuropathology studies shows that there is a close association between inflammation and neurodegeneration in all stages of MS - also the progressive forms of MS.

Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix protein with chemokine, cytokine and intergrin properties. It has multiple immunological functions and is secreted by activated macrophages, leukocytes and activated T lymphocytes. It is present in extracellular fluids and is up-regulated at sites of inflammation. Increased levels of OPN where reported in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with MS.

The main aim of this study is to analyze the effect of cyclic oral methylprednisolone on the intrathecal inflammation in patients suffering from progressive multiple sclerosis measured by OPN in the CSF. Second the investigators will look at other aims of intrathecal inflammation, neurodegeneration, demyelination and safety.

Conditions

Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

methylprednisolone

all patients will be treated with the active drug methylprednisolone 500 mg in 3 days every month for 60 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

methylprednisolone

Intervention Type: DRUG

500 mg of methylprednisolone taken in 3 days every month

Interventions

methylprednisolone

500 mg of methylprednisolone taken in 3 days every month

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Medrol

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 18 and 65 years old
• Progressive form of MS (Eg. primary or secondary progressive MS)
• Duration of progressive phase at least 1 year
• Progression of at least 1 EDSS point for the last 2 years or at least ½ EDSS point in patients with EDSS > 5,5
• Progressin in 2 FS point
• EDSS </= 6,5
• Signed informed consent and written authority

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy and breast feeding
• Lack of secure contraception for women of child-bearing age (hormonal or intrauterine device)
• Attack in the last month previous to inclusion
• Treatment with methylprednisolone or cyclic methylprednisolone the 3 previous month before inclusion
• Treatment with interferon-beta, Glatiramer acetate, immunglobulin G or other immunomodulating treatment the 3 previous month before inclusion
• Treatment with Mitoxantrone, ciclofosfamide, Azathioprin or other immunosuppressive treatment the 6 previous month before inclusion
• Previous treatment with drugs which the treating physician finds could have influence on the study results
• Diseases associated with immune defects
• Treatment with other anticoagulant than acetyl salicyl acid
• Malignancy
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Renal insufficiency or S-Creatinine > 150 mmol/l
• Acute or chronic infections with hepatitis B og C virus, HIV or other infections which the treating physician finds relevant
• Psychiatric illness or other conditions which can impair the collaboration of the patient participating in the study
• Contra-indication to MRI
• Hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone
• Osteoporosis

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Rigshospitalet, Denmark

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Rikke Ratzer

MD

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Rikke Ratzer, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Scleroseklinikken, Rigshospitalet

Per S Sørensen, Professor, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Scleroseklinikken, Rigshospitalet

Locations

Scleroseklinikken, Rigshospitalet

Copenhagen, , Denmark

Countries

Denmark

Other Identifiers

2010-024561-43

Identifier Type: EUDRACT_NUMBER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2010-370

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id