Re-evaluation of Some Old Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT ID: NCT03194204

Last Updated: 2020-05-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

160 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-10-01

Study Completion Date

2020-02-20

Brief Summary

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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint swelling, joint tenderness and destruction of synovial joints, leading to severe disability and premature mortality.

Detailed Description

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The rate of cartilage and joint damage in RA is correlated with plasma elevations in inflammatory acute phase reactants, such as C- reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor positivity and the synovial concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP), a matrix digesting enzymes directly responsible for joint destruction.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of zinc-containing endoproteinases that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) components.The MMPs are thought to play a critical role in the degradation of many components of the extracellular matrix in the synovial joint.

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (stromelysin-1) is a proteolytic enzyme which is thought to play a pivotal role in joint destruction in RA through breaking down various extracellular components, including collagens (types III, IV, V, IX, and XI), matrix proteins and proteoglycans and activating other pro-MMPs such as pro-MMP-7, pro-MMP-8 and pro-MMP-9.

In RA, MMP-3 is locally produced in the inflamed joint and released into the blood stream. It has been suggested that serum MMP-3 level correlates with levels produced by the synovium, thus reflect the level of activity of rheumatoid synovitis.

MMP-9 has been associated with chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

MMP-9 displays gelatinolytic, elastolytic and collagenolytic activity, thus playing a key role in extracellular matrix turnover, in addition, MMP-9 may also modulate the activity of various biological factors, including other proteinases (e.g., MMP-13), their inhibitors (e.g., α1-antitrypsin) or cytokines.

Matrix metalloproteinases also play key roles in adverse cardiovascular remodeling, atherosclerotic plaque formation and plaque instability, vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and restenosis that lead to coronary artery disease (CAD) and progressive heart failure.

Matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) is mainly found in the most stenotic areas of carotid plaques in humans and is a marker for plaque vulnerability . It can also predict stroke and fatal cardiovascular events . Elevated circulating levels of MMP-9 have been found in subjects with stable angiographic coronary atherosclerosis and intermittent claudication.

The prevalence of athero sclerosis is increased in RA, even in early disease. The earliest vascular change described microscopically in atherosclerosis is intimal media thickening (IMT) , which consists of layers of smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix. Intimal thickening is more frequent in atherosclerosis-prone arteries such as coronary, carotid, aorta and iliac arteries .

IMT is the "phenotype" of the early phases of atherosclerotic disease and is related to the main traditional risk factors. Moreover, IMT is a marker of organ damage either in the heart or in other vascular districts. The simultaneous measurement of carotid and femoral IMT may improve risk stratification in patients with coronary heart disease.

Atherosclerosis is recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition with key roles for both the innate and adaptive immune systems in the initiation, progression and stability of lesions.

Inflammation is an important trigger of plaque erosion and stability and one focus of secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the general population is the development of anti-inflammatory agents for plaque stabilization.

Many aspects of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis are mirrored in the inflamed RA synovium, including pronounced infiltration by macro phages and type 1 T-helper cells, collagen degradation and neovascularization . Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNFα), interleukin-6(IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases are implicated in both processes.

As plaques become more complex, thinning of the fibrous cap occurs. This thinning eventually causes rupture of the plaque, exposing its thrombogenic content to blood, resulting in acute thrombosis and a clinical event .Fibrous cap erosion is thought to be mediated by inflammatory cells, in particular macrophages and T helper cells, via secretion of matrix metalloproteinases.

Doxycycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline, is a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic. It has been shown that it also inhibits the activity of mammalian collagenases and gelatinases, an activity unrelated to its antimicrobial efficacy. Doxycycline not only inhibits MMP-8 and MMP-9 (gelatinase B) activity, but also the synthesis of MMPs in human endothelial cells .

Tetracyclines exhibit multiple anti-inflammatory properties, including the inhibition of T-cell activation and chemotaxis, the downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNFα and IL-1b and the inhibition of matrixmetalloproteinases.

A study of patients with early disease showed significant efficacy compared with placebo when used in combination with methotrexate .The benefit of minocycline and doxycycline was confirmed in a recent meta-analysis that found clinically significant improvement in disease activity with no increased risk for adverse events. Rheumatologists have not embraced minocycline or doxycycline as primary treatment options for RA and reserve their use primarily in patients with long-standing, refractory disease. Minocycline and doxycycline are safe and moderately effective disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis . These drugs are generally well tolerated, with skin complaints, nausea, and dizziness being the most common patient-reported side effects.

Whether RA is caused, triggered, or perpetuated by an infectious agent or agents is still not delineated, it is possible, that suppression of infections in a nonspecific manner, decreasing the stimuli for TNFα production, may play a role in the treatment of RA.

Conditions

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

A group of patients will receive methotrexate only, another group will receive methotrexate plus doxycycline
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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RA patients treated with methotrexate

Disease activity score(DAS28) matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate C- reactive protein Complete blood count Urine analysis Renal and liver function tests Lipid profile, blood glucose level Serum uric acid Rheumatoid factor (RF IgM, U/L) Anti- cyclic citrullinated peptide . Radiological assessment :Plain radiographs of both hands and feet in the postero-anterior views .

Cardiac assessment :By electrocardiogram ( ECG ) and echocardiography , Carotid artery intima-medial thickness (IMT) will be done by colored doppler ultrasound.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Doxycycline Tablets

Intervention Type DRUG

MMP-3 and MMP-9 will be done with blood samples using ELISA technique CIMT will be done using colored doppler ultrasound

RA patients treated with methotrexate plus doxycycline

Disease activity score(DAS28) Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate C- reactive protein Complete blood count Urine analysis Renal and liver function tests Lipid profile, blood glucose level Serum uric acid , Rheumatoid factor (RF IgM(immunoglobulin M), U/L) Anti- cyclic citrullinated peptide. Radiological assessment :Plain radiographs of both hands and feet in the postero-anterior views.

Cardiac assessment :

By electrocardiogram ( ECG ) and echocardiography Carotid artery intima-medial thickness (IMT) will be done by colored doppler ultrasound.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Doxycycline Tablets

Intervention Type DRUG

MMP-3 and MMP-9 will be done with blood samples using ELISA technique CIMT will be done using colored doppler ultrasound

Interventions

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Doxycycline Tablets

MMP-3 and MMP-9 will be done with blood samples using ELISA technique CIMT will be done using colored doppler ultrasound

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Complete blood count (CBC). Lipid profile Renal and liver function tests Serum uric acid Rheumatoid factor (RF IgM, U/L) Anti- cyclic citrullinated peptide plain radiographs of both hands and feet electrocardiogram ( ECG ) and echocardiography Carotid artery intima-medial thickness (CIMT) C-reactive protein (CRP) blood glucose level Disease activity score(DAS28) Matrix metalloproteinase 3 and 9 (MMP-3)(MMP-9)

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients included in this study are patients with RA (either newly or previously diagnosed) with their age between 18-50 years old having the same normal range of body mass index

Exclusion Criteria

1. \- The investigators will exclude patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis other than rheumatoid arthritis such as:

* Smoking.
* Obesity.
* Hypertension.
* Diabetes.
* History of renal or liver diseases.
* Corticosteroid therapy. 2- Intercurrent infections as they may interfere with levels of metalloproteinases.

3- Pregnant or lactating females .
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Assiut University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Eman Mohammed Ibrahem Kamel

principal investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Assiut University

Asyut, , Egypt

Site Status

Countries

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Egypt

References

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Abdelnaseer M, Elfayomi N, Esmail EH, Kamal MM, Hamdy A, Samie RMA, Elsawy E. Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-9 and common carotid artery intima media thickness. Neurol Sci. 2016 Jan;37(1):117-122. doi: 10.1007/s10072-015-2358-z. Epub 2015 Aug 30.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26319043 (View on PubMed)

Grzela K, Litwiniuk M, Zagorska W, Grzela T. Airway Remodeling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma: the Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 2016 Feb;64(1):47-55. doi: 10.1007/s00005-015-0345-y. Epub 2015 Jun 28.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26123447 (View on PubMed)

Ma JD, Zhou JJ, Zheng DH, Chen LF, Mo YQ, Wei XN, Yang LJ, Dai L. Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 as a noninvasive biomarker of histological synovitis for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Mediators Inflamm. 2014;2014:179284. doi: 10.1155/2014/179284. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25147433 (View on PubMed)

Mittal B, Mishra A, Srivastava A, Kumar S, Garg N. Matrix metalloproteinases in coronary artery disease. Adv Clin Chem. 2014;64:1-72. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800263-6.00001-x.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24938016 (View on PubMed)

Everett BM, Pradhan AD, Solomon DH, Paynter N, Macfadyen J, Zaharris E, Gupta M, Clearfield M, Libby P, Hasan AA, Glynn RJ, Ridker PM. Rationale and design of the Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial: a test of the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis. Am Heart J. 2013 Aug;166(2):199-207.e15. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.03.018. Epub 2013 May 3.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23895801 (View on PubMed)

Bernetti M, Abbate R, Cerini G, Gensini GF, Poggesi L, Boddi M. [Carotid and femoral intima-media thickness as an early atherosclerotic marker. Advantages and limits]. G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2011 Jan;12(1):72-81. Italian.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 21428031 (View on PubMed)

Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, Funovits J, Felson DT, Bingham CO 3rd, Birnbaum NS, Burmester GR, Bykerk VP, Cohen MD, Combe B, Costenbader KH, Dougados M, Emery P, Ferraccioli G, Hazes JM, Hobbs K, Huizinga TW, Kavanaugh A, Kay J, Kvien TK, Laing T, Mease P, Menard HA, Moreland LW, Naden RL, Pincus T, Smolen JS, Stanislawska-Biernat E, Symmons D, Tak PP, Upchurch KS, Vencovsky J, Wolfe F, Hawker G. 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Sep;62(9):2569-81. doi: 10.1002/art.27584.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 20872595 (View on PubMed)

Webster G, Del Rosso JQ. Anti-inflammatory activity of tetracyclines. Dermatol Clin. 2007 Apr;25(2):133-5, v. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2007.01.012.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 17430750 (View on PubMed)

Nakashima Y, Chen YX, Kinukawa N, Sueishi K. Distributions of diffuse intimal thickening in human arteries: preferential expression in atherosclerosis-prone arteries from an early age. Virchows Arch. 2002 Sep;441(3):279-88. doi: 10.1007/s00428-002-0605-1. Epub 2002 Mar 14.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 12242525 (View on PubMed)

del Rincon ID, Williams K, Stern MP, Freeman GL, Escalante A. High incidence of cardiovascular events in a rheumatoid arthritis cohort not explained by traditional cardiac risk factors. Arthritis Rheum. 2001 Dec;44(12):2737-45. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200112)44:123.0.CO;2-%23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 11762933 (View on PubMed)

Ibrahem EM, El-Gendi SS, Mahmoud AA, Abdel-Aal SM, El Nouby FH, El-Deen Mohammed HS. Predictors of Cardiovascular Affection in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2021;17(2):258-266. doi: 10.2174/1573397116666201113090145.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33185166 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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17200080

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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