Clinical Trial: WEGENT - Comparison of Methotrexate or Azathioprine as Maintenance Therapy for ANCA-Associated Vasculitides

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Treatment of ANCA-Associated Vasculitides : Corticosteroids and Pulse Cyclophosphamide Followed by Maintenance Therapy With Methotrexate or Azathioprine: a Prospective Mul

Brief Summary: Remission of ANCA-associated vasculitis can be obtained in approximately 80% of the patients with a combination of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. However, relapses are frequent. This point warrants the prescription of a maintenance treatment with a less toxic immunosuppressant for several months to years. The optimal drug in this indication is not determine. We decided therefore to compare the 2 most used drugs in this indication. Induction therapy consists in the combination of corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide pulses. Corticotherapy consisted first in one daily methylprednisolone pulse, for 1 to 3 days, followed by oral prednisolone at the dose of 1 mg/kg/d for 3 weeks, then progressively tapered and stopped at the 18th month from the diagnosis. Cyclophosphamide is administered every 2 weeks for the first 3 bolus (0.6 g/m2 - D1, 15 and 30), then every 3 weeks (0.7 g/m2). Once remission is achieved, patients receive 3 additional bolus (0.7 g/m2). At that time, patients are randomized for a maintenance treatment with azathioprine (2 mg/kg/d, orally) or oral methotrexate (starting at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg/wk, then progressively increased every weeks by 2.5mg, if necessary, to a maximum and optimal dose of 25 mg/wk) for 12 months.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Safety/Efficacy
  • Frequency of severe adverse events in each arm. Hypothesis based upon NIH data was a rate of 6% severe adverse event with methotrexate compared to 30% with azathioprine (24% in one study on RA and 46% in one study on Sjögren syndrome).
  • Evaluation was planned after the last included patient has completed the assigned trial regimen (after 12 months of maintenance regimen or because of drug withdrawal).


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Safety/Efficacy
  • Frequency of severe adverse events in each arm. Hypothesis based upon NIH data was a rate of 6% severe adverse event with methotrexate compared to 24% with azathioprine.
  • Evaluation was planned after the last included patient has completed the assigned trial regimen (after 12 months of maintenance regimen or because of drug withdrawal).


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Relapse-free survival rate.
  • Cumulative event-free survival rate (adverse event- and relapse-free survival rate).
  • Health quality assessment using HAQ and SF36.
  • Efficacy of induction therapy with pulsed cyclophosphamide.
  • Second evaluation of the same outcome parameters is planned 5 years after the last included patient has completed the assigned trial regimen.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Hospices Civils de Lyon

Dates:
Date Received: July 6, 2006
Date Started: January 1999
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 9, 2007
Last Verified: October 2007