NCT00278486

Brief Summary

ARRON is a disease believed to be due to immune cells, cells which normally protect the body, but are now attacking the tissue in the retina and/or optic nerve. In addition, the disease may affect the nerves in the ear or other parts of the body . The affected nerves fail to respond, or respond only weakly, to stimuli causing numbing, tingling, pain, and progressive muscle weakness. If the nerves to the ear are affected, reduced hearing or deafness may result. The likelihood of progression of your disease is high. This study is designed to examine whether treating patients with high dose cyclophosphamide and rabbit ATG (drugs which reduce the function of the immune system) followed by return of previously collected blood stem cells will stop the progression of ARRON syndrome. Stem cells are undeveloped cells that have the capacity to grow into mature blood cells, which normally circulate in the blood stream. The purpose of the cyclophosphamide and rabbit ATG is to destroy the cells in the immune system which are thought to be causing this disease. The purpose of the stem cell infusion is to restore the body's blood production, which will be severely impaired by the high dose chemotherapy and to produce a normal immune system that will no longer attack the body.

Trial Health

57
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
2

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2004

Longer than P75 for phase_1

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
terminated

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2004

Completed
1.5 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 15, 2006

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 18, 2006

Completed
6.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2012

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 1, 2012

Completed
Last Updated

April 8, 2013

Status Verified

April 1, 2013

Enrollment Period

7.7 years

First QC Date

January 15, 2006

Last Update Submit

April 4, 2013

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Standard Snellen acuity clinical testing and improvement visual fields is done by using Humphrey Automated Machine with 30-2 program or using Kinetic Visual Fields on the Goldman Perimeter)

    5 years after transplant

Study Arms (1)

stem cell transplantation

EXPERIMENTAL
Biological: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Interventions

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation will be performed.

stem cell transplantation

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 60 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Age between 18-60.
  • Diagnosis of ARRON syndrome. Diagnostic criteria described below.
  • Unexplained visual loss over weeks to months. The visual loss includes both visual acuity and field loss define as follows:
  • Visual acuity: 20/40 or less
  • Visual field: perimetric mean deviation -5b
  • Positive antibody to retina or optic nerve.
  • A response to immunosuppressive drugs or immune modulators (response is defined by improvement of vision or decrease the rate of decline of visual loss).
  • Absence of malignancy {negative physical examination, gastrointestinal endoscopies, mammography and gynecologic examination (for female), and serum PSA measurement (for male) within a year}.
  • Negative MRI of brain.
  • The patient has failed at least 3 months of corticosteroids (prednisone 0.5mg/kg to start), IVIG and at least one other immunosuppressive drug such as methotrexate, Imuran, cyclosporine, etc. Failure is defined by decline of visual acuity (by standard Snellen acuity clinical testing) or visual field (by Humphrey Automated Machine with the 30-2 program or using Kinetic Visual Fields on the Goldman Perimeter)

You may not qualify if:

  • Absence of light perception lasting more than 6 months
  • Any illness that in the opinion of the investigators would jeopardize the ability of the patient to tolerate aggressive chemotherapy.
  • Prior history of malignancy except localized basal cell, squamous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. Other malignancies for which the patient is judged to be cured, such as head and neck cancer, or breast cancer will be considered on an individual basis.
  • Positive pregnancy test.
  • Inability or unwillingness to pursue effective means of birth control. Effective birth control is defined as 1) refraining from all acts of vaginal intercourse (ABSTINENCE); 2) consistent use of birth control pills; 3) injectable birth control methods (Depo-provera, Norplant); 4) tubal sterilization or male partner who has undergone vasectomy; 5) placement of an IUD (intrauterine device); or 6) use, with every act of intercourse, of diaphragm with contraceptive jelly and/or condoms with contraceptive foam.
  • Failure to willingly accept or comprehend irreversible sterility as a side effect of therapy.
  • FEV1/FVC \< 60% of predicted after bronchodilator therapy (if necessary).
  • DLCO \< 50% of predicted.
  • Active ischemic heart disease and/or those who have had a myocardial infarction within 6 months.
  • Resting LVEF \< 40 %.
  • Bilirubin \> 2.0 mg/dl
  • Serum creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dl.
  • Known hypersensitivity to mouse, rabbit, or E. Coli derived proteins, or to iron compounds/medications.
  • Presence of metallic objects implanted in the body that would preclude the ability of the patient to safely have MRI exams.
  • Diagnosis of primary progressive MS.
  • +3 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Retinal Diseases

Interventions

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Eye Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stem Cell TransplantationCell TransplantationCell- and Tissue-Based TherapyBiological TherapyTherapeuticsTransplantationSurgical Procedures, Operative

Study Officials

  • Richard Burt, MD

    Northwestern University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
MD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 15, 2006

First Posted

January 18, 2006

Study Start

August 1, 2004

Primary Completion

April 1, 2012

Study Completion

April 1, 2012

Last Updated

April 8, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-04

Locations