NCT03059979

Brief Summary

This is a 12 week double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial in which 30 patients with very early SSc, fulfilling the Very Early Diagnosis Of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS) criteria (9) will be randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive intravenous methylprednisolone or placebo. Three-day treatment courses are given at week 0, week 4 and week 8. The final assessment is at week 12, and patients will be followed up to one year after baseline

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

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

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
30

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for early_phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2017

Longer than P75 for early_phase_1

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

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

January 1, 2017

Completed
24 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 25, 2017

Completed
29 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 23, 2017

Completed
4.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2021

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 1, 2021

Completed
Last Updated

November 29, 2019

Status Verified

September 1, 2019

Enrollment Period

4.5 years

First QC Date

January 25, 2017

Last Update Submit

November 27, 2019

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • the change in capillary density from baseline

    presence of enlarged and giant capillaries, hemorrhages, loss of capillaries, disorganization of the micro vascular array, and capillary ramifications.

    12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (16)

  • change in selected biomarkers: the interferon signature in peripheral blood from baseline

    1 year

  • change in nail fold capillary changes other than capillary density and giant capillaries from baseline

    1 year

  • change in modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) from baseline

    1 year

  • presence of puffy fingers from baseline

    1 year

  • presence of synovitis from baseline

    1 year

  • +11 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Methylprednisolone 1000 mg

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

the methylprednisolone is dissolved in 100 cc of sodium chloride (NaCl 0.9%) by intravenous infusion in 30 minutes on three consecutive days

Drug: Methylprednisolone

sodium chloride

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The placebo intervention with physiologic salt solution is identical in appearance

Other: sodium chloride

Interventions

methylprednisolone 1000 mg dissolved in 100 cc of NaCl 0.9%, by intravenous infusion in 30 minutes on three consecutive days Three-day treatment courses are given at week 0, week 4 and week 8.

Also known as: Solu-Medrol
Methylprednisolone 1000 mg

100 cc of NaCl 0,9% , administered by intravenous infusion in 30 minutes on three consecutive days Three-day treatment courses are given at week 0, week 4 and week 8.

Also known as: NaCl 0,9%
sodium chloride

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Written informed consent
  • Age over 18 years
  • Fulfilling VEDOSS criteria (9):
  • Raynauds' Phenomenon and
  • Positive for disease specific auto antibodies (anti-centromere or anti-topoisomerase antibodies) and
  • typical nail fold capillaroscopic findings
  • Puffy fingers \< 3 years
  • Modified Rodnan skin score = 0

You may not qualify if:

  • Presence of acroosclerosis, acrosteolysis and digital ulcers
  • Presence of anti-RNA polymerase III auto antibodies
  • Previous systemic treatment for SSc, namely:
  • methotrexate,
  • prednisone (\> 14 days in previous 6 months),
  • mofetil mycophenolate
  • cyclophosphamide.
  • Clinically significant internal organ involvement:
  • diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) \< 80% predicted,
  • vital capacity (VC) \< 70% predicted
  • renal dysfunction with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 60 ml/min
  • diastolic dysfunction \> grade 1 on echocardiography
  • pulmonary hypertension
  • weight loss \>10% in the last 6 months with unknown cause
  • Contra-indications for methylprednisolone, such as:
  • +5 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Radboudumc, Rheumatology department

Nijmegen, Gelderland, 6500 HB, Netherlands

RECRUITING

Related Publications (28)

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  • Kersten BE, Lemmers JMJ, Vanhaecke A, Velauthapillai A, van den Hombergh WMT, van den Hoogen FHJ, van den Ende CHM, Smith V, Vonk MC. Efficacy of methylprednisolone in very early systemic sclerosis: results of the 'Hit Hard and Early' randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025 Mar 1;64(3):1261-1269. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae156.

  • van den Hombergh WMT, Kersten BE, Knaapen-Hans HKA, Thurlings RM, van der Kraan PM, van den Hoogen FHJ, Fransen J, Vonk MC. Hit hard and early: analysing the effects of high-dose methylprednisolone on nailfold capillary changes and biomarkers in very early systemic sclerosis: study protocol for a 12-week randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2018 Aug 22;19(1):449. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2798-x.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Scleroderma, Systemic

Interventions

MethylprednisoloneMethylprednisolone HemisuccinateSodium Chloride

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Connective Tissue DiseasesSkin and Connective Tissue DiseasesSkin Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PrednisolonePregnadienetriolsPregnadienesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic CompoundsChloridesHydrochloric AcidChlorine CompoundsInorganic ChemicalsSodium Compounds

Study Officials

  • Madelon Vonk, Dr.

    Radboud University Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Brigit Kersten

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
early phase 1
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 25, 2017

First Posted

February 23, 2017

Study Start

January 1, 2017

Primary Completion

July 1, 2021

Study Completion

July 1, 2021

Last Updated

November 29, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-09

Locations