A Study to Compare the Effectiveness of a Drug That Suppresses the Immune System Called Thymoglob… (NCT01157949) | Clinical Trial Compass
WithdrawnPhase 3
A Study to Compare the Effectiveness of a Drug That Suppresses the Immune System Called Thymoglobulin® in Preventing the Development of a Disease That Affects the Majority of Heart Transplant Recipients Called Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy (CAV)
Stopped: PI not planning to pursue this study and it was never IRB approved.
United States0Started 2010-11
Plain-language summary
The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that administering Thymoglobulin® induction therapy early after transplant prevents the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). CAV accounts for a significant number of deaths in cardiac recipients after the first year of transplant. At 5 years post-transplant 30% of the deaths are due to CAV. With the exception of re-transplantation the available treatments for CAV are only effective at inhibiting its progression.
CAV involves only the allograft and spares the native arteries, suggesting an immunologic basis for the disease. However, both immunological and non-immunological factors contribute to the development of CAV. The established immunological risk factors are recurrent rejection and humoral/antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Non-immunological risk factors identified include preservation injury, the cause of donor death, donor graft ischemic time, and cytomegalovirus infection1. It is hypothesized that these factors increase the risk of developing CAV by causing early endothelial damage to the graft, which then could promote increased lymphocyte-endothelial interactions and the production of anti-endothelial antibodies2. The investigators hypothesized that Thymoglobulin induction therapy would prevent the development of CAV because its polyclonal nature allows Thymoglobulin to target all the potential mechanisms that contribute to the development of CAV-T-cell activation, B-cell activation, antibody formation, induction of tolerance, and modulation of lymphocyte-endothelium interactions3. Because the mechanism by which Thymoglobulin affects the immune system are still poorly understood, the investigators will also study how Thymoglobulin changes the immune system over time in the heart transplant recipient as a secondary objective.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Subjects must be undergoing their first allograft transplant
* Men and non-pregnant women must be 18 to 70 years old
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to transplantation. The sensitivity must be equal to at least 50 mIU/mL. (Urine test is allowed in addition to serum test in patients where serum results are delayed).
* Women of childbearing potential must use two reliable forms of contraception simultaneously. Effective contraception must be used before beginning study drug therapy, and for 4 months following discontinuation of study drug therapy.
* Subjects must be willing and be capable of understanding the purpose and risks of the study and must sign a statement of informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Previous organ transplants
* Patients receiving multiple organs
* Patients \> 250 lbs or 114 kgs
* Patients requiring VAD upon completion of transplantation surgery. \[Patients who require LVADs prior to surgery may be enrolled as long as no presurgery immunosuppressives (see list in Appendix B) were administered.\]
* Women lactating, pregnant, or of childbearing potential, not using, or who are unwilling to use two reliable forms of contraception simultaneously during the study.
* Men who are not using a reliable contraceptive method
* History of a psychological illness or condition which would interfere with the patient's ability to understand the requirements of the study
* White bloo…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.