Pirfenidone for Restrictive Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction
United States10 participantsStarted 2018-03-07
Plain-language summary
Despite advances in lung transplantation, the median survival remains only 55% at 5 years. The main limitation to long term survival is the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction. In approximately 30% of cases, chronic lung allograft dysfunction has a restrictive phenotype (RCLAD) characterized by fibrosis with rapid progression to respiratory failure. Approximately 60% of patients with RCLAD die within one year, as currently there are no therapies available.
RCLAD, like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), is characterized by fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix deposition, and architectural distortion leading to progressive lung scarring and death. Given their similarities, there is keen interest in the international transplant community to investigate whether the anti-fibrotic drug pirfenidone can slow the progression of RCLAD as it does of IPF. Pirfenidone has been proved to be safe and effective in patients with IPF, and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
This protocol will evaluate the safety and tolerability of pirfenidone in lung transplant recipients with RCLAD. Transplant recipients take carefully adjusted immunosuppressive medications for life to prevent rejection of the allograft. Current literature suggests the dose of tacrolimus, the main anti-rejection drug, may need to be adjusted when taken in combination with pirfenidone. The investigators will assess the side effects of pirfenidone in combination with the immunosuppressive regimen and determine the magnitude of the adjustment in tacrolimus dose. The results of this pilot study will provide the foundation for a multicenter randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of pirfenidone in slowing the progression of RCLAD.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 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:
* Subject who underwent bilateral lung transplantation at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and have a diagnosis of RCLAD based on the International Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT) classification. The diagnosis of RCLAD is based on spirometry (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≤ 80% and FVC ≤ 80% of best post-transplant baseline) and CT scan (e.g. pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis) findings.
Exclusion Criteria:
* FVC decline related to non-RCLAD causes (e.g. pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, etc).
* Patients with any severe comorbidity complicating RCLAD which might determine their prognosis and functional level (e.g. active malignant disease) within the last 12 months
* Patients who have resumed smoking after transplantation
* Renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/min calculated by the CKD-Epi formula)
* Total bilirubin above the upper limit of the normal range (ULN)
* Aspartate or alanine aminotransferase (AST or ALT) \> 3 times the ULN.
* Known allergy of hypersensitivity to Pirfenidone
* Pregnancy
* Ongoing use or expected use of any of the following therapies:
* Strong inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. fluvoxamine or enoxacin).
* Moderate inhibitors of CAYP1A2 (e. g. mexiletine, thiabendazole, or phenylpropanolamine). Ciprofloxacin will be allowed only at doses equal or less than 500 mg BID.
* Inability to provide informed consent.
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.
What they're measuring
1
Tolerability of Pirfenidone
Timeframe: From initiation of pirfenidone until discontinuation or until 56 weeks, which ever comes first.
2
Conversion Ratio of Tacrolimus Dose
Timeframe: From initiation of pirfenidone until discontinuation or until 56 weeks, which ever comes first.