Trial of Anakinra (Plus Zinc) or Prednisone in Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (NCT04072822) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 2
Trial of Anakinra (Plus Zinc) or Prednisone in Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
United States147 participantsStarted 2020-07-10
Plain-language summary
This multicenter, randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial is focused on novel treatments for severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH), a life-threatening stage of alcoholic liver injury that has a short-term mortality rate much higher than that of other liver diseases.
The primary objective of the study is to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of Anakinra (plus zinc) compared to the current standard medical treatment consisting of prednisone in participants with clinically severe AH. Key secondary objectives broadly are as follows: (a) to evaluate the use of biomarkers to assess disease severity and treatment response; and (b) to develop novel endpoints to overcome the limitations of current assessment strategies for severe AH.
Who can participate
Age range
21 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
. AH, as defined by the NIAAA pan-consortia for AH:
. Onset of jaundice (defined as serum total bilirubin \>3 mg/dL) within the prior 8 weeks to screening visit
. Regular consumption of alcohol with an intake of \> 40 gm daily or \>280gm weekly on average for women and \> 60 gm daily or \>420gm weekly on average for men for 6 months or more, with less than 8 weeks of abstinence before onset of jaundice
. AST \> 50 IU/l
. AST:ALT \> 1.5 and both values \< 400 IU/l
. and/or histological evidence of AH\*
. MELD 20-35 on day of randomization.
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.
. Active sepsis (positive blood or ascitic cultures) with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or hemodynamic compromise requiring intravenous pressors to maintain tissue perfusion
. Pneumonia as evidenced by radiological exam
. Multi-organ failure
. Renal failure defined by GFR \<35 mL/min by CKD-EPI.
. Clinically active C. diff infection
. History of imaging of the liver (ultrasound, computerized tomography or magnetic resonance) showing other causes of jaundice
. History of other liver diseases including hepatitis B (positive HBsAg or HBV DNA), hepatitis C (positive HCV RNA), autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson disease, genetic \\hemochromatosis, alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency or strong suspicion of Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI). Previously treated hepatitis C that was cured (sustained virological response with negative RNA ≥24 weeks following treatment) is not an exclusion.