A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral azathioprine for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma.
Arthritis Rheum
; 54(12): 3962-70, 2006 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17133610
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in pulmonary fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has hampered an evidence-based approach to treatment. This RCT was undertaken to investigate the effects of intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide (CYC) followed by azathioprine (AZA) treatment in pulmonary fibrosis in SSc.METHODS:
Forty-five patients were randomized to receive low-dose prednisolone and 6 infusions (monthly) of CYC followed by oral AZA, or placebo. Primary outcome measures were change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and change in single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Secondary outcome measures included changes in appearance on high-resolution computed tomography and dyspnea scores. An intent-to-treat statistical analysis was performed.RESULTS:
At baseline, there were no significant group differences in factors linked to outcome, including severity of pulmonary fibrosis and autoantibody status. Sixty-two percent of the patients completed the first year of treatment. Withdrawals included 9 patients (6 from the placebo group) with significant decline in lung function, 2 with treatment side effects (both from the active treatment group), and 6 with non-trial-related comorbidity. No hemorrhagic cystitis or bone marrow suppression was observed. Estimation of the relative treatment effect (active treatment versus placebo) adjusted for baseline FVC and treatment center revealed a favorable outcome for FVC of 4.19%; this between-group difference showed a trend toward statistical significance (P = 0.08). No improvements in DLCO or secondary outcome measures were identified.CONCLUSION:
This trial did not demonstrate significant improvement in the primary or secondary end points in the active treatment group versus the group receiving placebo. However, for FVC there was a trend toward statistical significance between the 2 groups. This suggests that treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in SSc with low-dose prednisolone and IV CYC followed by AZA stabilizes lung function in a subset of patients with the disease. Therapy was well tolerated with no increase in serious adverse events.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Fibrosis Pulmonar
/
Esclerodermia Sistémica
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Azatioprina
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Prednisolona
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Ciclofosfamida
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Glucocorticoides
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Inmunosupresores
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Arthritis Rheum
Año:
2006
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido