Intravenous Immunoglobulin for PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections)
Information source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Obsessive-Complusive Disorder; Children; Anxiety Disorder; Autoimmune Disease; PANDAS
Intervention: Gamunex Intravenous Immunoglobulin (Drug); Placebo (Drug)
Phase: Phase 3
Status: Active, not recruiting
Sponsored by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Susan E Swedo, M.D., Principal Investigator, Affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Summary
Background:
- Some children experience a sudden onset of symptoms similar to those found in
obsessive-compulsive disorder that may be caused by the body s reaction to an infection
with streptococcal bacteria, most commonly seen as strep throat or scarlet fever. When the
body s immune system reacts against brain cells following a streptococcal infection, the
condition is known as PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated
with streptococcal infections). The immune system response can be inactivated by treatment
with a drug known as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Because there is insufficient
research on IVIG s effects on the immune system of children with PANDAS, including whether
IVIG is helpful in treating obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to PANDAS, researchers are
interested in examining whether IVIG is an appropriate treatment for PANDAS and its
associated symptoms.
Objectives:
- To test the safety and effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of
obsessive-compulsive disorder in children with PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric
disorder associated with streptococcal infection).
Eligibility:
- Children between 4 and 12 years of age who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (with or
without a tic disorder) with sudden onset of symptoms following Group A streptococcal
bacterial infections.
Design:
- Participants will be screened by telephone to obtain medical history and other
information, followed by in-person screening at the National Institutes of Health
Clinical Center.
- Participants will be admitted to the hospital to receive 2 days of infusions of either
IVIG or a placebo. Frequent blood samples, imaging studies, and other tests will be
performed during this visit.
- Six weeks after the inpatient stay, participants will return for further blood samples
and other tests. Participants who did not receive the study drug, or who received the
drug but did not respond to the initial IVIG infusion, will have the option to receive
IVIG at this time.
- Followup visits will take place 3 months and 6 months after the first evaluation,
followed by yearly follow-ups for 3 additional years.
Clinical Details
Official title: A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) for PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections)
Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Active IVIG will be significantly superior to sham IVIG in reducing OC symptoms and providing global relief of neuropsychiatric symptomatology.
Secondary outcome: The degree of treatment response is expected to correlate with the percentage reduction in Abs titers following IVIG administration.The degree of treatment response is also expected to correlate with decreased inflammation in specific regions of the brain, as demonstrated by changes on MRI
Detailed description:
Objective:
This study is designed to test the safety and efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in children with PANDAS
(pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection).
Study Population:
Thirty-two male and female children with severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to a
new onset or first recurrence of symptoms consistent with the PANDAS subtype of OCD.
Design:
This is a multi-site double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Potential subjects will be
screened in person at NIMH, and there will be remote video corroboration by a team of
collaborators at Yale University. Eligible subjects will be admitted to the 1NW pediatrics
inpatient unit at the Clinical Center for further assessment, randomization, and study drug
administration according to protocol. Subjects who fail to improve 6 weeks after blinded
IVIG/placebo administration (1. 0 gm/kg/day of IVIG on two consecutive days; total dose 2. 0
gm/kg) will be eligible to receive open-label IVIG.
Outcome Measures:
Primary: Improvement in obsessions, compulsions, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Exploratory:
1. Reduction of titers of cross-reactive antibodies (Abs)
2. Resolution of basal ganglia inflammation (as measured by pre-/post-changes in MRI
volumetric scans and inflammatory sequences)
3. Normalization of selected serum and CSF cytokines
Eligibility
Minimum age: 4 Years.
Maximum age: 13 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Male and female children 4-13 years of age.
Presence of (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, Text
Revision) DSM-IV TR OCD with or without a tic disorder.
Moderate or greater severity of symptoms, with a score of greater than or equal to 20 on
the Children s Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) and greater than or equal
to 4 on the Clinical Global Impression Severity scale (CGI-S).
The acute onset within the previous six months of symptoms in a child previously well, or
the first acute recurrence within the previous six months, after a period of relatively
complete remission of symptoms. The acuity of symptom onset/exacerbation is key and must
be severe, dramatic in onset, and proceed from no/minimal symptoms to maximum severity
within 24-48 hours.
Symptom onset or first exacerbation preceded within four months by a GAS infection, as
documented by positive throat culture, exposure to documented GAS infection (in a close
contact, such as a sibling sharing a bedroom), and/or documented two-fold rise in one or
more anti-GAS antibody titers such as anti-streptolysin O, anti-streptococcal DNAaseB,
anti-carbohydrate antibodies and others.
Onset/exacerbation of OCD is accompanied by at least three of the following 7 clinical
signs and symptoms. The acuity of the comorbid symptoms must be similar to the OCD
symptoms and occur in the same time interval.
1. Markedly increased level of anxiety, particularly new onset of separation anxiety.
2. Emotional lability, irritability, aggressive behavior and/or personality change.
3. Sudden difficulties with concentration or learning.
4. Developmental regression ("baby-talk," temper tantrums; behaviors atypical for actual
chronological age).
5. Sleep disorder (insomnia, night terrors, refusal to sleep alone).
6. Handwriting deterioration or other sign of motoric dysfunction (including new onset
of motor hyperactivity, or presence of choreiform finger movements).
7. Urinary frequency or increased urge to urinate; daytime or night-time secondary
enuresis.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
History of rheumatic fever, including Sydenham chorea (the neurologic manifestation).
Presence of symptoms consistent with autism, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder
(unless psychotic symptoms have onset coincident with the possible PANDAS and are
attributed to OCD).
Presence of a neurological disorder other than a tic disorder.
IQ < 70. Child subjects need to be able to contribute meaningfully to baseline and
follow-up ratings, to report adverse effects, and to assent to participation.
Presence of serious or unstable medical illness or psychiatric or behavioral symptoms that
would make participation unsafe or study procedures too difficult to tolerate.
IgA deficiency (< 20mg/dL). Intravenous immunoglobulin may contain trace IgA, which may
very rarely lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis in IgA-deficient participants with
anti-IgA antibodies (Misbah 1993).
Hyperviscosity syndromes, which can increase risks associated with IVIG administration.
Need for live virus vaccine within six months after receiving IVIG (which may be 7. 5
months from randomization) since IVIG can interfere with effectiveness of such vaccines.
IVIG should not be administered sooner than two weeks after administration of a live virus
vaccine, for the same reason.
Taking nephrotoxic drugs. Every concomitant medication will be subject to scrutiny and
possible consultation with pediatric safety monitors before randomization to study drug.
See below as well.
Recent (less than eight weeks) initiation of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT).
Recent (less than eight weeks) initiation or change in dosage of psychotropic medication
for OCD or tic disorder (e. g., serotonin reuptake inhibitors for OCD, alpha-2 agonists or
antipsychotics for tic disorders).
Locations and Contacts
Yale University Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06510-8005, United States
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
Additional Information
NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page
Related publications: Ballow M, Berger M, Bonilla FA, Buckley RH, Cunningham-Rundles CH, Fireman P, Kaliner M, Ochs HD, Skoda-Smith S, Sweetser MT, Taki H, Lathia C. Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a new intravenous immunoglobulin preparation, IGIV-C, 10% (Gamunex, 10%). Vox Sang. 2003 Apr;84(3):202-10. Benesch M, Kerbl R, Lackner H, Berghold A, Schwinger W, Triebl-Roth K, Urban C. Low-dose versus high-dose immunoglobulin for primary treatment of acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children: results of a prospective, randomized single-center trial. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2003 Oct;25(10):797-800. BerrĂos X. [Recurrent Sydenham's chorea: a rare manifestation of rheumatic disease]. Rev Med Chil. 1986 Mar;114(3):254-6. Spanish.
Starting date: January 2011
Last updated: February 7, 2015
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