ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03266146Updated Feb 15, 2023

36 Weeks Short-Term Optimization Treatment of Glucocorticosteroid in the Patients With Chronic Recurrent DILI

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of 36 Weeks Methylprednisolone and 48 weeks Methylprednisolone in Drug-induced Liver Injury,Chronic, sponsored by Beijing 302 Hospital. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-02-15.

Sponsored by Beijing 302 Hospital · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
90
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study is to observe the efficacy and safety of 36 weeks short-term optimization treatment of glucocorticosteroid in the patients with chronic recurrent drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

Read the detailed description

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) refers to liver diseases caused by drugs and toxic substances. DILI is a clinical event that can be associated with severe outcomes such as acute liver failure. Up to now, approximately 1100 drugs, herbal products, vitamins and illicit compounds are associated with liver injury. Recently, the incidence of DILI is rising. In our hospital, hospitalized patients with DILI was increased from 1.39% in 2002 to 2.31% in 2006, and further up to 3.17% in 2011, which indicated 2.3-folds increase over last ten years. About 20% patients with acute DILI are prone to chronic liver disease. For patients with chronic recurrent DILI, routine liver protective treatment was difficult to rescue abnormal liver functions. Moreover, increasing health care costs seriously affect the patient's quality of life. Glucocorticosteroids can inhibit the non-specific inflammation and permeability of the capillary bile duct, limit the activation of T lymphocytes, and selectively inhibit B lymphocytes to produce antibodies, thus preventing or delaying the immune-induced liver injury. In our pre-clinical trials (NCT02651350), we found that the rate of recurrence of the glucocorticoid treatment group was significant lower (\<10%) than the control group (about 50%) (P \<0.001) and there was significant difference of liver histological change during baseline and treatment end between the glucocorticoid treatment group and the control group. Meanwhile, we did not find obvious glucocorticoid's side effect in the glucocorticoid treatment group. At the same time, we found that there was good effect in 36 weeks glucocorticoid treatment in several patients. Therefore, we shall design two groups on the basis of the ratio of 1:1, namely, 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group and 48 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 36 weeks short-term optimization treatment of glucocorticosteroid in the patients with chronic recurrent DILI.

Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group will receive methylprednisolone, 48mg/d for the 1st week, 32mg/d for the 2nd week, 24mg/d for the next two weeks, followed by 16mg/d for 20 weeks and reduction in doses of methylprednisolone by 4 mg per 4 weeks until drug withdrawal. Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group also will receive standard treatment including reduced glutathione, glycyrrhizin, ademetionine, alprostadil, or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).Participants will then be followed for 24 weeks. Participants in 48 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group will receive methylprednisolone, 48mg/d for the 1st week, 32mg/d for the 2nd week, 24mg/d for the next two weeks, followed by 16mg/d for 32 weeks and reduction in doses of methylprednisolone by 4 mg per 4 weeks until drug withdrawal. Participants in glucocorticoid 48 weeks of treatment group also will receive standard treatment including reduced glutathione, glycyrrhizin, ademetionine, alprostadil,or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).Participants will then be followed for 24 weeks.

The efficacy and safety of 36 weeks short-term optimization treatment of glucocorticosteroid in the patients with chronic recurrent DILI will be observed and compared with 48 weeks glucocorticosteroid treatment during the treatment and follow-up period.

02

Conditions studied

  • Drug-induced Liver Injury,Chronic

Keywords

  • Drug-induced Liver Injury
  • Recurrence
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Short-term
03

In context

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury

80 studies on the registry are indexed under Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; 21 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 90 is above the median of 80 across 40 interventional studies indexed under Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury.

Browse Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury studies →

Lead sponsor

Beijing 302 Hospital is the lead sponsor of 88 studies on the registry; 31 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Meet with ACG clinic guidelines for diagnostic criteria of chronic DILI;
  2. The time of recurrence is 1 or more than 1;

    The definition of recurrence, meet any of the following conditions:

    • the level of serum or ALT is elevated more than 5 fold ;
    • the level of serum AST or ALT is two times higher than before;
  3. Meet any of the following conditions:

    • serum AST or ALT ≥ 10 fold ULN;
    • serum AST or ALT ≥ 5 fold ULN and ≥ 2 fold ULN;
    • liver histology indicates bridging necrosis or multiacinar necrosis or moderate or more inflammation or inflammation G3 or more;
  4. Women of childbearing age had a negative urine pregnancy test, and the subjects are willing to have no family planning during the study and to take effective measures;
  5. Voluntary participation, understanding and signing of , comply with the requirements of the research.

Exclusion criteria

-

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients with serious pre-existent comorbid conditions (vertebral compression fractures,psychosis,active peptic ulcer, brittle diabetes,uncontrolled hypertension;
  2. Patients with intolerances to prednisone;
  3. Patients with severe infection receiving antibiotics, anti-fungal,anti-viral therapy;
  4. Viral hepatitis,alcoholic or non-alcoholic liver disease,Wilson's disease or other inherited metabolic liver diseases.
  5. Pregnancy or desire of pregnancy;
  6. Breast-feeding;
  7. Liver cancer or other malignant tumor.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
90 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    36 Weeks Methylprednisolone

    Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group will receive methylprednisolone, 48mg/d for the 1st week, 32mg/d for the 2nd week, 24mg/d for the next two weeks, followed by 16mg/d for 20 weeks and reduction in doses of methylprednisolone by 4 mg per 4 weeks until drug withdrawal. Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group also will receive standard treatment including reduced glutathione, glycyrrhizin, ademetionine, alprostadil, or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Participants will then be followed for 24 weeks.

    Drug: 36 Weeks Methylprednisolone

  • Experimental
    48 Weeks Methylprednisolone

    Participants in 48 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group will receive methylprednisolone, 48mg/d for the 1st week, 32mg/d for the 2nd week, 24mg/d for the next two weeks, followed by 16mg/d for 32 weeks and reduction in doses of methylprednisolone by 4 mg per 4 weeks until drug withdrawal. Participants in glucocorticoid 48 weeks of treatment group also will receive standard treatment including reduced glutathione, glycyrrhizin, ademetionine, alprostadil, or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Participants will then be followed for 24 weeks.

    Drug: 48 weeks Methylprednisolone

Interventions

  • Drug36 Weeks Methylprednisolone

    Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group will receive methylprednisolone, 48mg/d for the 1st week, 32mg/d for the 2nd week, 24mg/d for the next two weeks, followed by 16mg/d for 20 weeks and reduction in doses of methylprednisolone by 4 mg per 4 weeks until drug withdrawal. Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group also will receive standard treatment including reduced glutathione, glycyrrhizin, ademetionine, alprostadil, or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).The total treatment duration will be 36 weeks. Follow-up duration is 24 weeks.

    Also known as: MEDROL,NDC0009-0056-02

  • Drug48 weeks Methylprednisolone

    Participants in 48 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group will receive methylprednisolone, 48mg/d for the 1st week, 32mg/d for the 2nd week, 24mg/d for the next two weeks, followed by 16mg/d for 32 weeks and reduction in doses of methylprednisolone by 4 mg per 4 weeks until drug withdrawal. Participants in 36 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment group also will receive standard treatment including reduced glutathione, glycyrrhizin, ademetionine, alprostadil, or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).The total treatment duration will be 48 weeks. Follow-up duration is 24 weeks.

    Also known as: MEDROL,NDC0009-0056-02

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Recurrence rate of illness, namely, appearance of obviously abnormal liver function again during treatment and follow-up period. The definition of recurrence: The level of AST or ALT is elevated more than 5 fold ULN or is two times higher than before.

    To analyze the clinical efficacy of glucocorticosteroid treatment

    Time frame: From week 1 to week 60 or 72

Secondary outcomes

  1. The liver histological changes between two liver biopsies (baseline and treatment end)

    To analyze the clinical efficacy of glucocorticosteroid treatment

    Time frame: At week 0 and at week 36 week or 48 week

  2. Days of normalization or falling by half compared to admission of liver functions including serum levels of ALT, AST, TBIL,GGT and ALP.

    To analyze the clinical efficacy of glucocorticosteroid treatment

    Time frame: From week 1 to week 36 or 48

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Beijing 302 hospital
    Beijing, 100039, China
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Chalasani NP, Hayashi PH, Bonkovsky HL, Navarro VJ, Lee WM, Fontana RJ; Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. ACG Clinical Guideline: the diagnosis and management of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Jul;109(7):950-66; quiz 967. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2014.131. Epub 2014 Jun 17. PubMed 24935270 ↗
  • Moreno L, Sanchez-Delgado J, Vergara M, Casas M, Miquel M, Dalmau B. Recurrent drug-induced liver injury (DILI) with ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2015 Dec;107(12):767-8. doi: 10.17235/reed.2015.3810/2015. PubMed 26671593 ↗
  • Tencate V, Komorowski R, Cronin D, Hong J, Gawrieh S. A case study: refractory recurrent autoimmune hepatitis following liver transplantation in two male patients. Transplant Proc. 2014 Jan-Feb;46(1):298-300. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2013.09.028. PubMed 24507072 ↗
  • Lucena MI, Kaplowitz N, Hallal H, Castiella A, Garcia-Bengoechea M, Otazua P, Berenguer M, Fernandez MC, Planas R, Andrade RJ. Recurrent drug-induced liver injury (DILI) with different drugs in the Spanish Registry: the dilemma of the relationship to autoimmune hepatitis. J Hepatol. 2011 Oct;55(4):820-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.12.041. Epub 2011 Feb 19. PubMed 21338638 ↗
  • Suzuki A, Brunt EM, Kleiner DE, Miquel R, Smyrk TC, Andrade RJ, Lucena MI, Castiella A, Lindor K, Bjornsson E. The use of liver biopsy evaluation in discrimination of idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis versus drug-induced liver injury. Hepatology. 2011 Sep 2;54(3):931-9. doi: 10.1002/hep.24481. Epub 2011 Aug 8. PubMed 21674554 ↗
  • Weiler-Normann C, Schramm C. Drug induced liver injury and its relationship to autoimmune hepatitis. J Hepatol. 2011 Oct;55(4):747-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.02.024. Epub 2011 Mar 9. No abstract available. PubMed 21396413 ↗
  • Bessone F, Lucena MI, Roma MG, Stephens C, Medina-Caliz I, Frider B, Tsariktsian G, Hernandez N, Bruguera M, Gualano G, Fassio E, Montero J, Reggiardo MV, Ferretti S, Colombato L, Tanno F, Ferrer J, Zeno L, Tanno H, Andrade RJ. Cyproterone acetate induces a wide spectrum of acute liver damage including corticosteroid-responsive hepatitis: report of 22 cases. Liver Int. 2016 Feb;36(2):302-10. doi: 10.1111/liv.12899. Epub 2015 Jul 16. PubMed 26104271 ↗
  • Sugimoto K, Ito T, Yamamoto N, Shiraki K. Seven cases of autoimmune hepatitis that developed after drug-induced liver injury. Hepatology. 2011 Nov;54(5):1892-3. doi: 10.1002/hep.24513. Epub 2011 Aug 9. No abstract available. PubMed 21725992 ↗
  • Fujiwara K, Yokosuka O. Histological discrimination between autoimmune hepatitis and drug-induced liver injury. Hepatology. 2012 Feb;55(2):657. doi: 10.1002/hep.24768. No abstract available. PubMed 22038865 ↗
  • Manns MP, Czaja AJ, Gorham JD, Krawitt EL, Mieli-Vergani G, Vergani D, Vierling JM; American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology. 2010 Jun;51(6):2193-213. doi: 10.1002/hep.23584. No abstract available. PubMed 20513004 ↗
  • Fontana RJ, Hayashi PH, Gu J, Reddy KR, Barnhart H, Watkins PB, Serrano J, Lee WM, Chalasani N, Stolz A, Davern T, Talwakar JA; DILIN Network. Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality within 6 months from onset. Gastroenterology. 2014 Jul;147(1):96-108.e4. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2014.03.045. Epub 2014 Mar 27. PubMed 24681128 ↗
  • Stine JG, Chalasani NP. Drug Hepatotoxicity: Environmental Factors. Clin Liver Dis. 2017 Feb;21(1):103-113. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2016.08.008. Epub 2016 Oct 13. PubMed 27842766 ↗
  • Hayashi PH, Rockey DC, Fontana RJ, Tillmann HL, Kaplowitz N, Barnhart HX, Gu J, Chalasani NP, Reddy KR, Sherker AH, Hoofnagle JH; Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) Investigators. Death and liver transplantation within 2 years of onset of drug-induced liver injury. Hepatology. 2017 Oct;66(4):1275-1285. doi: 10.1002/hep.29283. Epub 2017 Aug 26. PubMed 28543844 ↗
  • Chalasani N, Bonkovsky HL, Fontana R, Lee W, Stolz A, Talwalkar J, Reddy KR, Watkins PB, Navarro V, Barnhart H, Gu J, Serrano J; United States Drug Induced Liver Injury Network. Features and Outcomes of 899 Patients With Drug-Induced Liver Injury: The DILIN Prospective Study. Gastroenterology. 2015 Jun;148(7):1340-52.e7. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.03.006. Epub 2015 Mar 6. PubMed 25754159 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Sep 2017 to primary completion in Jan 2023, 64 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Aug 26, 2017
First posted
Aug 29, 2017
StartActual
Sep 2, 2017
Primary completionActual
Jan 31, 2023
CompletionActual
Jan 31, 2023
Last update
Feb 15, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 15, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03266146
Lead sponsor
Beijing 302 Hospital
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 29, 2017
Start date
Sep 2, 2017
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2023
Completion
Jan 31, 2023
Last update
Feb 15, 2023

Study contacts

Zhengsheng Zou, Dr.
principal investigator · Beijing 302 Hospital,China.

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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