An observational study in Takayasu Arteritis, Mechanisms, Defense and Pregnancy Related, sponsored by Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-08-10.
Sponsored by Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital · Observational
The Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare inflammatory large vessel arteritis which often occurs women in Aisa, one of which is China. The rare cases restricted the development of intervention strategy, especially in female patients who plan to be pregnant. So investigators try to recruit as many TA participants as possible to build a TA cohort so that investigators could manage patients much more professionally and standardized and explore the better interventional strategy for a better outcome as well, with full use of blood and vascular tissues.
Overview of Takayasu's arteritis.
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory blood vessel that seriously endangers human health, which affects a large variety of blood vessels, characterized by vascular stenosis and occlusion. The clinical manifestations of TA are hypertension, renal failure caused by renal artery stenosis; pulseless, syncope and cerebral infarction caused by carotid vessels stenosis; pulmonary infarction induced by thoracic aorta involvement, etc. The TA usually accompanies high morbidity, high mortality, and poor prognosis. TA is a rare disease which is prone to occur in Asian women, especially in young women (20-40 years old) in the growth period. Currently, the etiology and pathogenesis of TA remain unclear, and the state of the disease is often repeatedly active and continuously progressive. Moreover, non-effective therapy exists for the moment.
The diagnosis and activity evaluation of TA
At present, TA is diagnosed according to the American Society of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for Takayasu's arteritis: ① onset at age ≤40 years; ② claudication of an extremity; ③ decreased brachial artery pulse; ④ >10 mm Hg difference in systolic blood pressure between arms; ⑤ a bruit over the subclavian arteries or the aorta; ⑥ and arteriographic evidence of narrowing or occlusion of the entire aorta, its primary branches, or large arteries in the proximal upper or lower extremities. Participants who meet 3 or more criteria could be diagnosed with this disease posterior to excluding atherosclerosis, congenital muscle fiber dysplasia, etc.
The course of TA is often manifested as chronic, repetitive activity and continuous progression. The evaluation standard proposed by Kerr et al. to monitor TA activity is widely used clinically. Two more new emerging or aggravating clinical manifestations indicates disease Activity: ① systemic symptom, such as fever, bones, muscle symptoms; ② increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); ③characteristics of vascular ischemia or inflammation: such as intermittent claudication, pulse weakening or pulseless, vascular bruit, vascular pain, asymmetry blood pressure, etc.; ④ abnormalities in angiography. Although acute phase response protein such as ESR and C-reactive protein (CRP) are non-specific indicators for inflammation, they are still important markers to evaluate the disease activity. Imaging follow-up, primarily based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and color Doppler ultrasound, is critical in assessing TA disease activity. With the help of Pro. Jiang Lin and Dr. Lu Peng, investigators have established an imaging diagnostic team in recent years and proposed the systemic MRI scoring standard in the international firstly. The standard has been applied to quantitatively assess the vascular inflammation prior and posterior to the treatment in participants with TA. Recently, investigators co-operated with the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology to employ the 18F-FDG-PET/CT to evaluate the systemic vascular inflammation and disease activity in participants. Moreover, investigators attempted to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound microbubble imaging to assess the carotid artery inflammation and stenosis. At present, these two technologies are still being explored. Therefore, it is necessary to combine the clinical manifestations, acute phase response proteins (ESR and CRP) and imaging to judge the TA disease activity comprehensively.
Treatment of arteritis
The treatment of TA is divided into two phases: remission induction period and maintenance period. The drugs are divided into three categories including glucocorticoids, cytotoxic drugs, and biological agents targeting inflammatory cytokines.
Glucocorticoids are the basic drug for TA treatment. Most TA participants receiving high doses of glucocorticoids treatment could be induced remission quickly, but about 17%-29% of refractory participants treated with standard glucocorticoids strategy could not be alleviated. And the recurrence rate is up to 90% with the single glucocorticoid. About more than 2/3 of participants would be glucocorticoid-dependent, and more than half of the participants need other drugs to maintain remission. Moreover, long-term high-dose glucocorticoids also have many adverse effects.
Recently, targeted biological agents have been attempted to treat refractory, recurrent TA and glucocorticoid-dependent remission induction TA participants. Compared with conventional drugs, targeted biological agents work faster and could bring disease remissions for 70%-90% of refractory participants. However, the long-term use of biological agents would threaten the low-immunity participants with the risk of infections and cancer. Moreover, the effect on the reproductive system is unclear for the moment; in addition, these drugs are expensive and mainly used in refractory and critically ill participants.
The combination of glucocorticoids combining with immunosuppressive agents such as cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, etc. are the commonly used remission induction strategy clinically. However, large amounts of clinical evidence demonstrate that TA participants receiving glucocorticoids with the immunosuppressive agents would also face the histopathological activities lesions in the future. In the long-term follow-up, the relapse rate is much higher, and the mortality rate is significantly higher than that of healthy people.
In summary, the current commonly used drugs for TA treatment could not meet the needs of the clinical setting, and TA participants lack a universally effective treatment strategy.
TA often occurs in women of childbearing age, so reducing the risk of maternal pregnancy caused by pregnancy in TA participants is one of the investigators' focuses in recent years. At present, there are no relevant guidelines for the pregnancy of TA participants, and doctors instruct them to take pills and monitor disease activity mainly basing on the doctor's clinical experience. Usually, investigators do not recommend the TA participants in active phase to conceive, not only because that the use of hormones and cytotoxic drugs could influence the development of the fetus, but also because that the stenosis or occlusion of the distal artery would increase the cardiac load so as to cause congestive heart failure, pre-eclampsia as well as fetal growth restriction and stillbirth. A case-control study in Brazil recruiting 89 TA and 89 healthy pregnant women discovered that the risk of gestational hypertension and low birth weight was much higher in TA than that in healthy controls. Moreover, the perinatal mortality rate is much higher in TA pregnant participants as well. A retrospective study in France including 96 TA pregnant women, 240 cases of pregnancy events, revealed that TA did not affect the pregnancy outcomes, but increased the risk of complications such as pregnancy hypertension with the elevating of the disease activity. Therefore, there is a lack of large-scale evidence-based medical proof uncovering the relationship between the pregnancy outcome and maternal risk in participants of TA. Here, the present follow-up registration also extends to the service of pregnant TA participants, which is designed to guide the treatment of pregnant participants and monitor maternal safety.
This objective of this study is to record the related materials of the follow-up of TA participants and the pregnancy course, to direct the standardized medication, to monitor the changes of disease conditions, and to provide the better prognosis and pregnancy outcome for TA participants.
78 studies on the registry are indexed under Takayasu Arteritis; 32 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 1,000 is above the median of 224 across 41 observational studies indexed under Takayasu Arteritis.
Browse Takayasu Arteritis studies →Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital is the lead sponsor of 652 studies on the registry; 291 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The population of the present investigation is TA patients mainly deriving from east China. The subjects are mainly female at the pregnancy age, who have the necessity to be pregnant. But there is not any drug or other intervention to cure them thoroughly.
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.
angiographic evidence of narrowing or occlusion of the entire aorta, its primary branches, or large arteries in the proximal upper or lower extremities.
Exclusion Criteria
Exit criteria
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.
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.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The control group mainly consists of healthy volunteers. The whole blood is obtained and frozen to detect the corresponding biochemical markers in the futures. The vascular tissues are obtained from the deserted and free abdominal aorta conjugated to the renal artery in the kidney transplantation.
In the TA cohort, patients are divided into two groups mainly, sham TA group and scramble TA group. The sham TA group is the TA group who is given the traditional and classical intervention or treatment and so on.
Compared to sham TA group in the cohort, scramble TA group refers to TA patients who are given novel drugs or new drugs which are safe to treat other autoimmune diseases but have not been used to treat TA yet, or some new interventions and so on.
Biological: Tocilizumab · Drug: Leflunomide
The scramble TA group is given bioagents such as IL-6R antibody, CD20-antibody, TNF-alpha antibody, and other bioagents which are safe to use in human to treat other refractory diseases. The sham group is given cyclophosphamide. And the prednisone is the basic drugs to be used in TA.
Also known as: IL-6R antibody
The scramble TA group is given new molecules such as Leflunomide, Iguratimod, and other molecules which are safe to use in human to treat other refractory diseases. The sham group is also given cyclophosphamide. And the prednisone is the basic drugs to be used in TA.
Also known as: Arava
The change of manifestations of systemic symptom - fever
The change of manifestations of systemic symptoms could effectively reflect the disease status of patients. The systemic symptoms associated with Takayasu arteritis mainly consist of fever, fatigue and chest congestion. Fever is examined by thermometer with the axillary's temperature, and the T\>37.5 degree is considered to be fever. After investigators excluding the fever caused by infection through CT or laboratory examinations, the occurrence of fever usually indicates the disease activity.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of manifestations of systemic symptom - fatigue
The occurrence of fatigue indicates that the disease might be in the active phase. Self reported fatigue is obtained through inquiry, recorded by investigators and classified as "WITH" and "WITHOUT".
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of manifestations of systemic symptoms - chest congestion
The occurrence of chest congestion indicates that the heart and pulmonary might be involved and the disease might be in the active phase. Self reported chest congestion is obtained through inquiry, recorded by investigators and classified as "WITH" and "WITHOUT".
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of the emerging signs or symptoms of ischemia
Multiple emerging signs or symptoms could sensitively reflect the extent of ischemia of artery or organs. Self-reported emerging signs or symptoms of ischemia including vascular pain, dizziness, headache, amaurosis, vision loss, blurred vision, palpitations, chest pain, abdominal pain, claudication and other symptom through inquiry are recorded by investigators and classified as "WITH" and "WITHOUT". Participants with emerging signs or symptoms of ischemia usually face aggravating TA disease.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of the signs or symptoms of ischemia
The vascular bruits and pulse strength are evaluated and scored from 0 to 2 (0=without bruits and pulse; 1=bruits and decreased pulse; 2= normal) by a special well-trained investigator. If the score decreases, the ischemia is exacerbated and classified as "WITH".
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of the blood pressure
The blood pressure change is measured with sphygmomanometer by the investigators. The measure is performed three times in each visit, and the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are recorded. If the pressure fluctuates over 20mmHg, the stenosis of artery may exacerbate and the disease might be in the active phase.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of laboratory tests.
The laboratory inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are concise and efficient methods to monitor the change of disease status, and are examined by clinical laboratory in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University. Investigators record and summarize the results and evaluate the change of ESR under different treatment options.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of IL-6 in plasma
IL-6 plays an important role in the progression of Takayasu arteritis. The level of plasma IL-6 is detected by clinical laboratory in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University. Investigators record and summarize the results and evaluate the change of IL-6 under different interventions, and analyze the relationship between IL-6 and disease status.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of vascular imaging.
MRA and contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound imaging are important methods to evaluate TA vascular inflammation and structural change. In the initial interview and every 3 times of follow-up, the imaging examination are carried out and the images are stored at the hospital. Two radiologists perform the independent reading and evaluation. Vascular imaging is employed to monitor the improvement of the vascular wall inflammation and vascular structures (including vessel wall thickness and vascular stenosis) during treatment. For patients with stent or other metallic foreign things in the body, PET-CT and CT are also used to examine the shape and lumen of the vessels.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of quality of life(QOF): SF-36 questionnaire
The change of Quality of Life (QOF) with the SF-36 questionnaire Self reported the change of quality of life. Patients complete the SF-36 quality of life assessment questionnaire. Investigators provide the guidance and training on how to complete the questionnaire but must not interfere with the patients' own choice. Investigators evaluate the change of overall quality of life of patients and score the change from 0 to 2 (0= alleviated, 1=similar, 2= worsen).
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
The change of obstetric related examinations in childbearing women.
For childbearing women who are preparing to be pregnant and being pregnant, investigators pay special attention to these participants and provide proper guidance and assistance promptly. To evaluate the change of obstetric related examinations, investigators record the results of obstetric related examinations such as height of uterus, abdominal perimeter, and collaborate with ultrasound specialist to perform the obstetric ultrasound to monitor the status of fetus. At last, investigators assess the process and scores from 0 to 4 with the help of doctors from gynecologist and obstetrician. (0= much better than normal women, 1= similar to normal women, 2= worse than normal women but without obstetrics and gynecology complications, 3= worse than normal women with obstetrics and gynecology complications, 4= abortion, death of fetus or mother.)
Time frame: From the initiation of pregnancy, 1 year.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.