An interventional study of infrared-A (wIRA) in Morphea (Circumscribed Scleroderma) and Sclerotic Graft-versus-host Disease (GVHD), sponsored by Medical University of Graz. Terminated at 2 sites in Austria. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-30.
Sponsored by Medical University of Graz · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This is a prospective, intra-individual comparative study to evaluate the effectiveness of local-water filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation (applied by Hydrosun® radiator 750 for radiation at the clinic, or Hydrosun® 575home for home treatment) in patients with morphea or sclerotic GVHD (Graft-versus-host Disease). The purpose of the study is to determine whether wIRA irradiation can reduce fibrotic skin alterations in circumscribed scleroderma (morphea) or chronic graft versus host disease. wIRA irradiation is applied for 30 minutes 3 times per week for 20 weeks to a diseased skin area and a lesional skin on contralateral body site remains untreated. A total of 22 patients (20 evaluable patients with an expected drop-out rate of 10%) are to be included in this study. Group A: 11 patients with plaque morphea Group B: 11 patients with sclerotic GVHD.
A sclerotic plaque or area of skin on the right side of the body and contralaterally on the left half of the body (each maximum size: 25 cm in diameter, corresponding to the radiation field of the Hydrosun® heater 750) is selected. The assignment of one side of the body to irradiation or non-irradiation is randomized (using the MedUni Graz randomizer). The plaque randomized for irradiation is irradiated on 3 days a week for 30 minutes each time. The treatment period extends over 20 weeks, the total number of radiation treatments is therefore 60. If the patients cannot come to the radiation treatment, home therapy can be carried out according to the same treatment scheme. The radiation at the clinic is carried out with a Hydrosun® lamp 750, the home treatment with the Hydrosun® 575home (Hydrosun Medizintechnik GmbH, Mauchener Str. 14, D-79379 Muellheim, Germany). The radiation intensity at the distance of 33 cm between the device and the skin surface standardized by a distance rod is 200 mW / cm2 (visible light 50 mW / cm2, infrared A 150 mW / m2). The contralateral plaque or skin area of comparable clinical characteristics and duration of existence was included as an unirradiated control. Target and control areas will be photo-documented in the course of the study. Before the first irradiation, after the 30th and after the 60th irradiation, the skin thickness and hardness of the target and control regions are measured by a blinded examiner and the skin status including mRSS (Rodnan skin score) is recorded. In addition, at the beginning and at the end of the study, the patient's assessment of the effect (PGIC scale) and tolerability of the therapy is asked. Any side effects of the irradiation are continuously documented.
27 studies on the registry are indexed under Scleroderma, Localized; 4 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 11 is below the median of 24 across 17 interventional studies indexed under Scleroderma, Localized.
Browse Scleroderma, Localized studies →Medical University of Graz is the lead sponsor of 471 studies on the registry; 98 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion 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.
After a transplant from a donor, the donor’s immune cells attack the recipient’s body, often the skin, gut or liver.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
GVHD (graft-versus-host disease)
After a transplant from a donor, the donor’s immune cells attack the recipient’s body, often the skin, gut or liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Radiation: infrared-A (wIRA)
Radiation: infrared-A (wIRA)
Local-water filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation
Intensity of skin sclerosis
as determined by a high-frequency ultrasound device with a 22 MHz applicator
Time frame: 20 weeks
Assessment of skin Score
determined by modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) (range, 0 to 51 )
Time frame: 20 weeks
Assessment of skin hardness
as determined by durometer
Time frame: 20 weeks
Assessment of range of motions
as measured by the range of motions in the presence of contractures (range, 0 to 90 degree)
Time frame: 20 weeks
Grade of patient satisfaction
as determined by Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale (range, 0 to 7)
Time frame: 20 weeks
Plan to share: Undecided
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This study is terminated, as verified in Jan 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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