ISRCTN ISRCTN20220821
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN20220821
Secondary identifying numbers RADS2v2.1:08/12
Submission date
26/09/2012
Registration date
23/10/2012
Last edited
05/01/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims:
Addison’s disease is caused by an autoimmune attack leading to destruction of the adrenal glands. RADS2 aims to prevent the autoimmune attack on the adrenal gland and stimulate re-growth and regeneration of adrenal function.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 10 to 65 years, diagnosed with autoimmune Addison’s disease within the previous 28 days.

What does the study involve?
Two infusions of rituximab are given, each lasting 6 hours. Also, alternate day injections of an adrenal gland stimulating hormone, ACTH are given.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefit is that your adrenal failure might go into remission, or even be cured. The risk is that the trial medication won’t work, or that you could have a reaction to it.

Where is the study run from?
Newcastle University, UK, with participating centres in Cambridge and Exeter, UK.

When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2012, running for 4 years.

Who is funding the study?
Medical Research Council, UK.

Who is the main contact?
Prof Simon Pearce
s.h.s.pearce@ncl.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Simon Pearce
Scientific

Institute of Genetic Medicine
Newcastle University
International Centre for Life
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3BZ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)191 2418674
Email s.h.s.pearce@ncl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulticentre study conducted in 2 parts Part A: Open-label interventional study of rituximab and synacthen Part B: Observational study of the natural history of autoimmune Addison’s disease
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleCombined immunotherapy and trophic adrenocortical stimulation in new onset autoimmune Addison’s disease
Study acronymRADS2
Study objectivesThis study will answer the following principal questions:
In people with new-onset autoimmune Addison’s disease, who have residual steroidogenic capacity:
1. Will the therapeutic regimen of rituximab and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) allow improvement or recovery of adrenocortical function?
2. Will this therapeutic regimen result in amelioration of the humoral immune response by reducing autoantibody titres?
3. What are the adverse effects of this therapeutic regimen?
4. Will the regimen be acceptable and well-tolerated by patients?
5. What is the early natural history of conventionally treated autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD)?
Ethics approval(s)National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Committee North East - Sunderland, 24 September 2012, ref: 12/NE/0339
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedAutoimmune Addison's disease
InterventionPart A
1. Subjects will receive 125mg IV methylprednisolone followed by 1g IV rituximab on day 1 & day 15.
2. Depot synacthen 1mg will be self-administered on alternate days (week 1-12, followed by an 8 week tail)
3. Daily oral hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone will continue in regular replacement doses (eg. Hydrocortisone 10 & 5mg, or 10 & 5 & 5mg; fludrocortisone 50-150 ìg)
4. Adrenal function, circulating B cell numbers, adrenal autoantibody titres and wellbeing will be assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 weeks.
5. Replacement steroids will be weaned off, if serum cortisol concentrations improve to >400nmol/l.

The last (72 week) visit of the last participant will mark the end of the study

Part B: Observation only
1. Adrenal function, adrenal autoantibodies and wellbeing will be assessed at baseline & 48 weeks.
2. The last (48 week) visit of the last participant will mark the end of the study for these participants.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureRestoration of normal glucocorticoid secretion (peak cortisol >550nmol/l after repeat synacthen testing at 48 weeks)
Secondary outcome measures1. Restoration of normal glucocorticoid secretion (peak cortisol >550nmol/l after repeat synacthen testing at 6,12, 24, and 72 weeks)
2. Improvement of basal and peak cortisol response (>100nmol/l over baseline) to synacthen testing
3. Normalisation of ACTH, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS), 17á OH-progesterone and recumbent renin and aldosterone levels
Overall study start date01/11/2012
Completion date31/10/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPart A (15 participants); part B ( 15 participants)
Total final enrolment13
Key inclusion criteriaPart A:
1. Clear evidence of adrenocortical failure with subnormal cortisol response to 250 µg IV synacthen (peak cortisol <300nmol/l) plus either clinical or biochemical evidence to confirm elevated ACTH, or evidence of mineralcorticoid insufficiency
2. Basal or ACTH stimulated serum cortisol >50nmol/l
3. Patients are less than 4 weeks from first diagnosis of AAD
4. Positive serum 21-hydroxylase autoantibodies (>1.0 IU/l on RSR assay)
5. Normal or atrophic adrenal glands on CT scan
6. Willingness to travel to the Wilson Horne Immunotherapy Centre, Newcastle for study
7. Willingness to attend education sessions about indications for parenteral glucocorticoid administration and technique of administration
8. Willingness to use secure contraception during and for 12 months post-treatment with rituximab ((women of childbearing potential)

For Part B, only the first 4 criteria are relevant
Key exclusion criteria1. Active viral illness, including HIV, Hepatitis B or C, shingles/Zoster
2. Recent or partially treated TB or unexplained radiographic abnormality on chest X-ray
3 .Previous use of immunosuppressive or cytotoxic drugs (excluding glucocorticoid)
4. Significant cardio-respiratory (inc. asthma), chronic renal or non-autoimmune liver disease
5. Pregnant or breastfeeding and with plan for pregnancy/ breastfeeding within 24 months
6. Known allergy or contraindication to synacthen, synacthen depot, rituximab or methylprednisolone
Date of first enrolment01/11/2012
Date of final enrolment31/10/2016

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Institute of Genetic Medicine
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3BZ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Royal Victoria Infirmary
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
England
United Kingdom

Email amanda.tortice@ncl.ac.uk
Website http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05p40t847

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) ref: MR/J002526
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/04/2020 30/10/2020 Yes No
Results article results 01/04/2020 05/01/2021 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

05/01/2021: Publication reference added.
30/10/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.