<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<clinical_study>
  <!-- This xml conforms to an XML Schema at:
    http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/info/public.xsd
 and an XML DTD at:
    http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/info/public.dtd -->
  <required_header>
    <download_date>Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on May 19, 2013</download_date>
    <link_text>Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.</link_text>
    <url>http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00001422</url>
  </required_header>
  <id_info>
    <org_study_id>950140</org_study_id>
    <secondary_id>95-AR-0140</secondary_id>
    <nct_id>NCT00001422</nct_id>
  </id_info>
  <brief_title>A Controlled Trial of Intermittent Fludarabine for Psoriatic Arthritis</brief_title>
  <official_title>A Controlled Trial of Intermittent Fludarabine for Psoriatic Arthritis</official_title>
  <sponsors>
    <lead_sponsor>
      <agency>National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)</agency>
      <agency_class>NIH</agency_class>
    </lead_sponsor>
  </sponsors>
  <source>National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)</source>
  <oversight_info>
    <authority>United States: Federal Government</authority>
  </oversight_info>
  <brief_summary>
    <textblock>
      This is a placebo controlled study evaluating the role of fludarabine (a nucleoside analog
      targeting both resting and proliferating lymphocytes) in the treatment of moderate to severe
      psoriotic arthritis.  Patients should have failed at least one disease modifying
      antirheumatic drug.
    </textblock>
  </brief_summary>
  <detailed_description>
    <textblock>
      The efficacy and toxicity of immunosuppressive therapy using the adenine analogue
      fludarabine will be evaluated in 20 patients with psoriatic arthritis, who have failed or
      have developed intolerable side-effects to at least one disease modifying antirheumatic drug
      including sulfasalazine, gold, methoxypsoralen and long wave ultraviolet A light (PUVA),
      retinoids, methotrexate or cyclosporin.  In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
      patients will receive a four month course of intravenous fludarabine (30 mg/m(2)/day for 2-3
      days every 4 weeks for a total of four cycles) or placebo by a block randomization procedure
      to ensure groups balanced for disease activity.  After a washout period of two months, the
      patients receiving placebo will have the option of crossing over to the fludarabine arm for
      an additional four months of treatment.  Disease activity (both skin and joints) will be
      monitored throughout the study.  At the end of the study, physician and patient assessment
      of disease activity as well as drug-related toxicities will be analyzed.
    </textblock>
  </detailed_description>
  <overall_status>Completed</overall_status>
  <start_date>June 1995</start_date>
  <completion_date>April 2000</completion_date>
  <phase>Phase 2</phase>
  <study_type>Interventional</study_type>
  <study_design>Endpoint Classification:  Safety/Efficacy Study, Primary Purpose:  Treatment</study_design>
  <enrollment>20</enrollment>
  <condition>Arthritis, Psoriatic</condition>
  <condition>Psoriasis</condition>
  <intervention>
    <intervention_type>Drug</intervention_type>
    <intervention_name>fludarabine</intervention_name>
  </intervention>
  <eligibility>
    <criteria>
      <textblock>
        Ability to provide informed consent to all aspects of the study after full information is
        provided.

        Age equal to or older than 18 years.

        Psoriatic arthritis of more than 6 months duration defined by the following criteria:

        A psoriatic skin lesion (or history of psoriatic skin lesion documented by a physician)
        with or without nail involvement.

        Peripheral arthritis alone or in combination with sacroiliitis.  Patients with chest
        expansion less than 2.5 cm or decreased flexion of the cervical and lumbosacral spine
        flexion by 50% or more will be excluded.

        A negative serum test for rheumatoid factor and absence of subcutaneous nodules.

        Radiographic findings (if present) compatible with psoriatic arthritis (&quot;pencil in cup
        lesion,&quot; osteolysis of the terminal phalanx, asymmetrical sacroiliitis, erosive
        oligoarticular arthritis or spinal syndesmophytes).

        Criteria a-c are required for diagnosis whereas criterion d is optional.

        Active arthritis with 3 or more painful or swollen joints considered capable of responding
        to drug therapy and at least 2 of the following:

        Tenderness or pain on movement of at least 3 joints (or periarticular areas).

        30 minutes of morning stiffness (in peripheral joints or in the spine).

        Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than or equal to 28mm/hour or C-reactive
        protein (CRP) greater than 0.8 mg/dl.

        Failure to respond or development of intolerable side effects to at least one of the
        following treatments:  sulfasalazine, gold retinoids, PUVA, methotrexate, azathioprine or
        cyclosporin.  A waiting period of equal to or greater than 4 weeks after the end of
        previous systemic treatment will be required before initiation of fludarabine treatment.
        Topical treatment for psoriasis (glucocorticoids, tar, anthralin, etc.) should be
        discontinued 2 weeks prior to study entry.

        not have seropositive, symmetric polyarthritis.

        Must not have the spondylitic form of psoriatic arthritis (spondylitis alone or in
        combination with shoulder and hip arthritis).

        Must not have arthritis mutilans.

        Must not be receiving glucocorticoids in doses greater than 10mg/day of prednisone.

        Patients must not have acute or chronic infections requiring antimicrobial therapy or
        serious viral (e.g., hepatitis, herpes zoster or HIV infections) or fungal infections.
        Patients with a positive PPD who have not received INH or other antituberculous therapy
        may be excluded if in the opinion of an infectious disease consultant immunosuppressive
        therapy is contraindicated.

        Females must not be pregnant or lactating.  Females of childbearing age must be practicing
        birth control.

        No pre-existing malignancy other than basal cell carcinoma.  All females must have a
        negative Papanicolaou smear within a 3 month period prior to study entry.

        No history of cerebrovascular accidents, seizure disorder or chronic neurologic disease.

        No history of documented coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy or dysrhythmia requiring
        therapy.

        No confounding medical illness that in the judgment of the investigators would pose added
        risk for study participants (e.g., chronic hepatic, renal or pulmonary disease (PFTs less
        than 70% of predicted value or DLCO less than 60%) or bone marrow hypoplasia (Hb less than
        10 mg/dl, platelets less than 100.000/dl or WBC less than 3.400/dl).

        No patients who have received alkylating agents for greater than or equal to 1 year.

        No patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) less than 50 ml/min.
      </textblock>
    </criteria>
    <gender>Both</gender>
    <minimum_age>N/A</minimum_age>
    <maximum_age>N/A</maximum_age>
    <healthy_volunteers>No</healthy_volunteers>
  </eligibility>
  <location>
    <facility>
      <name>National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)</name>
      <address>
        <city>Bethesda</city>
        <state>Maryland</state>
        <zip>20892</zip>
        <country>United States</country>
      </address>
    </facility>
  </location>
  <location_countries>
    <country>United States</country>
  </location_countries>
  <verification_date>May 1999</verification_date>
  <lastchanged_date>March 3, 2008</lastchanged_date>
  <firstreceived_date>November 3, 1999</firstreceived_date>
  <keyword>Adenine Analogue</keyword>
  <keyword>Apoptosis</keyword>
  <keyword>Cytokines</keyword>
  <keyword>Psoriasis</keyword>
  <keyword>Synovium</keyword>
  <keyword>Psoriatic Arthritis</keyword>
  <has_expanded_access>No</has_expanded_access>
  <condition_browse>
    <!-- CAUTION:  The following MeSH terms are assigned with an imperfect algorithm  -->
    <mesh_term>Arthritis</mesh_term>
    <mesh_term>Arthritis, Psoriatic</mesh_term>
    <mesh_term>Psoriasis</mesh_term>
  </condition_browse>
  <intervention_browse>
    <!-- CAUTION:  The following MeSH terms are assigned with an imperfect algorithm  -->
    <mesh_term>Fludarabine</mesh_term>
    <mesh_term>Fludarabine monophosphate</mesh_term>
  </intervention_browse>
  <!-- Results have not yet been posted for this study                                -->
</clinical_study>
