Clinical and Immunological Long-term Follow-up of Patients With Pemphigus Included in the "RITUXIMAB 3" Trial (LTFURITUX3)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03790293 |
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified December 2018 by University Hospital, Rouen.
Recruitment status was: Not yet recruiting
First Posted : December 31, 2018
Last Update Posted : December 31, 2018
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Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease specific to the skin and mucous membranes characterized by the production of IgG4 isotype autoantibodies (AC) directed mainly against two proteins involved in interkeratinocyte adhesion: desmoglein 1 (Dsg1 ) and desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) (1-3). The binding of auto-AC on these proteins disrupts their adhesion function, resulting in inter-keratinocyte dysjunction called "acantholysis" responsible for the formation of intraepidermal bubbles.
Treatment of pemphigus is typically based on systemic corticosteroids. High doses are usually necessary because of the frequent cortico-resistance of the disease. In recent years, several studies have focused on the treatment of pemphigus with anti-CD20: rituximab. The "Ritux 3" study (NCT00784589), a randomized, multicentre, randomized, non-blind clinical trial involving 90 patients, found that the use of rituximab as first-line therapy in combination with short corticosteroid therapy was extremely effective and that cortisone sparing was thus obtained limited the occurrence of side effects of treatment. On the other hand, this study showed that the 2 rituximab maintenance infusions of 500 mg to M12 and M18 allowed the maintenance of a high rate of complete remission up to the 3rd year of follow-up.
Questions remain to explain the long-term action of rituximab, in particular that of the evolution of these auto-reactive B cells (specific DSG) away from lymphocyte reconstitution B, as well as the evolution of auto-AC. anti-DSG and total IgG CAs, so as to ensure that the disappearance of the auto-reactive compartment is not accompanied by a long-term overall immunosuppression (and therefore a possible risk of infection).
The immunological changes induced in the long term as well as the precise mechanism of action of these treatments and particularly rituximab which allows a complete remission 5 years after treatment in many patients remain little known.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Autoimmune Diseases | Drug: Rituximab Drug: corticosteroids'therapy | Phase 3 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 90 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Patients included and treated in the RITUXIMAB 3 study (NCT00784589):
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Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Clinical and Immunological Long-term Follow-up of Patients With Pemphigus Included in the "RITUXIMAB 3" Trial With Medico-economic Evaluation of the Treatment. |
Estimated Study Start Date : | December 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2019 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2019 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Rituximab
Rituximab in combination with reduced corticosteroids is administrated
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Drug: Rituximab
Patient was enrolled into the RITUXIMAB 3 study in the arm Rituximab in association with low corticosteroids'therapy Drug: corticosteroids'therapy Patient was enrolled into the RITUXIMAB 3 study in the arm Patient was enrolled into the RITUXIMAB 3 study in the arm standard corticosteroid |
Active Comparator: Standard corticosteroid
Standard corticosteroid is administrated
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Drug: corticosteroids'therapy
Patient was enrolled into the RITUXIMAB 3 study in the arm Patient was enrolled into the RITUXIMAB 3 study in the arm standard corticosteroid |
- Evaluate the occurrence of long-term serious AEs and AEs in patients initially randomized in the rituximab arm and in those who have secondarily received the product during the course of their pemphigus [ Time Frame: 1 day: 5 to 7 years after the inclusion into RITUXIMAB 3 study ]Collect of SAE and AE
- Evaluate the long-term relapse rate in patients initially randomized in the rituximab arm and in those who have secondarily received the product during the course of their pemphigus [ Time Frame: 1 day: 5 to 7 years after the inclusion into RITUXIMAB 3 study ]Collect of relapses

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient included in the RITUXIMAB 3 study
- Major patient who has read and understood the newsletter and signed the consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
- Person deprived of liberty by an administrative or judicial decision
- Person placed under the safeguard of justice
- Person under tutorship or curators
- Pregnant or lactating woman

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03790293
Contact: Pascal JOLY | 0033232886841 | pascal.joly@chu-rouen.fr |
Responsible Party: | University Hospital, Rouen |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03790293 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2018/070/HP |
First Posted: | December 31, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | December 31, 2018 |
Last Verified: | December 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Pemphigus Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous Skin Diseases Rituximab |
Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological Antineoplastic Agents Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs Antirheumatic Agents |