This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. All participants will receive abatacept and prednisone (a glucocorticoid) for the first 3 months. Abatacept will be given intravenously on selected days. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Month 3, and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached. At Month 3, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to abatacept at this point will be in Group A for giant cell arteritis and Group C for Takayasu arteritis.

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. All participants will receive abatacept and prednisone (a glucocorticoid) for the first 3 months. Abatacept will be given intravenously on selected days. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Month 3, and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached. At Month 3, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to placebo at this point will be in Group B for giant cell arteritis and Group D for Takayasu arteritis.

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. All participants with giant cell arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to abatacept at this point will be in Group A.

Group A - Abatacept in Giant Cell Arteritis

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. All participants with giant cell arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to placebo at this point will be in Group B.

Group B - Placebo in Giant Cell Arteritis

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. All participants with Takayasu arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to abatacept at this point will be in Group C.

Group C - Abatacept in Takayasu Arteritis

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. All participants with Takayasu arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to placebo at this point will be in Group D.

Group D - Placebo in Takayasu Arteritis

Total

Sex: Female, Male

Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)

Race (NIH/OMB)

Region of Enrollment

Relapse: presence of active disease occurring after a period of remission
Remission: absence of active disease
Active disease defined by clinical features or imaging or both:
Clinical features:
1 or more of the following attributed to GCA/TAK:
Sustained fever of >38 C for > 1 week
Vascular pain/tenderness > 1 day, non-fleeting
Headache a) present > 1 day b) non-fleeting c) not relieved with analgesics d) not typical for pre-existing headaches
Ischemic retinopathy, optic neuropathy, or visual loss
Tongue/jaw pain and/or claudication
TIA or stroke
Extremity claudication
Musculoskeletal symptoms + ESR of > 40 mm/hr or CRP above the normal limit
Malaise/fatigue + ESR of > 40 mm/hr or CRP above the normal limit
Other symptoms/signs due to GCA/TAK requiring reinstitution/increase in GC
Imaging features
• Development of new vascular stenosis or aneurysm in new vascular territories as seen by MRI/MRA or arteriogram

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. Participants with giant cell arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to abatacept at this point will be in Group A.

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. Participants with Takayasu arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to abatacept at this point will be in Group C.

This is a randomized withdrawal design protocol. Participants with Takayasu arteritis will receive prednisone (a glucocorticoid) and abatacept for the first 12 weeks. Prednisone will be started at a dose of 40 to 60mg, then tapered to 20mg by Week 12 and finally further tapered until discontinuation is reached at Week 28. Abatacept will be given intravenously on Day 1, Day 15, and Week 8 at a fixed dose approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules for abatacept will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
At Week 12, participants who have achieved remission will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive monthly infusions of either abatacept or placebo. Participants who are assigned to placebo at this point will be in Group D.

Primary Outcome - Relapse-free Survival (RFS)

Study Entry to Week 12

After Week 12 (Randomized Study Period)

Carol A Langford, MD MHS

Takayasu's Arteritis

Giant Cell Arteritis

Participants will receive a fixed dose of abatacept, approximating 10mg per kilogram of body weight. The following dosing rules will be followed:
Participants weighing less than 60kg will receive 500mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing 60 to 100kg will receive 750mg of abatacept.
Participants weighing more than 100kg will receive 1000mg of abatacept.
Abatacept will be administered in a 30-minute intravenous infusion on Days 1, 15, 29 (Month 1) and at Month 2. In the absence of toxicity or relapse, participants will remain on abatacept at the same dosage until randomization at Month 3. After randomization, only Group A (giant cell arteritis) and Group C (Takayasu arteritis) participants will continue on abatacept.

Abatacept

Placebo abatacept infusions will be given monthly after random assignment at Month 3.

Placebo

Click here for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Vasculitis Care and Research Web site

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Johns Hopkins Medical Center

Boston University

Mayo Clinic

Hospital for Special Surgery

Cleveland Clinic

University of Pittsburgh

University of Utah

St. Joseph's Hospital

Mt. Sinai Hospital Toronto

Abatacept for Treating Adults With Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu's Arteritis

Concurrent Pilot Studies in Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu's Arteritis to Examine the Safety, Efficacy, and Immunologic Effects of Abatacept (CTLA4-Ig) in Large Vessel Vasculitis

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

The Cleveland Clinic

Office of Rare Diseases (ORD)

Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network

Prednisone treatment

Tocilizumab 162 mg/week subcutaneous from W0 to W51 (52 injections)

Tocilizumab treatment

Methotrexate subcutaneous from W0 to W51 (52 administrations).
W0: 7.5 mg/week
W1: 0.2 mg/Kg/week
W2 to W51: 0.3 mg/Kg/week (without exceeding 20 mg/week) Folic acid 10 mg/week, 48h after taking Methotrexate, from W0 to W51

Methotrexate treatment

Questionnaires

Additionnal blood samples for immunomonitoring

Blood samples

CHU de Dijon

MEthotrexate Versus TOcilizumab for Treatment of GIant Cell Arteritis: a Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon

Participant is administered acetylsalicylic acid one hour prior to exercise.

Participant is administered placebo one hour prior to exercise.

Participant is administered acetylsalicylic acid, an intervention to improve exercise performance (i.e., increase time to exhaustion) one hour prior to exercise.
Acetylsalicylic acid: 650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise
Placebo Oral capsule: Placebo capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise

Acetylsalicylic Acid at 1st Visit, Then Placebo at 2nd Visit

Participant is administered placebo one hour prior to exercise.
Acetylsalicylic acid: 650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise
Placebo Oral capsule: Placebo capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise

Placebo at 1st Visit, Then Acetylsalicylic Acid at 2nd Visit

Race and Ethnicity Not Collected

Self-report heat-sensitivity during exercise

The measure of interest is the length of time (in seconds) spent exercising at each session. This time has no pre-set upper limit, i.e. patients are free to exercise as long as they wish. This means that the time will not be censored. However, please note that healthy adults' time to exhaustion is approximately 12 minutes.

Acetylsalicylic Acid

Placebo Oral Capsule

Change in Time to Exhaustion

Measure of interest is increase in body temperature from pre- to post-exercise test in each treatment condition (ASA vs. placebo)

650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise

Placebo capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise

Exercise-induced Body Temperature Increase

Within-subjects design
Participant is administered acetylsalicylic acid, an intervention to improve exercise performance (i.e., increase time to exhaustion) one hour prior to exercise.
Acetylsalicylic acid: 650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise
Placebo Oral capsule: Placebo capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise
First intervention: 1 day; washout period: 1 week; second intervention: 1 day

Acetylsalicylic Acid at 1st Visit Then Placebo at 2nd Visit

Within-subjects design
Participant is administered placebo one hour prior to exercise.
Acetylsalicylic acid: 650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise
Placebo Oral capsule: Placebo capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise
First intervention: 1 day; washout period: 1 week; second intervention: 1 day

Placebo at 1st Visit Then Acetylsalicylic Acid at 2nd Visit

Overall Study

Victoria M. Leavitt

Fatigue

Overheating

650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise; Placebo oral capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise

Acetylsalicylic acid at 1st visit, then Placebo at 2nd visit

Placebo oral capsule is administered one hour prior to exercise; 650 mg dose of acetylsalicylic acid is administered in a capsule one hour prior to exercise

Placebo at 1st visit, then Acetylsalicylic acid at 2nd visit

Columbia University Medical Center, MS Center

Aspirin as a Pre-Treatment for Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis

A Placebo-controlled Double Blind Crossover Trial of Acetylsalicylic Acid as a Pre-treatment for Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis

Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology

Columbia University

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Design is a within-subject crossover placebo-controlled experiment. Each participant will be seen for two exercise sessions (stationary cycling) on two days separated by one week, and will receive either ASA or placebo (treatment) at each session prior to commencing exercise. Order of treatment will be randomized and counter-balanced. As such, each participant will serve as his/her own control.

Blinding will be overseen by the CUMC pharmacy; randomization schedule will be submitted to the pharmacy by a third party who is not involved in the study (i.e., non-study personnel). Study investigators will remain blinded until data collection is complete and data have been analyzed.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis B

Liver Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN.

Neurocognitive Functioning in Patients With Hepatitis C Pre- and Post-Treatment With Antiviral Medication

An Investigation of Cognitive Functioning and Brain Metabolites in Patients With Non-Cirrhotic Hepatitis-C Both Pre- and Post-Treatment With Antiviral Medication

giant/fatigue

Abatacept for Treating Adults With Giant Cell Arteritis and Takayasu's Arteritis

MEthotrexate Versus TOcilizumab for Treatment of GIant Cell Arteritis: a Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Aspirin as a Pre-Treatment for Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis

Neurocognitive Functioning in Patients With Hepatitis C Pre- and Post-Treatment With Antiviral Medication

Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism in Abnormal Growth Hormone States

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