Cyclophosphamide Systemic Sclerosis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

This is a randomized prospective multicenter study evaluating the efficacy against placebo of cyclophosphamide in combination with prednisone in the treatment of systemic sclerosis related interstitial lung disease. Patients will be allocated, after randomization into two groups receiving both corticosteroids: a group of patients receiving placebo of cyclophosphamide and a group of patients treated with cyclophosphamide. Cyclophosphamide will be administered IV at a dose of 0.7 g / m (maximum 1200 mg) every 4 weeks. In patients over 65 or if the creatinine clearance below 30 ml / min the dose should be reduced to 0.6 g / m². The duration of treatment with cyclophosphamide will be 12 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years old
• Signed informed consent
• Patient with systemic sclerosis fulfilling the ACR -American college of rheumatology - (Masi et al. 1980) and/or Leroy and Medsger (LeRoy and Medsger 2001) diagnostics criteria with worsening ILD (interstitial lung disease) identified on a high resolution chest CT scan and by worsening of forced vital capacity (FVC) and/or total lung capacity (TLC) ≥10% and/or worsening of DLCO ≥ 15% as compared to values obtained within the 3 to 18 months preceding inclusion (for DLCO, in the absence of pulmonary arterial hypertension upon echocardiography)
• Smokers may be included (DLCO must be performed at least 72h after stopping tobacco intake).
• Patients with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure <35 mmHg upon right heart catheterisation) secondary to hypoxia due to pulmonary fibrosis will also be included into the study.
• Physical examination prior to inclusion into the study (results must be given to the patient).

-: Contraception considered effective by the investigator (abstinence and / or oral contraception or mechanical) for women of childbearing age (negative pregnancy test at baseline)

• Affiliation with a mode of social security (profit or being entitled)

Exclusion criteria

• Prednisone prescribed a dose greater than 15 mg/d during the last 3 months.
• Scleroderma renal crisis or acute or critical limb ischemia within the last year preceding inclusion,
• Left ventricular ejection fraction below 40% evaluated by echocardiography.
• Out of proportion pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure above 35 mmHg upon right heart catheterization).
• CYC treatment during the last 12 months.
• Allergy, hypersensitivity or documented adverse events or contra-indications to the drugs used in the study (cyclophosphamide, Uromitexan, corticosteroids, domperidone ...)
• Patients with a past history of cancer within four years before inclusion and/or a history of chemotherapy for cancer within four years before inclusion (in remission or without disease activity for more than four years). Inclusion is authorized for patients with a basal cell carcinoma in the last 5 years.
• Severe infection: sepsis, cellulitis, gangrene in the last three months
• Past history of cystitis related to cyclophosphamide treatment
• Association to another connective disease : systemic lupus erythematosus, syndrome of Gougerot-Sjögren with anti-SSA/SSB, mixed connective tissue disease
• Patient breastfeeding
• Failure to sign the informed consent or unable to consent
• Patient participating in another clinical trial
• Injection of Rituximab within 6 months preceding inclusion
• Methotrexate or Cellcept treatment at inclusion