Randomized Study of Beta Interferon and Thalidomide in Patients With Adrenoleukodystrophy

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy of interferon beta and thalidomide in male patients with adrenoleukodystrophy who show evidence of brain inflammatory response and are receiving concurrent glyceryl trierucate and glyceryl trioleate (Lorenzo's oil).

II. Evaluate the progress of the disease and possible side effects of the medication in these patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Adrenoleukodystrophy Adrenal Gland Diseases Adrenal Insufficiency Brain Diseases Brain Diseases, Metabolic Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn Central Nervous System Diseases Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Demyelinating Diseases Disease Attributes Endocrine System Diseases Genetic Diseases, Inborn Genetic Diseases, X-Linked Hereditary Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System Intellectual Disability Leukoencephalopathies Lipid Metabolism Disorders Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors Lipidoses Lysosomal Storage Diseases Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System Metabolic Diseases Metabolism, Inborn Errors Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Peroxisomal Disorders Rare Diseases Sphingolipidoses X-Linked Intellectual Disability

Age range

4 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study. Patients are randomized to receive beta interferon and thalidomide placebo (arm I), thalidomide and beta interferon placebo (arm II), or placebo for both beta interferon and thalidomide (arm III). Patients receive interferon beta by subcutaneous injection and thalidomide orally. All patients are maintained on glyceryl trierucate and glyceryl trioleate (Lorenzo's oil) therapy.

Patients are followed at 3, 6, and 12 months and then may be followed every 6 months thereafter.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics-- Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) diagnosis based on history and examination, MRI, and biochemical assay

Clinical evidence of rapidly progressive phase of cerebral ALD must include 2 or more of the following during the preceding year:

Significant and progressive impairment of school performance Significant loss of cognitive function leading to an IQ of 75 or less Progressive impairment of the ability to understand spoken words Progressive impairment of vision Progressive deterioration of handwriting Progressive difficulty in walking Progressive impairment in speech articulation, and vocabulary Progressive weakness of one or more limbs

Must have MRI abnormalities characteristic of cerebral ALD, especially evidence of the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier using gadolinium contrast medium and magnetization transfer technique Evidence of brain white matter inflammatory response Must not meet criteria for bone marrow transplantation Not in an apparent vegetative state --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- Concurrent glyceryl trierucate and glyceryl trioleate (Lorenzo's oil) therapy required --Patient Characteristics-- Effective contraception required of all patients

Treatment and study plan

glyceryl trierucate

Drug

glyceryl trioleate

Drug

interferon beta

Drug

thalidomide

Drug

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

FDA Office of Orphan Products Development

Fed

Collaborators

Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 1998
Study completion: 2000
First posted: Oct 19, 1999
Registry last updated: Mar 25, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed