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NCT Number: NCT03339661

Secondary Prophylaxis After CMV Disease in Kidney Transplant Patients Targeted by γδ T Cells Immunomonitoring.

In kidney transplant patients, CMV infection remains the leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical and virological relapses are common and are involved in chronic graft dysfunction. To date, it is not certain that secondary prophylaxis allows reducing these relapses, although this prophylaxis is part of the current recommendations. Our team has recently shown that the expansion of γδ T cells in peripheral blood during CMV infection was correlated with the absence of virological and clinical relapses. Indeed, the absence of relapse was associated in 94.7% of cases with the presence of γδ T cells expansion while relapses occurred in about 90% of cases in the absence of γδ T cells expansion. These results suggest that the indication and duration of secondary prophylaxis after the curative treatment of CMV infection in kidney transplantation could be guided by the immune surveillance of γδ T cells.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Hôpital Pellegrin - CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

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About this study

The study aim to demonstrate that the expansion of γδ T cells at the end of curative treatment predicts the absence of virological and clinical relapses. This is a pilot study that will be conducted in the transplant center of Bordeaux and Lyon. After the curative treatment of CMV infection until a negative CMV ADNemia, secondary prophylaxis with valganciclovir will be established based on the results of γδ T cells immunomonitoring:

(I) Secondary prophylaxis will not be started in patients with γδ T cell expansion at the end of curative treatment (group 1) (II) Secondary prophylaxis will be initiated in patients who have not γδ T cell expansion and will continue for 3 months maximum. The occurrence of γδ T cells expansion during or at the end of secondary prophylaxis will define the group 2A. Patients who still not had γδ T cells expansion during or at the end of secondary prophylaxis will compose the group 2B.

The primary outcome of this study will be to evaluate the occurrence of virological relapse, assessed by monitoring CMV ADNemia, at one year of a first CMV disease, in kidney transplant patients, with secondary prophylaxis based on the monitoring of γδ T cells.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female over 18 years old without weight or ethnicity criteria, kidney transplant.
  • Patient affiliated or beneficiary of a social security scheme.
  • Patient with symptomatic or non-symptomatic CMV infection requiring curative treatment with ganciclovir or valganciclovir.
  • Free, informed and written consent signed by the participant and the investigator (at the latest, on the day of inclusion and before any examination required by the research).

Exclusion criteria

  • Resistance documented to antivirals.
  • Hemodialysis patient.
  • Number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils less than 500 / μL and / or number of platelets less than 25,000 / μL, and / or lower hemoglobin 8 g / dL.
  • Contraindication to valganciclovir, including known hypersensitivity to valganciclovir and / or aciclovir and / or valaciclovir or ganciclovir or their excipients, known severe intolerance to valganciclovir or ganciclovir.
  • Women of childbearing age without a negative pregnancy test at baseline and without effective contraception (estrogen-progestin, intrauterine device) throughout the study period and two months after cessation of the follow-up period.
  • Nursing women.
  • Men without mechanical contraception during treatment and for at least 90 days after treatment.
  • Ongoing participation in another clinical trial evaluating a drug. Participation in an observational study will not be considered a contraindication.
  • The patient's foreseeable inability to comply with planned visits in the protocol.
  • Non-negativation of CMV PCR at 8 weeks

Treatment and study plan

Group 1_No proph treatment

Drug

After the curative treatment of CMV infection until a negative CMV ADNemia, secondary prophylaxis with valganciclovir will be established based on the results of γδ T cells immunomonitoring. In this group, expansion of γδ T cell at the end curative treatment was detected, so secondary prophylaxis will not be started.

Group 2A_Proph treatment and γδ T cell expansion

Drug

After the curative treatment of CMV infection until a negative CMV ADNemia, secondary prophylaxis with valganciclovir will be established based on the results of γδ T cells immunomonitoring. In this group, γδ T cell expansion will not be detected, so secondary prophylaxis will be initiated in continue during 3 months maximum. The occurrence of γδ T cells expansion during or at the end of secondary prophylaxis will define the group 2A.

Group 2B_Proph treatment and no γδ T cell expansion

Drug

After the curative treatment of CMV infection until a negative CMV ADNemia, secondary prophylaxis with valganciclovir will be established based on the results of γδ T cells immunomonitoring. In this group, γδ T cell expansion will not be detected, so secondary prophylaxis will be initiated in continue during 3 months maximum. Patients who still not had γδ T cells expansion during or at the end of secondary prophylaxis will compose the group 2B.

Primary outcomes

  1. Assessment of virological relapse occurence

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    The primary outcome of this study will be to evaluate the occurrence of virological relapse, assessed by monitoring CMV ADNemia.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cumulative incidence of clinical recurrence

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    Cumulative incidence of clinical recurrence defined by a positive CMV PCR associated with clinical and biological signs of CMV disease. This incidence is expressed as a percentage of the total number of patients with CMV infection included.

  2. γδ T cells expansion dynamic

    Time frame: 12 months after the inclusion visit

    Description of the dynamics of γδ T cells expansion in all patients. At each visit, an immunophenotyping with analysis of the percentage of γδ T cells will be performed.

  3. Cumulative incidence of clinical recurrence at discontinuation of prophylaxis.

    Time frame: 12 months after the inclusion visit

    These incidences will be expressed as a percentage of the total number of patients who have had CMV infection included. Recidivism will be collected by the investigating physician when observed during a follow-up visit.

  4. Cumulative incidence of virological recurrence at discontinuation of prophylaxis.

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    These incidences will be expressed as a percentage of the total number of patients who have had CMV infection included. Recidivism will be collected by the investigating physician when observed during a follow-up visit.

  5. secondary prophylaxis duration

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    The duration of the secondary prophylaxis is defined by the duration of treatment since the stop of the curative treatment until the stop of the prophylactic treatment.

  6. Prophylaxis treatment savings evaluation

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    Evaluation of prophylaxis treatment savings (compared to a one-month prophylaxis) by number of subject and average total duration (with standard deviation) of treatment.

  7. Proportion of antiviral resistant infections

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    the proportion of antiviral resistant infections confirmed by genotypic analysis (mutations UL97 and UL54) sought during recurrence in case of clinical suspicion.

  8. GFR average

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    GFR average and its standard deviation are estimated according to MDRD formula

  9. Compliance rate

    Time frame: 12 months after inclusion visit

    The compliance rate will, be performed by a patient notebook.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Bordeaux

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Secondary Prophylaxis After CMV Disease in Kidney Transplant Patients Targeted by γδ T

Acronym: SPARCKLING

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Nov 13, 2017
Registry last updated
May 12, 2026

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.

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