Sjogren's SyndromePhase 2NCT00001599
Pilot Study of Thalidomide to Treat Sjogren's Syndrome
A Phase 2 study testing Thalidomide in people with Sjogren's Syndrome and Xerostomia, run by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide in treating Sjogren's syndrome. In this autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the body's tear glands and salivary glands, causing dry mouth and dry eyes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Sjogren's Syndrome, Xerostomia
- What is being tested?
- Thalidomide
- How many people
- 28 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- May 1997to Jun 2002
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Primary Sjogren's Syndrome; symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth; 6 week period off disease modifying agents, such as antimalarials or steroids.
No males.
No females with childbearing potential.
No patients with hypersensitivity to thalidomide.
No confounding medical illness or abnormal laboratory test that in the judgment of the investigators would pose added risk for study participants.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institute of Dental And Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Official title: Pilot Study of Thalidomide for Sjogren's Syndrome
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide in treating Sjogren's syndrome. In this autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the body's tear glands and salivary glands, causing dry mouth and dry eyes. Thalidomide has shown promise in treating other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Women with Sjogren's syndrome who have dry eyes and dry mouth may be eligible for this study. Women of childbearing potential will not be considered for participation because of severe birth defects associated with thalidomide. Also, since Sjogren's syndrome affects many fewer men than women, men are excluded from this pilot study because they would be too few in number to assess as a separate group. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray and pregnancy test. Tests will also be done to measure the conduction of electrical impulses along the nerves and to evaluate dryness of the eyes.
Read more
Participants will be randomly assigned to take either thalidomide or a placebo (look-alike pill with no active ingredient). The thalidomide dosage will be increased gradually from a starting dose of 50 Mg. up to 300 Mg., depending on side effects. Women of childbearing age who have had a tubal ligation or longstanding infertility will have a pregnancy test every 2 or 4 weeks.
Participants will come to the clinic at the first study visit and again at weeks 4, 8 and 12 for some or all of the following procedures:
- Patient assessment of dry mouth (rated on a scale from "worst ever" to "best ever"
- Patient assessment of dry eyes (rated on a scale from "worst ever" to "best ever"
- Patient health questionnaire and disease assessment rating
- Saliva collection
- Rose-Bengal or other dye tests for dryness - examination of the eyes under a bright light following administration of drops containing a dye
- Schirmer's I test for dryness - placement of a thin rectangular strip of filter paper in the eye following administration of anesthetic drops
- Blood tests to measure blood cell counts and levels of various immune substances in the blood, and to evaluate liver and kidney function
- Urine tests to evaluate kidney function
- Nerve conduction tests - measurement of the speed with which nerves conduct electrical impulses. Two nerves in the arm and one nerve in the leg will be tested.
Participants will also be contacted by telephone every week to report any side effects.
Read the detailed description
Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women. SS is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of lacrimal and salivary glands leading to secretory function loss, and the symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth. After bone marrow transplantation, most patients with chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) develop symptoms of oral dryness and salivary gland lymphocytic infiltrates indistinguishable from SS. Thalidomide has not been studied as a treatment for Sjogren's syndrome, but pilot studies suggest that it may be beneficial in the treatment of a number of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and various skin disorders, as well as in the treatment of chronic graft versus host disease. Major adverse effects of thalidomide include teratogenicity, neuropathy and sedation. The study is a 12 week randomized, double-blinded, pilot clinical trial designed to screen for potential efficacy and to evaluate the safety and potential adverse effects of 300 mg thalidomide daily compared with placebo in 28 patients with primary SS (PSS).
- Conditions
- Sjogren's Syndrome, Xerostomia
- Being tested
- Thalidomide
- Keywords
- Xerostomia, Autoimmunity, Salivary Glands, Lacrimal Function, Immunomodulator, Sjogren's Syndrome, Dry Mouth
- Medical subject headings
- Sjogren's Syndrome, Xerostomia, Autoimmune Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ThalidomideDrug
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Study startMay 1997
- Study completionJun 2002
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sjogren's SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Enrolment
- 28 participants
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00001599
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 970133
- Other IDs
- 97-D-0133
- Status last verified
- Jun 2002
- First submitted
- 3 Nov 1999
- Last updated
- 4 Mar 2008
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Shearn MA. Sjogren's syndrome. Med Clin North Am. 1977 Mar;61(2):271-82. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31332-3. No abstract available.
PubMed 577000Drosos AA, Andonopoulos AP, Costopoulos JS, Papadimitriou CS, Moutsopoulos HM. Prevalence of primary Sjogren's syndrome in an elderly population. Br J Rheumatol. 1988 Apr;27(2):123-7. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/27.2.123.
PubMed 3365531Anderson LG, Talal N. The spectrum of benign to malignant lymphoproliferation in Sjogren's syndrome. Clin Exp Immunol. 1972 Feb;10(2):199-221.
PubMed 4625796
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Mar 2008. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Study of Thalidomide for Sjogren's Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00001599
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 970133
- Conditions
- Sjogren's Syndrome, Xerostomia
- Keywords
- Xerostomia, Autoimmunity, Salivary Glands, Lacrimal Function, Immunomodulator, Sjogren's Syndrome, Dry Mouth
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 28 participants
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- May 1997
- Study completion
- Jun 2002
- First posted
- 4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide in treating Sjogren's syndrome. In this autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the body's tear glands and salivary glands, causing dry mouth and dry eyes. Thalidomide has shown promise in treating other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Women with Sjogren's syndrome who have dry eyes and dry mouth may be eligible for this study. Women of childbearing potential will not be considered for participation because of severe birth defects associated with thalidomide. Also, since Sjogren's syndrome affects many fewer men than women, men are excluded from this pilot study because they would be too few in number to assess as a separate group. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray and pregnancy test. Tests will also be done to measure the conduction of electrical impulses along the nerves and to evaluate dryness of the eyes.
Participants will be randomly assigned to take either thalidomide or a placebo (look-alike pill with no active ingredient). The thalidomide dosage will be increased gradually from a starting dose of 50 Mg. up to 300 Mg., depending on side effects. Women of childbearing age who have had a tubal ligation or longstanding infertility will have a pregnancy test every 2 or 4 weeks.
Participants will come to the clinic at the first study visit and again at weeks 4, 8 and 12 for some or all of the following procedures:
- Patient assessment of dry mouth (rated on a scale from "worst ever" to "best ever"
- Patient assessment of dry eyes (rated on a scale from "worst ever" to "best ever"
- Patient health questionnaire and disease assessment rating
- Saliva collection
- Rose-Bengal or other dye tests for dryness - examination of the eyes under a bright light following administration of drops containing a dye
- Schirmer's I test for dryness - placement of a thin rectangular strip of filter paper in the eye following administration of anesthetic drops
- Blood tests to measure blood cell counts and levels of various immune substances in the blood, and to evaluate liver and kidney function
- Urine tests to evaluate kidney function
- Nerve conduction tests - measurement of the speed with which nerves conduct electrical impulses. Two nerves in the arm and one nerve in the leg will be tested.
Participants will also be contacted by telephone every week to report any side effects.
Detailed description
Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women. SS is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of lacrimal and salivary glands leading to secretory function loss, and the symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth. After bone marrow transplantation, most patients with chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) develop symptoms of oral dryness and salivary gland lymphocytic infiltrates indistinguishable from SS. Thalidomide has not been studied as a treatment for Sjogren's syndrome, but pilot studies suggest that it may be beneficial in the treatment of a number of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and various skin disorders, as well as in the treatment of chronic graft versus host disease. Major adverse effects of thalidomide include teratogenicity, neuropathy and sedation. The study is a 12 week randomized, double-blinded, pilot clinical trial designed to screen for potential efficacy and to evaluate the safety and potential adverse effects of 300 mg thalidomide daily compared with placebo in 28 patients with primary SS (PSS).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Who may qualify
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Thalidomide | Drug | – |
Primary outcome
Not reported in the source record.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Mar 2008.
- Background: PubMed 577000Shearn MA. Sjogren's syndrome. Med Clin North Am. 1977 Mar;61(2):271-82. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31332-3. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 3365531Drosos AA, Andonopoulos AP, Costopoulos JS, Papadimitriou CS, Moutsopoulos HM. Prevalence of primary Sjogren's syndrome in an elderly population. Br J Rheumatol. 1988 Apr;27(2):123-7. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/27.2.123.
- Background: PubMed 4625796Anderson LG, Talal N. The spectrum of benign to malignant lymphoproliferation in Sjogren's syndrome. Clin Exp Immunol. 1972 Feb;10(2):199-221.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Thalidomide in people with Sjogren's Syndrome and Xerostomia, run by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2008. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00001599, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2008; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.