Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare and heterogeneous disorder characterized by the destruction of red blood cells through warm or cold antibodies. Glucocorticoid (combined with rituximab) is the first-line treatment. However, the recurrence rate is very high and some patients may not respond to steroids. Second-line therapies include cyclosporine A (CsA), cyclophosphamide, rituximab, azathioprine, and even splenectomy. Our previous study of sirolimus in refractory/relapsed AIHA and ES found an effective rate of 80%. Therefore, the investigators plan to explore the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in the treatment of refractory/relapsed wAIHA.
Based on the optimal autoantibody-RBC reactivity temperatures, AIHA is classified into warm type, cold type, and mixed type. AIHA can be further classified into primary or secondary in nature. Glucocorticoid (combined with rituximab) is the first-line treatment. However, the recurrence rate is very high and some patients may not respond to steroids. Second-line therapies include cyclosporine A (CsA), cyclophosphamide, rituximab, azathioprine, and even splenectomy. The refractory/relapsed wAIHA patients have increased cardiovascular events, increased opportunities for infections, decreased quality of life, and even death. A prospective multi-institutional trial in autoimmune cytopenia found that 8 of 10 patients with AIHA and Evans syndrome respond to sirolimus. Our previous study of sirolimus in refractory/relapsed AIHA and ES also found an effective rate of approximately 80%. Since sirolimus is cheap and accessible, our findings may reduce the economic burden of patients and be a guide on the selection of second-line treatment drugs in refractory/relapsed wAIHA and Evans syndrome.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
22
Oral administration, 1-3 mg/d, sirolimus plasma concentration: 4-15 ng/mL
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
RECRUITINGOverall response rate (ORR) and complete response rate (CRR)
ORR defined as the proportion of patients who met the criteria of either complete response (CR) or partial response (PR).
Time frame: 3,6,12 months
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events and the number of relapses
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events and the number of relapses
Time frame: 12 months, end of the follow-up
Adverse events
Safety analyses include assessments of the incidence and severity of adverse events; all adverse events that occurred or worsened during the treatment period will be reported, as well as adverse events that occurred later but are considered by the investigator to be related to the trial drug.
Time frame: 3,6,12 months
Relapse rate
Relapse rate defined as the proportion of patients whose response shift from PR or CR to no response (NR).
Time frame: 3,6,12 months
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