Scleroderma Clinical Trials
Relaxin Study:
Relaxin is small insulin like peptide known to down regulate collagen production. A multi-center trial is now underway at many US sites in the treatment of early (less than 5 years) diffuse scleroderma.
Oral Collagen Type I
The NIH has awarded funds for a multi-center trial to study if oral tolerance induced by ingestion of collagen type I will improve patients with diffuse scleroderma.
Minocycline
The role of minocycline in the treatment of scleroderma is unknown. In vitro studies suggest that it up-regulates collagen production. A multi-center trial was proposed but not funded by the NIH.
Methotrexate for Localized Scleroderma
Uncontrolled studies have suggested that methotrexate may be helpful in children with localized scleroderma. A multi-center placebo controlled trial is being organized to investigate these findings further.
Cyclophosphamide for scleroderma lung disease
The NIH has funded a multi-center placebo controlled trial to study the use of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of active alveolitis in scleroderma. This study will likely begin in January of the year 2000.
Cyclophosphamide with autologous bone marrow stem cell recovery
The NIH has awarded funds for studies to investigate the role of autologous bone marrow transplantation in severe scleroderma. Reports from Europe show that this treatment is feasible and tolerated. There may be a high mortality (reported as high as 20%) among scleroderma patients for this procedure.