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Valproic Acid (Depakote[Registered Trademark]) to Treat Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)

NCT00605657 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 6

Last updated 2013-03-21

Study results available
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Summary

This study will test whether valproic acid (Depakote\[Registered Trademark\]) can shrink enlarged lymph glands and spleen in patients with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). Depakote has been used for more than 30 years for treating various medical disorders in adults and children, including migraine headaches, seizures and psychiatric disorders. In animal studies, it was effective in shrinking both lymph nodes and spleen in animals with conditions similar to ALPS.

People with ALPS who are between 2 and 70 years of age and who have had an enlarged spleen or lymph glands for at least 1 year may be eligible for this study.

Participants take Depakote as a tablet or liquid or sprinkled on food twice a day for 16 weeks. The drug dose is increased slowly over the first 3 to 4 weeks until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Blood tests are done at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after starting the drug and 1 week after the drug is stopped to check for treatment side effects. Valproic acid blood levels will be checked during drug escalation, half way through therapy, and just before the end of treatment. A physical examination and CT scan (or ultrasound of the abdomen for patients who cannot undergo CT) are done before starting treatment and at the end of the 16-week treatment period to evaluate the response to treatment.

Patients who tolerate the treatment well and show shrinkage of the lymph glands or spleen may be offered extended treatment for up to 1 year in consultation with their primary physician. During the extended treatment period, blood tests are done at home every 6 to 8 weeks to monitor for drug side effects. Follow up evaluation visits are scheduled at the NIH Clinical Center every 3 months during the extended treatment period and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment has ended.

Conditions

  • ALPS
  • Hypersplenism
  • Lymphadenopathy

Interventions

DRUG

Valproic Acid

Oral administration of valproic acid

PROCEDURE

CT Scan

CT scans were done before and after treating the patient with valproic acid

PROCEDURE

Blood Sample

Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention to monitor blood counts and biomarkers of ALPS

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Koneti Rao

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Koneti Rao, MD · DIR, NIAID, NIH

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
2 Years
Max Age
70 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2008-01-31
Primary Completion
2011-09-30
Completion
2011-09-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00605657 on ClinicalTrials.gov