Thalidomide Reduces Arteriovenous Malformation Related Gastrointestinal Bleeding (TAG)

Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Conditions

Melena

Arteriovenous Malformation

Hematochezia

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Treatments

Drug: Thalidomide

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00389935

00198

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Thalidomide is effective in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations in the gastrointestinal tract.

Full description

Arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) are the commonest vascular abnormalities of the gut. AVM's or Angiodysplasia may be acquired or inherited as in a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Repeated episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), especially in the elderly have been attributed to angiodysplasia. Clinically significant GIB may be also seen in up to 40% of HHT patients, usually in the fourth and fifth decades of life. GIB may manifest both as acute major hemorrhage, slow intermittent blood loss or a combination of these findings and patients may be symptomless, present with acute bleeding or iron deficiency anemia. Recurrent hemorrhage and persistent iron-deficiency anemia is common despite supplemental iron therapy and patients require repeated transfusions. Amongst patients with preexisting co-morbidities, repeated bleeding may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, re-bleeding among these patients consumes a disproportionate share of healthcare resources devoted to multiple admissions, repeated endoscopies and blood transfusions. There are no effective treatment options available currently. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Thalidomide is effective in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations in the gastrointestinal tract.

Enrollment

14 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Patients must be 18 years of age or older
Patient must have had greater than 2 episodes of overt bleeding over last 2 years requiring > 4 units of PRBC for bleeding 20 AVM. AVM's should have been identified at optical/capsule endoscopy or angiography.
Patients must have adequate hematologic, renal and liver function (i.e. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3, Creatinine ≤ 1.7mg/dl, Total Bilirubin ≤ 2.5mg/dl, Transaminases ≤ 4 times above the upper limits of the institutional norm)
Patients must be able to provide written informed consent. Patients with the potential for pregnancy or impregnating their partner must agree to follow acceptable birth control methods (described in detail under thalidomide drug information section) to avoid conception. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to treatment on this protocol. Men taking thalidomide must agree to use latex condoms every time they have sex with women since it has been shown that thalidomide is found in semen. All patients must agree to participate in the S.T.E.P.S.® program (System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety). All patients must be educated under the requirements of the S.T.E.P.S.® program. Patients are required to complete a S.T.E.P.S.® survey and sign and additional consent form indicating that they understand all information provided to them as part of the S.T.E.P.S.® educational counseling.
Estimated life expectancy must be greater than 2 months.

Exclusion criteria