Methylprednisolone With or Without Daclizumab in Treating Patients With Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of IL2 receptor antibody (also known as Daclizumab or Zenapax) and corticosteroids alone for control of GVHD. Treatment with corticosteroids is standard care for GVHD. This research is being done because the investigators do not know whether addition of this new medication to standard corticosteroid therapy improves response rates. Since Zenapax binds to a type of cell which is thought to cause GVHD and possibly inactivates them, investigators have reason to believe that addition of Zenapax night result in better control of GVHD This study will determine whether the addition of another medication, Zenapax, will be more effective than steroids alone in suppressing GVHD and improving symptoms of GVHD. Daclizumab (Zenapax) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patient with kidney transplant to help prevent graft rejection. This medication has been used in bone marrow transplant patients to treat GVHD.

Timeline

Start

2001-01

Primary completion

2003-11

Completion

2004-11

Drugs

Indications