Stopping steroid treatment early in patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis

Early Discontinuation of Steroid Treatment in Negative FDG-PET/CT Patients With Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis. A Prospective Multicentric Study

Phase 4 Interventional Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · NCT05428826

This study tests if stopping steroid treatment early can be safe and effective for adults with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment41 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsrituximab, alemtuzumab, infliximab, adalimumab, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, prednisone
Locations15 sites (Agen, France and 14 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05428826 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of early discontinuation of steroid treatment in adult patients diagnosed with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. Eligible participants will receive prednisone for a period of 9 to 21 months, with monitoring through clinical examinations and imaging tests. Patients will be screened based on their FDG-PET/CT results, and those with negative results will be excluded from the study. Follow-up visits will assess treatment compliance, adverse events, and disease progression.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 years old with new onset or untreated relapsing idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Not a fit: Patients with secondary retroperitoneal fibrosis or contraindications to prednisone treatment will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more effective management of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis with reduced steroid exposure.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored steroid treatments in similar conditions, but this specific approach of early discontinuation in negative FDG-PET/CT patients is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient over 18 years old
* New onset or untreated relapsing of active idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) defined by the association of:
* Related-disease symptoms (Appendix 17.2) or elevated CRP level (\>20 mg/l) AND
* Retroperitoneal peri-aortic mass that surrounds the abdominal vessels on CT-scan

Exclusion Criteria:

* Secondary retroperitoneal fibrosis including drug-related retroperitoneal fibrosis, active infections (such as tuberculosis) or malignancies, systemic vasculitis (such as Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis), Erdheim-Chester disease (Appendix 17.3),patients with IgG4 disease may be enrolled
* Contraindication to perform FDG-PET/CT,
* Contraindication to perform CT scan with injection of contrast agent,
* Contraindication to treatment by prednisone
* Active infection
* Acute or chronic liver disease that is deemed sufficiently severe to impair their ability to participate in the trial,
* Active or history of malignancy in last 5 years. Individuals with squamous cell or basal cell skin carcinomas and individuals with cervical carcinoma in situ may be enrolled if they have received curative surgical treatment,
* Serum creatinine level greater than 400 µmol/L that cannot be attributed to underlying IRF,
* Live vaccination received from 4 weeks before inclusion,
* Inhaled glucocorticoids (except for patients with documented asthma),
* Any previous treatment with rituximab, methotrexate, alemtuzumab, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept within the past 3 months,
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding,
* Non-affiliation to a social security regime,
* Subject deprived of freedom, subject under a legal protective measure
* Refusal to participate

Where this trial is running

Agen, France and 14 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Idiopathic Retroperitoneal FibrosisSteroid treatment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.