RITA-MI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Dose Effect Relationship of a Single Dose of Rituximab on the Kinetics of B Lymphocytes in Patients with Acute ST-Segment Myocardial Infarction
IRAS ID
192398
Contact name
Sarah Fielding
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Eudract number
2016-000211-33
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Heart attacks are caused by blockages of arteries in the heart. This is treated by unblocking the artery with a balloon and stent during a procedure called primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Despite this therapeutic advance, up to 50% of the final heart attack size is caused by this treatment, by a process termed reperfusion injury. Reperfusion injury contributes to the persistent morbidity and mortality suffered by 15% of heart attack patients at 6 months, despite successful PPCI.
The immune system plays a pivotal role in orchestrating reperfusion injury. We have demonstrated in animal models that selective depletion of B cells reduces the size of the heart attack size and preserves heart function. The objective of RITA-MI is to assess if a CD20 monocolonal antibody - rituximab, used to successfully treat rheumatoid arthritis, can be repurposed to safely suppress the B cell immune response at the time of an acute heart attack, thereby allowing further study into its ability to reduce heart attack size, promote healing and thereby improving clinical outcome.REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0241
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion