Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment for Refractory CRPS (v1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment for refractory complex regional pain syndrome
IRAS ID
288397
Contact name
Andreas Goebel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Eudract number
2021-000052-19
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN12908996
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Many patients who suffer from complex regional pain syndrome(CRPS) develop not only pain in the affected limbs but also swelling, colour changes, limited or abnormal movements and skin changes. In some patients, the condition is resistant to treatment and results in ongoing suffering and disability. While the reason why patients develop complex regional pain syndrome is not fully understood, we know from laboratory studies that inflammation caused by activation of the immune system plays a large role.
The purpose of doing this study is to see if complex regional pain syndrome can be treated by blocking a component of the immune system to reduce this inflammation. One component of the immune system that we believe plays an important part is a protein class called cytokines that activates the body’s inflammatory response in complex regional pain syndrome. This signal is a molecule called Interleukin-1 and blocking it using a drug called Anakinra has shown it to reduce symptoms in animal studies.
Anakinra is a drug that blocks Interleukin-1 from attaching to its receptors in the immune system. This reduces its ability to activate immune responses in the body. It is currently used in patients with chronic inflammation in their joints caused by rheumatoid arthritis. As complex regional pain syndrome also involves excessive inflammation that may be caused by abnormal activation of parts of the immune system it is thought that using Anakinra in CRPS would be effective in a similar manner.REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
21/WA/0184
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion