New VCRC Trial Enrolling Patients Now! The Assessment of Prednisone in Remission (TAPIR) Trial
This is a trial for patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s).
You are invited to participate in a clinical trial being conducted by the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) under the direction of Dr. Peter Merkel, from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and VCRC Investigators at the University of South Florida.
Purpose and Background
The TAPIR trial is comparing two approaches to treatment: a low dose of prednisone, or no prednisone, for patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, Wegener’s) in remission.
Prednisone is a necessary treatment for many patients with GPA but can also be damaging to the body. Researchers want to improve daily life for patients with GPA by having them take less prednisone – but without symptoms of GPA becoming worse, if possible.
Vasculitis researchers are still working to determine the best way to use prednisone when treating vasculitis. There have been many studies for other medical treatments for GPA, but prednisone (a common treatment for patients with GPA) has not been studied as much.
By comparing these two treatments (low dose of prednisone, or no prednisone) we hope to gain important insight in to which treatments really work best for GPA patients in remission.
Who can participate in the TAPIR trial?
You can join the TAPIR trial if you:
- Have a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s, GPA)
- Have needed to take 20 mg or more of prednisone each day at some point in the last 12 months
- Have GPA currently in remission (absence of disease activity/symptoms)
- Are taking between 5 mg and 10 mg of prednisone per day (Updated 6.2.2014 from 6 mg to 10 mg)
- Are at least 18 years of age
*other conditions may apply
How to join the TAPIR trial:
- To be seen in clinic: See which clinical centers are recruiting patients for the TAPIR study here.
- To participate online: You do not have to live near a clinical center to join! You can join online and continue to see your own doctor.
Learn More here.
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