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Comparison of Two Etoposide Initiation Strategies for Severe Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Summary
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by hyperactivation of the immune system, leading to a cytokine storm responsible for organ failures. Consequently, patients with HLH often require intensive care management, where their short-term prognosis is compromised (1-month mortality: 30 to 40%). Therapeutic management is urgent and consists in treating associated pathologies and employing immunomodulatory therapy. Currently, there are no clear and consistent recommendations for guiding immunomodulatory treatment in HLH due to the lack of high-level evidence studies. Experts recommend corticosteroid therapy for mild forms, whereas etoposide is proposed for severe cases, especially those with organ failures. However, in clinical practice, its use in patients with multi-organ failure is not systematic due to concerns about potential severe side effects and uncertainty regarding the contribution of severe sepsis to the clinical and biological presentation. Consequently, initiation of etoposide is sometimes delayed. Our hypothesis is that early treatment of severe HLH associated with organ failure using etoposide could reduce organ failures associated with this syndrome. Therefore, we aim to compare two strategies for initiating etoposide in severe HLH in intensive care: an early strategy where etoposide is prescribed at the onset of HLH-related organ failure, and a delayed strategy where etoposide is prescribed only if there is unfavorable progression (or lack of improvement) after treating associated pathologies, associated with corticosteroid therapy.
Official title: Comparison of Two Etoposide Initiation Strategies for Severe Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Intensive Care: a Randomized Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
176
Start Date
2026-04
Completion Date
2030-02
Last Updated
2026-03-27
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Etoposide (Early strategy)
early strategy arm: patients will receive etoposide treatment within 12 hours of inclusion.
Etoposide (Delayed strategy)
delayed strategy arm: patients will be reassessed 48 hours after inclusion. If there is persistence or deterioration of organ failures (similar or higher modified SOFA score), patients will receive etoposide treatment within 12 hours of this reassessment in the absence of formal contraindications. In cases of rapidly deteriorating clinical status with short-term life-threatening prognosis (defined as an increase of 6 or more points in modified SOFA score), patients may receive rescue treatment (before 48 hours) with etoposide at the discretion of the medical team managing the patient; in such cases, the Day-2 infusion will not be administered. This practice will be exceptional and documented, following consultation with the hotline if possible.
Locations (1)
Intensive Care Unit - Avicenne Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Bobigny, France