Schering-Plough discontinued supplying study drug.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-Intron) in patients with severe complications related to Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Funding Source - FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-Intron) in patients with severe complications related to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT). Participants will be randomized to the treatment arm or control arm and then crossed over to the alternate arm at 6 months for the remainder of the 12-month study. Study treatment will consist of weekly subcutaneous injections of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-Intron), 1 microgram/kilogram/week. Adverse events as well as monitoring and treatment of toxicities will be followed as stated in the protocol. Adverse events will be graded according to the Modified NCI Common Toxicity Criteria. After every five participants have completed one month of treatment, an independent data safety monitoring board will review any adverse events.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Definite diagnosis of HHT by clinical criteria or genetic diagnosis. For the clinical diagnosis, 3 of the 4 following criteria1 must be present:

   1. Epistaxis: spontaneous, recurrent
   2. Telangiectases: multiple at characteristic sites
   3. Visceral lesions including telangiectases and/or arteriovenous malformations (AVM) (pulmonary, hepatic, gastrointestinal, cerebral, spinal)
   4. Family history of a first degree relative with HHT

2. Transfusion-dependent anemia from HHT-related bleeding (epistaxis from nasal mucosal telangiectases or gastrointestinal bleeding from gastrointestinal telangiectases) defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) < 9g/dL with transfusion of at least one unit of packed red blood cells within the past 6 months or Hb < 11g/dL in females or < 13g/dL in males with transfusion of at least 5 units of blood within the past 6 months. Patients must be on a stable dose of iron or intolerant of iron. Patients must have failed traditional treatment options.

3. Clinically stable outpatient

4. Able and willing to return for outpatient visits

5. Ability to perform subcutaneous injections

6. Adult (Age 18 - 70 years)

7. Presence of the following laboratory results at entry:

   1. White blood cell count ≥ 2000/mm^3
   2. Neutrophil count ≥ 1000/mm^3
   3. Platelet count ≥ 80,000/mm^3
   4. Thyroid stimulating hormone within normal limits (Minimal abnormalities of the sensitive thyroid stimulating hormone may be allowed provided that the free thyroxin is normal and the patient is clinically euthyroid)

8. Negative pregnancy test at enrollment, if applicable

9. If the participant is a sexually active woman of childbearing potential, evidence that she is practicing adequate contraception during the treatment period. Adequate contraception includes use of an intrauterine device, oral contraceptives, progesterone implanted rods, medroxyprogesterone acetate, surgical sterilization, barrier method (diaphragm + spermicide), a monogamous relationship with a male partner who has had a vasectomy or is using a condom + spermicide or a birth control method acceptable to the study physicians. Participants and/or their partners must agree to continue the use of adequate contraception for at least 6 months following completion of treatment.

10. Written informed consent specific for this protocol obtained prior to entry

11. Patients agree to take study medication as directed and follow all study related procedures until the conclusion of their protocol participation

12. Hepatic involvement by HHT characterized by high output heart failure due to hepatic vascular malformations (symptoms of heart failure including edema, ascites, S3 gallop, orthopnea, or jugular venous pressure > 10 cm H_2O) plus cardiac index (CI) measured at right heart catheterization > 4.4 L/min/m^2. Patients must have failed traditional treatment options.

13. Computed tomography scanning (CT) of the liver documenting vascular abnormalities consistent with HHT

14. Child-Pugh category A

15. Diffuse pulmonary telangiectases or AVMs documented by pulmonary angiography not amenable to treatment with embolization techniques. Patients must have failed traditional treatment options.

16. Positive contrast echocardiography documenting right to left intrapulmonary shunt

17. Resting or exercise-induced hypoxemia defined as a partial pressure of oxygen (PaO_2) < 70 mmHg at rest or an oxygen saturation (SpO_2) < 85% with exercise.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Anemia from any other cause than that due to HHT-related bleeding

2. Hypersensitivity to PEG-Intron or any other component of the product

3. Decompensated liver disease

   1. Chronic active Hepatitis B infection
   2. Child-Pugh category B or C

4. History of severe psychiatric disease

   1. Prior suicide attempt
   2. Hospitalization for psychiatric disease
   3. Period of disability due to a psychiatric disease
   4. Current episode of moderate to severe depression not responsive to treatment

5. History of immunologically mediated disease

   1. Inflammatory bowel disease
   2. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
   3. Systemic lupus erythematosus
   4. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
   5. Scleroderma
   6. Sarcoidosis
   7. Multiple sclerosis
   8. Severe psoriasis
   9. Clinical evidence of rheumatoid arthritis
   10. Autoimmune hepatitis

6. History of clinically significant cardiovascular disease

   1. Positive stress test
   2. Clinically significant arrhythmia
   3. Congestive heart failure
   4. Uncontrolled hypertension
   5. Coronary artery bypass surgery within 24 weeks prior to entry
   6. Angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within 1 year prior to entry

7. Seizure disorder uncontrolled by anticonvulsants (within the last 12 months)

8. History of thyroid disease poorly controlled on prescribed medications

9. History or evidence of retinopathy

10. Patients on chronic anticoagulation

11. History of chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine > 2.5 mg/dL)

12. Patients who have received an investigational drug within 24 weeks of treatment assignment

13. History or other evidence of severe illness or other comorbid condition which would make the patient unsuitable for participation in a research protocol

14. Liver dysfunction from any other cause than that due to HHT (chronic active hepatitis B infection, hepatitis C infection, alcoholic cirrhosis, etc.)

15. Cardiac index < 4.4 L/min/m^2

16. Pulmonary AVMs with feeding arteries > 3 mm in diameter amenable to embolization techniques

17. Other pulmonary diseases causing hypoxemia.

Adverse events were collected over the 1-year study by telephone or direct interview. Adverse events were graded according to Modified NCI Common Toxicity Criteria. If a subject discontinued for an adverse event, they were observed for 12 weeks.

The study was terminated early because Schering-Plough discontinued supplying study drug.