2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This is a study to determine the efficacy of muromonab-CD3 and cyclosporine as treatment in patients with giant cell myocarditis (GCM). T lymphocytes appear to be involved in GCM. Muromonab-CD3 has been shown to reduce the number of lymphocytes and cyclosporine inhibits lymphocyte activation. This treatment may prolong patient survival until transplantation or ventricular assist device placement is possible.
OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the effect of immunosuppression with muromonab-CD3, cyclosporine, methylprednisolone, and prednisone versus standard care in terms of death, heart transplantation, or left ventricular assistive device placement in patients with giant cell myocarditis. II. Compare left ventricular ejection fraction prior to and after 4 weeks of treatment in these arms. III. Compare the degree of myocardial inflammatory infiltrate prior to and after 4 weeks of treatment in these arms.