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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Randomized Multicenter Study for Isolated Skin Vasculitis

A Randomized Multicenter Study for Isolated Skin Vasculitis (NCT02939573) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Primary Cutaneous Vasculitis and Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Multi-center sequential multiple assignment randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of three different standard of care treatment options for patients with isolated skin vasculitis.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Primary Cutaneous Vasculitis and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 90 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Primary Cutaneous Vasculitis subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Patients with primary skin vasculitis, not associated with any significant extra-cutaneous involvement that would require specific immunosuppressive therapy. Eligible patients will have a diagnosis of either: - Isolated cutaneous small vessel (SV) or medium-sized vessel (MV) vasculitis or cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) - IgA vasculitis (IgA, formerly Henoch-Schönlein purpura), without active and/or progressing renal involvement (stable glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>60 ml/min; absence of, or mild-and-stable microscopic hematuria without red blood cell casts; absence of, or mild-and-stable proteinuria (\<1g/24 hours); not requiring systemic immunosuppressive therapy). These conditions, when skin-limited, are all currently treated in similar manners in practice. Mild arthralgias, myalgias, peripheral limb edema, fatigue, weight loss ≤6 lbs or 3 kg within past 3 months, low-grade fever, and mild anemia (Hb ≥ 10 g/dL) will be allowed. 2. The diagnosis of vasculitis must have been confirmed by skin biopsy prior to enrollment (earlier, at diagnosis, and/or just prior to enrollment) that has included an immunofluorescence study (in the case of small vessel vasculitis). 3. Patients must have active cutaneous vasculitis lasting for at least 1 month continuously and/or have had 2 or more flares over the six months preceding enrollment (post-inflammatory lesions such as hyperpigmentation or healing ulceration(s) are not to be considered active vasculitis). 4. Patients must have active / ongoing cutaneous vasculitis lesions at the time of enrollment (post-inflammatory lesions such as hyperpigmentation or healing ulceration(s) are not to be considered active vasculitis). ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with primary skin vasculitis, not associated with any significant extra-cutaneous involvement that would require specific immunosuppressive therapy. Eligible patients will have a diagnosis of either: * Isolated cutaneous small vessel (SV) or medium-sized vessel (MV) vasculitis or cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) * IgA vasculitis (IgA, formerly Henoch-Schönlein purpura), without active and/or progressing renal involvement (stable glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>60 ml/min; absence of, or mild-and-stable microscopic hematuria without red blood cell casts; absence of, or mild-and-stable proteinuria (\<1g/24 hours); not requiring systemic immunosuppressive therapy). These conditions, when skin-limited, are all currently treated in similar manners in practice. Mild arthralgias, myalgias, peripheral limb edema, fatigue, weight loss ≤6 lbs or 3 kg within past 3 months, low-grade fever, and mild anemia (Hb ≥ 10 g/dL) will be allowed. 2. The diagnosis of vasculitis must have been confirmed by skin biopsy prior to enrollment (earlier, at diagnosis, and/or just prior to enrollment) that has included an immunofluorescence study (in the case of small vessel vasculitis). 3. Patients must have active cutaneous vasculitis lasting for at least 1 month continuously and/or have had 2 or more flares over the six months preceding enrollment (post-inflammatory lesions such as hyperpigmentation or healing ulceration(s) are not to be considered active vasculitis). 4. Patients must have active / ongoing cutaneous vasculitis lesions at the time of enrollment (post-inflammatory lesions such as hyperpigmentation or healing ulceration(s) are not to be considered active vasculitis). 5. Patients may have a contra-indication to one of the study drug or have been treated prior to enrollment with one of the study medications but failed to respond to it (according to the study definitions of failure and if they have been on the drug at the target dose or higher for 3 months or longer) or had to stop it because of an adverse event. Such patients can be enrolled directly in the second stage of the study and be randomized to receive one of the two other study drugs. The number of such patients enrolled directly in stage 2 will be capped at 10 (10% of the total recruitment target). 6. Patients may have received systemic glucocorticoids for their cutaneous vasculitis before enrollment. For the patients on prednisone at the time of enrollment, prednisone should be stopped within a maximum of 6 weeks after enrollment and initiation of the study drug, following a pre-defined tapering schedule. Patients on long-term, low and stable dose of glucocorticoids (≤5 mg/day prednisone-equivalent) for other conditions (e.g., asthma or adrenal insufficiency) can be enrolled if the likelihood of requiring a dose increase for this other condition is low during the 6 month study period (these patients will remain on that low and stable dose during the study period, with the option to receive one short course of prednisone at higher doses for skin vasculitis flare during the first 3 months of the study period, like any other patients enrolled). 7. Participant age 18 years or greater. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of significant extra-cutaneous manifestations suggestive of a systemic vasculitis or more diffuse condition. The presence of mild arthralgias, myalgias, peripheral limb edema, fatigue, weight loss ≤6 lbs or 3 kg within past 3 months, low-grade fever, and mild anemia \[Hb ≥ 10 g/dL\] are not exclusion criteria. Mild and stable microscopic hematuria without RBC casts and/or mild and stable proteinuria (\<1g/24 hours) are not exclusion criteria. These latter patients must not require systemic immunosuppressive therapy because of possible renal involvement and their GFR must be \>60 ml/min. 2. Known systemic and/or non-skin-isolated vasculitis, such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, systemic polyarteritis nodosa, central nervous system vasculitis and patients with detectable antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) by immunofluorescence or ELISA. 3. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, and other known secondary skin vasculitides such as those secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, another auto-immune condition, a cancer, a hematological disorder, an ongoing active infection, or an ongoing medication. Investigators should consider such underlying diagnoses and perform and interpret appropriate laboratory work-up where indicated based on clinical presentation. 4. History of significant intolerance, allergy or serious adverse events to any of the study medications: such patients can be enrolled directly in the second stage of the study and be randomized to receive one of the two other study drugs. The number of patients enrolled directly in stage 2 of the study will be capped at 10 (10%). 5. Patients who have contra-indications to two or three of the study drugs (azathioprine, colchicine, or dapsone), or have been treated prior to enrollment with two or three of the study drugs but failed to respond to them, or had to stop two or three of them because of adverse events. 6. Deficit in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) or history of hemolytic anemia (all patients must be tested for G6PD at the screening visit to assess for their eligibility): such patients can be enrolled directly in the second stage of the study and be randomized to receive one of the two other study drugs (azathioprine or colchicine). The number of patients enrolled directly in stage 2 of the study will be capped at 10 (10%). 7. Low or absent thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity (if known, not a requirement for study entry): Patients known to have low or absent TPMT can be enrolled directly in the second stage of the study and be randomized to receive one of the two other study drugs (dapsone or colchicine). 8. Evidence of significant hepatic insufficiency or liver function tests \> 2 times the upper limit of normal. 9. Evidence of significant renal insufficiency or creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min. 10. Evidence of significant or symptomatic anemia or Hb \< 10 g/dL. 11. Comorbid condition that has moderate or high likelihood of requiring intermittent courses of prednisone within the study period, according to the investigator (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), unstable or severe asthma). 12. Active cancer or history of malignancy within the previous 5 years (patient in remission of a cancer \>5 years, or with non-metastatic prostate cancer or treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can be enrolled). 13. Active uncontrolled or serious infection that may compromise or contra-indicate the use of the study medications. 14. Patient unable to consent. 15. Pregnant or lactating women.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Colchicine

Randomized to colchicine 0.6 mg x 2/day

DRUG

Dapsone

Randomized to dapsone 150 mg/day

DRUG

Azathioprine

Randomized to azathioprine 2 mg/kg/day

Locations (16)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Northwell Health
Lake Success, New York, United States
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, New York, United States
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
St. Joseph's Healthcare
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
University of Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital
Kyoto, Japan

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT02939573), the sponsor (University of Pennsylvania), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT02939573 clinical trial studying?

Multi-center sequential multiple assignment randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of three different standard of care treatment options for patients with isolated skin vasculitis. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT02939573?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT02939573?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT02939573. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT02939573. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.