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Low Dose Naltrexone to Improve Physical Health in Patients With Vasculitis

Study Purpose

Naltrexone is an FDA approved drug (for alcoholism) that has found widespread use "off-label" to treat pain and improve quality of life at much lower doses than are used for the approved indication. There are a few scientific studies in three conditions (fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, and multiple sclerosis) that suggest that this drug has benefit and is safe. However, considering the extent of use in other conditions, and uncertainty about the mechanism of action study is needed in a diverse set of diseases, including vasculitis. The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine if low dose naltrexone is effective in improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with vasculitis. Although it is a pilot study, a placebo-controlled component is used because of the prominent placebo group effect seen in studies with self-reported subjective outcomes.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible for enrollment: 1. Criteria for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, Wegener's), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, Churg-Strauss), as used for the VCRC longitudinal studies. a. Giant cell arteritis: According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of GCA, meeting at least 2 of the following 5 remaining criteria at the time of diagnosis of GCA: Age of disease onset >50 years (required) i. New onset or new type of localized pain in the head ii. Temporal artery abnormality (i.e. temporal artery tenderness to palpation or decreased pulsation, unrelated to arteriosclerosis of cervical arteries) iii. ESR of >40 mm in the first hour by Westergren method iv. Temporal artery biopsy showing vasculitis characterized by a predominance of mononuclear cell infiltration or granulomatous inflammation, usually with multinucleated giant cells v. Large Vessel Vasculitis (LVV) by angiogram or biopsy not explained by something else. b. Takayasu's arteritis: According to an adaption of the American College of Rheumatology criteria, meeting at least 2 of the following 5 remaining criteria at the time of inclusion of TAK: Arteriogram abnormalities compatible with TAK (includes conventional dye angiography or MR angiography or CT angiography) (required) i. Age at disease onset ≤50 years ii. Claudication of extremities iii. Decreased brachial artery pulse (one or both arteries) iv. Blood pressure difference of >10mm Hg between the arms v. Bruit over subclavian arteritis or aorta. c. Polyarteritis nodosa: An adaption of the America College of Rheumatology criteria will be used for the diagnosis of PAN. At the time of inclusion, one major and one minor criteria or two major criteria or isolated cutaneous PAN must be met. i. Major criteria (not explained by other causes): 1. Arteriographic abnormality. 2. Presence of granulocyte or mixed leukocyte infiltrate in an arterial wall on biopsy. 3. Mononeuropathy or polyneuropathy ii. Minor criteria (not explained by other causes) 1. Weight loss > 4 kg 2. Livedo reticularis, cutaneous ulcerations, or skin nodules 3. Testicular pain or tenderness 4. Myalgias 5. Diastolic blood pressure >90mm Hg 6. Elevated BUN or serum creatinine levels 7. Ischemic abdominal pain iii. Isolated cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. 1. Biopsy-proven cutaneous PAN. d. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Participants can be enrolled if two of the five modified American College of Rheumatology criteria are met: i. Nasal or oral inflammation: painful or painless oral ulcers or purulent or blood nasal discharge ii. Abnormal chest radiograph: nodules, fixed infiltrates, or cavities iii. Urinary sediment: microhematuria or red cell casts iv. Granulomatous inflammation on biopsy: granulomatous inflammation within the wall of an artery or in the perivascular area v. ANCA positivity by enzyme immunoassay for either PR3- or MPO-ANCA e. Microscopic polyangiitis: The following Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Definitions for MPA need to be met: i. Necrotizing vasculitis with few or no immune deposits affects small vessel (i.e., capillaries, venules, or arterioles) ii. Necrotizing arteritis involving small and medium-sized arteritis may be present iii. Necrotizing glomerulonephritis is very common iv. Pulmonary capillaritis often occurs. f. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: An adaptation of the American College of Rheumatology criteria will be used for the diagnosis of EGPA. At the time of inclusion, four of the six items must have documented evidence: i. Asthma ii. Peak peripheral blood eosinophilia of >10% of total WBC iii. Peripheral neuropathy attributable to vasculitis iv. Transient pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging studies v. Paranasal sinus abnormalities or nasal polyposis vi. Eosinophilic inflammation on tissue biopsy If patients have 4 of the above 6 criteria but lack clear-cut documentation of small vessel vasculitis, they are also eligible for enrollment. 2. Baseline normalized score on PROMIS Global Physical Health of 40 or lower. 3. Vasculitis in remission or very low disease activity, as defined by Physician Global Assessment 0-1 for at least 12 weeks. 4. Stable immunosuppressive therapy (including prednisone) related to vasculitis for at least 12 weeks. 5. No change in medications in the past 12 weeks made with the expectation of improving pain, fatigue, or mood. 6. No plan to change medication or a non-pharmacologic treatment regimen likely to affect pain, fatigue, mood, or vasculitis activity during the next 12 weeks. 7. Age of 18 years or older. 8. Willingness and ability to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures, including receipt of weekly phone calls from the study coordinator. 9. Willingness and ability to provide informed consent
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    Exclusion Criteria:

    1.
Change in any medication related to control of vasculitis, pain, fatigue, or mood within the past 12 weeks (medications taken as needed must be in a stable pattern per the patient's estimation) 2. Use of another investigational agent as part of a clinical trial within 30 days of enrollment. 3. Current use of any opioid agonist including tramadol or suboxone. 4. Change in vasculitis activity in the past 12 weeks, as defined by a change in Physician Global Assessment greater than 1. 5. Baseline normalized score more than 40 on PROMIS Global Physical Health. 6. New major medical problem or surgery in past 12 weeks. 7. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. 8. Inability to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures. 9. Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. 10. Poorly controlled depression or anxiety, as defined by a score of ≥ 20 on PHQ-9. 11. Liver cirrhosis. 12. Significant kidney disease, defined as glomerular filtration rate <30ml/min

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT03482479
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 2
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

University of Pennsylvania
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Peter A Merkel, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator Affiliation University of Pennsylvania
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (EGPA), Churg-Strauss Syndrome (CSS), Giant Cell Arteritis, Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis, Microscopic Polyangiitis, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Takayasu Arteritis
Additional Details

This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) 4.5 mg nightly in improving self-reported physical health in patients with vasculitis. At study enrollment, each patient will be randomized to receive either LDN for 6 weeks followed by oral placebo for 6 weeks, or placebo for 6 weeks followed by LDN for 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure and some secondary outcome measures are patient-reported and will be recorded every 3 weeks, or every 6 weeks

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Naltrexone Hydrochloride

Naltrexone hydrochloride for oral use, 4.5 mg per capsule, taken once a day for 6 weeks.

Placebo Comparator: Placebo Comparator

Placebo to match naltrexone for oral use to be taken once a day for 6 weeks.

Interventions

Drug: - Naltrexone Hydrochloride

Naltrexone Hydrochloride will be taken daily (dose 4.5 mg) for six weeks

Other: - Placebo Comparator

A placebo tablet which matches the drug will be taken daily for 6 weeks.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Status

Completed

Address

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Status

Recruiting

Address

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

Site Contact

Michael Stachowitz

stachowitz.michael@mayo.edu

7813214567

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Status

Completed

Address

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Status

Recruiting

Address

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

Site Contact

Peter Merkel, MD, MPH

cmcalear@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

215-614-4401

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Status

Recruiting

Address

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

Site Contact

Alison Keenan

alkeenan@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

7813214567

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Status

Completed

Address

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

Status

Completed

Address

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112