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Treatment of Chronic Itch in Patients Under Arsenic Exposure With Sublingual Naloxone

Primary Purpose

Chronic Pruritus

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 1
Locations
China
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Naloxone
Placebo
Sponsored by
Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Pruritus focused on measuring arsenic exposure, naloxone, placebo, single-blind randomized trial

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Aged 18 years or over and without diseases except arsenic-related pruritus
  2. Ability to study protocol and to give informed consent by himself/herself voluntarily
  3. The number of male or female subjects is required more than 1/3 of the total number of subjects
  4. Hair arsenic concentration≥1 μg/g
  5. Numeric Rating Sscale≥3 at the baseline
  6. Subjects taking hormone-containing medications must be on a stable dose for 6 months prior to study start to avoid any confounding influence on sensory and pain perception

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Use of oral anti-inflammatory medications for 2 weeks prior to the study start.
  2. Use of oral anti-histamines for 2 weeks prior to the study start.
  3. Use of topical or oral anti-pruritic agents for 2 weeks prior to the study start.
  4. Use of oral neuromodulatory agents for 2 months prior to study start.
  5. Current use of chronic pain medications (including opioids, antidepressants and anti-epileptic drugs).
  6. Use of nicotine-containing products for the past 6 months prior to study start.
  7. History of basic itchy dermatological diseases before such as eczema wich may influence the judgement of drug efficacy.
  8. Unstable thyroid function within the past 6 months prior to study start to exclude thyroid-related neuropathy.
  9. Known history of central or peripheral nervous system dysfunction.
  10. History of acute hepatitis, chronic liver disease or end stage liver disease.
  11. History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
  12. History of neuropathy associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, documented exposure to organophosphates or heavy metals or polychlorinated biphenyls.
  13. Known nutritional deficiency (vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron or zinc) within 3 months prior to the study start.
  14. Use of illicit drugs within the past 6 months prior to study start.
  15. Lyme disease, porphyria, rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy) or use of antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents.
  16. Patients considered by researchers that are not suitable to the study.

Sites / Locations

  • Xiangya Hospital

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Naloxone

Placebo

Arm Description

Naloxone at an sublingual dose of 40 mg daily will be given to each subject.

Sublingual placebo will be given to each subject.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Reduction in symptom of itch
Participants will be asked to report the severity of itch using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at the baseline and week 1 of the trial

Secondary Outcome Measures

Sleeping quality
Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at baseline and week 1 of the trial
Serological indicator
Level of serum beta-endorphin will be tested at baseline and week 1 of the trial
Health-related quality of life
Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at baseline and week 1 of the trial

Full Information

First Posted
November 21, 2018
Last Updated
April 9, 2019
Sponsor
Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03751111
Brief Title
Treatment of Chronic Itch in Patients Under Arsenic Exposure With Sublingual Naloxone
Official Title
Treatment of Chronic Itch in Patients Under Arsenic Exposure With Sublingual Naloxone: A Single-blind Randomized Trial
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
April 2019
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
February 13, 2019 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
March 1, 2019 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
March 30, 2019 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of sublingual naloxone in the treatment of chronic itch in patients under arsenic exposure.
Detailed Description
This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of sublingual naloxone in the treatment of chronic, refractory itch in patients under long-term arsenic exposure. In this study, 200 subjects with a moderate-to-severe symptom of itching (numeric rating scale, NRS≥3) will be recruited and randomly treated with either sublingual naloxone (100 subjects) or placebo (100 subjects). The severity of itching will be evaluated in the wash out phase, baseline, and one week after the treatment through reporting of subjective symptomatology (itch NRS) via the interview. Quality of sleep measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) will serve as the secondary outcome.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Chronic Pruritus
Keywords
arsenic exposure, naloxone, placebo, single-blind randomized trial

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 1, Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Model Description
Participants will be randomly assigned to two arms using a computer-generalized sequence of random numbers.
Masking
Participant
Masking Description
The participants will not be informed whether the drug they received is naloxone or placebo. The investigators will remove the package of the drugs and use the unified package for both of the drugs.
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
100 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Naloxone
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Naloxone at an sublingual dose of 40 mg daily will be given to each subject.
Arm Title
Placebo
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Sublingual placebo will be given to each subject.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Naloxone
Intervention Description
Naloxone at an sublingual dose of 40 mg daily for one week will be given to each subject. Subjects will self-administer the drug at supervision in the primary care center.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Intervention Description
Placebo will be given to each subject for one week. Subjects will self-administer the drug at supervision in the primary care center.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Reduction in symptom of itch
Description
Participants will be asked to report the severity of itch using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at the baseline and week 1 of the trial
Time Frame
1 week
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Sleeping quality
Description
Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at baseline and week 1 of the trial
Time Frame
1 week
Title
Serological indicator
Description
Level of serum beta-endorphin will be tested at baseline and week 1 of the trial
Time Frame
1 week
Title
Health-related quality of life
Description
Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at baseline and week 1 of the trial
Time Frame
1 week

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Aged 18 years or over and without diseases except arsenic-related pruritus Ability to study protocol and to give informed consent by himself/herself voluntarily The number of male or female subjects is required more than 1/3 of the total number of subjects Hair arsenic concentration≥1 μg/g Numeric Rating Sscale≥3 at the baseline Subjects taking hormone-containing medications must be on a stable dose for 6 months prior to study start to avoid any confounding influence on sensory and pain perception Exclusion Criteria: Use of oral anti-inflammatory medications for 2 weeks prior to the study start. Use of oral anti-histamines for 2 weeks prior to the study start. Use of topical or oral anti-pruritic agents for 2 weeks prior to the study start. Use of oral neuromodulatory agents for 2 months prior to study start. Current use of chronic pain medications (including opioids, antidepressants and anti-epileptic drugs). Use of nicotine-containing products for the past 6 months prior to study start. History of basic itchy dermatological diseases before such as eczema wich may influence the judgement of drug efficacy. Unstable thyroid function within the past 6 months prior to study start to exclude thyroid-related neuropathy. Known history of central or peripheral nervous system dysfunction. History of acute hepatitis, chronic liver disease or end stage liver disease. History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. History of neuropathy associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, documented exposure to organophosphates or heavy metals or polychlorinated biphenyls. Known nutritional deficiency (vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron or zinc) within 3 months prior to the study start. Use of illicit drugs within the past 6 months prior to study start. Lyme disease, porphyria, rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy) or use of antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents. Patients considered by researchers that are not suitable to the study.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Yi Xiao, Ph.D
Organizational Affiliation
Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Minxue Shen, Ph.D
Organizational Affiliation
Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Official's Role
Study Director
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Xiangya Hospital
City
Changsha
State/Province
Hunan
ZIP/Postal Code
410008
Country
China

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
Yes
IPD Sharing Plan Description
Study Protocol; Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP); Informed Consent Form (ICF) can be shared for the purpose of academic communication
IPD Sharing Time Frame
Since the official start of the trial to the end of the trial
IPD Sharing Access Criteria
Describe clearly about the reason of review
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
30203303
Citation
Xiao Y, Huang X, Jing D, Huang Y, Zhang X, Shu Z, Huang Z, Su J, Li J, Zhang J, Chen M, Chen X, Shen M. Assessment of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in a homogeneous population under lifetime arsenic exposure. Qual Life Res. 2018 Dec;27(12):3209-3215. doi: 10.1007/s11136-018-1969-2. Epub 2018 Sep 10.
Results Reference
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Treatment of Chronic Itch in Patients Under Arsenic Exposure With Sublingual Naloxone

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