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Anti-Inflammatory Pulmonal Therapy of CF-Patients With Amitriptyline and Placebo
This study has been completed.
Sponsored by: University Hospital Tuebingen
Information provided by: University Hospital Tuebingen
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00515229
  Purpose

Our data indicate that the CFTR-molecule functions as a transporter for sphingosine-1-phosphate and sphingosine or regulates the uptake of these sphingolipids by epithelial cells. The disturbed uptake of sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate over the cell membrane results in an accumulation of ceramide in the cell membrane, which finally triggers a pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic status in the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients. Amitriptyline reduces the cera-mide levels in the lung tissue, normalises the activity of cytokines and prevents constitutive cell death of epithelial cells observed in CFTR-deficient mice. Most important, amitriptyline prevents pulmonary infections of CFTR-deficient mice with P. aeruginosa. These effects of amitriptyline may result in an improved lung function of cystic fibrosis patients.


Condition Intervention Phase
Cystic Fibrosis
Infection
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Drug: amitriptyline
Phase II

Genetics Home Reference related topics: cystic fibrosis
MedlinePlus related topics: Cystic Fibrosis
Drug Information available for: Starch Amitriptyline Amitriptyline hydrochloride Ceramide
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Placebo Control, Crossover Assignment, Efficacy Study
Official Title: Protocol for a Phase II-Study Anti-Inflammatory Pulmonal Therapy of CF-Patients With Amitriptyline and Placebo - Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Cross Over - Study -

Further study details as provided by University Hospital Tuebingen:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Increase in lung function, especially the FEV1 increase [ Time Frame: 5 months ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Increase of CO-Diffusion [ Time Frame: 5 months ]
  • Pulmonary Ceramide expression [ Time Frame: 5 months ]
  • Decrease of cytokine-concentrations [ Time Frame: 5 months ]
  • Decrease of leukocytes (sputum) [ Time Frame: 5 months ]
  • Decrease of Pseudomonas [ Time Frame: 5 months ]
  • Infection parameters in serum [ Time Frame: 5 months ]
  • Exacerbations [ Time Frame: 5 months ]

Enrollment: 18
Study Start Date: October 2006
Study Completion Date: July 2007
Arms Assigned Interventions
1: Active Comparator
Verum 1: Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 25 mg amitriptyline, given once an day in the evening over 28 days
Drug: amitriptyline

Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 25 mg, 50 mg und 75 mg Amitriptyline.

Placebo: 25 mg corn starch

2: Active Comparator
Verum 1: Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 50 mg amitriptyline, given once an day in the evening over 28 days
Drug: amitriptyline

Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 25 mg, 50 mg und 75 mg Amitriptyline.

Placebo: 25 mg corn starch

3: Active Comparator
Verum 3: Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 75 mg amitriptyline, given once an day in the evening over 28 days
Drug: amitriptyline

Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 25 mg, 50 mg und 75 mg Amitriptyline.

Placebo: 25 mg corn starch

0: Placebo Comparator
Placebo: Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 25 mg placebo (corn starch), given once an day in the evening over 28 days
Drug: amitriptyline

Each individual capsule has a filling volume of 25 mg, 50 mg und 75 mg Amitriptyline.

Placebo: 25 mg corn starch


Detailed Description:

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common autosomal recessive disorder at least in western countries, is caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator molecule (CFTR) and affects approximately 40 000 patients in Europe. Most, if not all, CF-patients develop a chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). At present it is un-known why CF-patients are highly sensitive to P. aeruginosa infections and, most important, no curative treatment for cystic fibrosis is available.

Our data on CFTR-deficient mice demonstrate that the CFTR-molecule does not only function as a chloride-channel, but also as a transporter for sphingolipids, in particular sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Deficiency of functional CFTR in CFTR-knock-out mice results in an alteration of the sphingolipid metabolism in pulmonary epithelial cells and an accumulation of cellular ceramide in these cells.

Inhibition of ceramide release in the lung was achieved by pharmacological and genetic inhibition of the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) that generates ceramide from sphingomyelin. Amitriptyline was employed to pharmacologically block the ASM genetic inhibition of the ASM was achieved by crossing CFTR- and ASM-deficient mice. Although the ASM is not affected in cystic fibrosis, an inhibition of the enzyme should block the formation of ceramide and, thus, normalize the increase of pulmonary ceramide caused by CFTR-deficiency.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 50 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Cystic Fibrosis is proved
  2. The patient are older than 18 years (<50 years)
  3. No sec discrimination
  4. The patient is pulmonal colonized with bacteria
  5. Signs of pulmonary exacerbation are not present
  6. A full course of therapy is possible without any restrictions
  7. Lung function measurement is possible

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Poor metabolizer for amitriptyline (CYP2D6 genotyping)
  2. Glaucoma, seizures, heart insufficiency or depression is present
  3. Signs of acute pulmonary illness (bronchial or tracheal stenosis, tuberculosis, thorax trauma, acute pneumonia, pneumothorax, bronchial haemorrhage, ARDS) are present
  4. intravenous antibiotic treatment was necessary in the last 4 weeks
  5. Involvement of the patient in another study
  6. Pregnancy
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00515229

Locations
Germany, Baden-Wuerttemberg
University of Tuebingen
Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 72076
Sponsors and Collaborators
University Hospital Tuebingen
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Joachim Reithmueller, Dr. University of Tuebingen, Paediatric Department
  More Information

Study ID Numbers: APA-II
Study First Received: August 9, 2007
Last Updated: August 10, 2007
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00515229  
Health Authority: Germany: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices

Keywords provided by University Hospital Tuebingen:
cystic fibrosis
ceramide
amitriptyline
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
lung function

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Digestive System Diseases
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Respiratory Tract Diseases
Cystic Fibrosis
Fibrosis
Lung Diseases
Amitriptyline
Infant, Newborn, Diseases
Pancreatic Diseases
Cystic fibrosis

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
Neurotransmitter Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Adrenergic Agents
Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Psychotropic Drugs
Infection
Pharmacologic Actions
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
Pathologic Processes
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Sensory System Agents
Therapeutic Uses
Analgesics
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Central Nervous System Agents
Antidepressive Agents

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 16, 2009