Idiopathic Intracranial HypertensionPhase 2/3IIHTTNCT01003639
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial
A Phase 2/3 study testing Acetazolamide and Formal weight loss counselling program in people with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, run by St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center at 41 sites in 2 countries.
Trial summary
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also called pseudotumor cerebri, is a disorder of elevated intracranial pressure of unknown cause [Corbett, et al., 1982; Wall, et al., 1991]. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
- What is being tested?
- Acetazolamide and Formal weight loss counselling program
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 165 participants
- Where
- 41 sitesin 2 countries
- Study dates
- Jan 2010to Jan 2014
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of IIH by modified Dandy criteria Signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure Absence of localizing findings on neurologic examination Absence of deformity, displacement, or obstruction of the ventricular system and otherwise normal neurodiagnostic studies, except for evidence of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure (>200 mm water). Abnormal neuroimaging except for empty sella turcica, optic nerve sheath enlargement, and smooth-walled non flow-related venous sinus stenosis or collapse106 should lead to another diagnosis Awake and alert No other cause of increased intracranial pressure present
- Diagnosis of IIH for 6 weeks or less
- Age 18 to 60 years at time of diagnosis
- Reproducible visual loss present on automated perimetry (in eye with greatest loss)
- Average PMD -2 dB up to -5 dB in the worst eye
- Presence of bilateral papilledema
- Able to provide informed consent
- Women of child-bearing potential must use an acceptable form of birth control during the intervention phase of the study. Acceptable forms include oral contraceptives, transdermal contraceptives,
Who cannot join
- Total treatment of IIH of more than two weeks (except for acetazolamide which is limited to 1 week). For every day on treatment there must be a one-day washout period.
- Previous surgery for IIH including optic nerve sheath fenestration, CSF shunting procedures, subtemporal decompression and venous stenting
- Previous gastric bypass surgery
- Abnormalities on neurologic examination aside from papilledema and its related visual loss or VI nerve paresis
- Abnormal CT or MRI scan (intracranial mass, hydrocephalus, dural sinus thrombus or arteriovenous malformation) other than empty sella, unfolded optic nerve sheaths, flattened sclera, or smooth- walled venous stenosis
- CSF pressure less than 200 mm water (patients may have repeat CSF pressure measurements if the first is normal or no opening pressure obtained)
Show all 9Show fewer
- Abnormal CSF contents: increased cells: > 5 cells, elevated protein:
- > 45 mg%, low glucose: < 30 mg% (If the lumbar puncture produces a cell count compatible with a traumatic needle insertion, the patient does not need to be excluded if the CSF WBC after correction is 5 wbc/mm3 or less- see Operations Manual for calculation) 8. Intraocular pressure currently > 28 mm Hg or > 30 mm Hg at any time in the past 9. Refractive error > +/- 6.00 sphere or > +/- 3.00 cylinder in either eye with the following exceptions: Subjects with myopia of >-6.00 D sphere but less than or equal to - 8.00 D sphere are eligible if 1)there are no abnormalities on ophthalmoscopy or fundus photos related to myopia that are associated with visual loss (such as staphyloma, retinal thinning in the posterior pole or more than mild optic disc tilt), and 2) the subject wears a contact lens for all perimetry examinations with the appropriate correction. If either the Site Investigator or the PRC director (or his designate) decides there are optic fundus abnormalities of myopia that are associated with visual loss, then 9. Subjects with hyperopia of > +6.00 D but less than or equal to
- 8.00 D sphere are eligible if 1) there is an unambiguous characteristic halo of peripapillary edema as opposed to features of a small crowded disc or other hyperopic change related to visual loss determined by the site investigator or the PRC director (or his designate) and 2) the subject wears a contact le 10. Other disorders causing visual loss except for refractive error and amblyopia including cells in the vitreous or iritis 11. Optic disc drusen on exam or in previous history 12. Presence of diagnosed untreated obstructive sleep apnea 13. Inability to provide reliable and reproducible visual field examination (failure to maintain fixation using an eye monitoring device, more than 15% false positive errors) 14. Abnormal blood work-up indicating a medical or systemic condition associated with raised ICP 15. Study blood results showing severe anemia, leukopenia or thrombocytopenia, renal failure, or hepatic disease, based on the Site Investigator's judgment 16. Type I diabetes or the presence of diabetic retinopathy 17. Exposure to a drug, substance or disorder that has been associated with elevation of intracranial pressure within 2 months of diagnosis such as lithium, vitamin A, various cyclines (see table in Operations Manual for conditions and drugs) 18. Other condition requiring diuretics, oral, I.V. or injectable steroids or other pressure lowering agents including topiramate (nasal, inhaled, or topical steroids are allowed since the systemic effects are small) 19. Presence of a medical condition such as renal stones that would contraindicate use of the study drug (acetazolamide) 20. Pregnancy or unwillingness for subject of childbearing potential to use contraception during the first year of the study 21. Breastfeeding mothers are excluded from participation unless willing to discontinue breastfeeding by the baseline visit 22. Presence of a physical, mental, or social condition likely to affect follow-up (drug addiction, terminal illness, no telephone, homeless) 23. Anticipation of a move from the site area within six months and unwillingness to return for follow-up at an IIHTT study site 24. Allergy to pupil dilating drops or narrow angles precluding safe dilation
Trial locations and contacts
41 sites in 2 countries.
41 sites in 2 countries
United States39 sites
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Department Of Ophthamology
Baltimore, Maryland, 21204
Johns Hopkins Universtiy - Wilmer Ophthamological Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Earl K. Long Medical Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70810
Bethesda Neurology, LLC
Bethesda, Maryland, 20814
University of Alabama Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35294
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary - Neuro-Ophthamology Service
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
University of Virginia - Department of Ophthalmology
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, 43212
Duke Eye Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710
Michigan State University Department of Neurology
East Lansing, Michigan, 48823
The Methodist Hospital: Methodist Eye Associates
Houston, Texas, 77030
Universtiy of Houston - University Eye Institute
Houston, Texas, 77204
Department of Ophthamology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, 55242
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, 40536
Doheny Eye Center, University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, 90033
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami
Miami, Florida, 33136
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
New York, New York, 10003
Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York, 10021
The Mount Sinai Medical Center
New York, New York, 10029
New Jersey Medical School/University Physicians Associates of New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey, 07103
Dean A. McGee Eye Institute
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104
University of Illinois
Peoria, Illinois, 61637
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Ophthamology
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Oregon Health & Science University - Casey Eye Institute
Portland, Oregon, 97239
Raleigh Neurology Associates, PA
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607
University of Rochester - Flaum Eye Institute
Rochester, New York, 14642
William Beaumont Hosptial Research Institute
Royal Oak, Michigan, 48073
University of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132
University of Texas Science Center
San Antonio, Texas, 78229
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, Washington, 98014
Saint Louis University Eye Institute
St Louis, Missouri, 63104
University of St. Louis
St Louis, Missouri, 63110
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York, 11794
SUNY Upstate Medical University, Neurology Medical Service Group
Syracuse, New York, 13202
Neuro-Ophthamology & Balance Disorders Clinic
Tallahassee, Florida, 32308
The Eye Care Group, PC
Waterbury, Connecticut, 06708
Wake Forrest University Eye Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157
Canada2 sites
University of Calgary: Rockyview General Hospital
Calgary, Alberta, T2V 1P9
Queen's University - Hotel Dieu Hospital
Kingston, Ontario, K7L 5G2
About this study
Official title: A Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study of Weight-Reduction and/or Low Sodium Diet Plus Acetazolamide vs Diet Plus Placebo in Subjects With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension With Mild Visual Loss
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also called pseudotumor cerebri, is a disorder of elevated intracranial pressure of unknown cause [Corbett, et al., 1982; Wall, et al., 1991]. Its incidence is 22.5 new cases each year per 100,000 overweight women of childbearing age, and is rising [Garrett, et al., 2004] in parallel with the obesity epidemic. It affects about 100,000 Americans. Most patients suffer debilitating headaches. Because of pressure on the optic nerve (papilledema), 86% have some degree of permanent visual loss and 10% develop severe visual loss [Wall, et al., 1991]. Interventions to prevent loss of sight, all with unproven efficacy, include diet, diuretics such as acetazolamide, repeated spinal taps, optic nerve sheath fenestration surgery, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting procedures. The purported goal of these therapies is to lower intracranial pressure; however, it is unclear which treatments work and by what mechanism. None of these strategies has been verified by properly designed clinical trials. Thus, there is confusion, uncertainty, and weak scientific rationales to guide treatment decisions. This trial will study subjects who have mild visual loss from IIH to (1) establish convincing, evidence-based treatment strategies for IIH to restore and protect vision, (2) follow subjects up to 4 years to observe the long-term treatment outcomes and (3) determine the cause of IIH. To meet those aims, the trial will be divided into a 12-month intervention phase and a 3-year observational phase. Subjects are not required to complete the observational phase of the study, but will be asked to do so and consented for the observational phase of the study at the conclusion of the intervention phase (12 months).
Read the detailed description
Clinical Phase: Phase II Investigators: NORDIC Network sites Study Centers: 38 study centers Coordinating Center - University of Rochester Statistical Center - University of Rochester Study Period Planned enrollment duration: 2 years Planned duration of treatment: 6 months followed by open-label treatment Planned duration of follow-up: 4.5 years Study Objectives: The primary objective is determining the efficacy of diet plus acetazolamide vs diet alone in reducing or reversing visual loss in subjects with mild visual loss.
The secondary objective is to identify proteomic and genetic risk factors for IIH by screening a large cohort of IIH patients and controls.
Study Population This project will enroll 166 individuals with IIH who are 18-60 years of age. We anticipate that the population will be primarily composed of women in the childbearing years that are overweight. 154 control subjects will also be enrolled. Control subjects will be matched as closely as possibly by age, sex, race, ethnicity and weight to subjects enrolled at the site.
Study Design: Multi-center, double-blind randomized intervention study followed by a 4-year observation period. Subjects will be randomized to diet and acetazolamide or diet and placebo. The study will use 250 mg acetazolamide or matching placebo tablets taken with food at meals and at bedtime. The subject will begin with one tablet four times daily, at meals and at bedtime for the first week. Beginning on Day 7, subjects will increase the dosage by 1 tablet every 4 days until a final dosage of 4 tablets four times daily (4 grams) is reached or side effects prohibit increasing the dosage further. If the study drug is not tolerated at a dose of 250 mg, then 125 mg (1/2 tablet) will be tried. If this is not tolerated, no pharmacologic treatment will be given.
After the 6 month visit, all subjects will transition from study medication to acetazolamide (open label) by replacing one tablet of study drug with 250 mg of acetazolamide every four days. The acetazolamide dose will be titrated in a manner similar to the initial study drug schedule to the maximum tolerated dose of acetazolamide. To avoid treating subjects (who may have initially been assigned to placebo) unnecessarily, any subject with grade 0-1 papilledema will be tapered off study drug but not placed on acetazolamide unless they have persisting headaches or pulse-synchronous tinnitus. If so, they will be placed on acetazolamide regardless of the low papilledema grade. At the 9-month follow-up visit, we will make sure that the subjects' vision is stable after the transition off of study medication. After the 9 month visit, medication will be prescribed by the subject's treating physician. The intervention phase of the study will end at the subject's 12 month visit and subjects will be invited to participate in the observational phase of the study and consented to do so if willing.
Number of Subjects: 166 subjects with IIH and 154 control subjects Main Inclusion Criteria
- Diagnosis of IIH by modified Dandy criteria
- Diagnosis of IIH for 6 weeks or less
- Age 18 to 60 years at time of diagnosis
- Reproducible visual loss present on automated perimetry (in eye with greatest loss)*
- perimetric mean deviation (PMD) -2 decibel (dB) up to -5 dB in the worst eye
- Presence of bilateral papilledema
- Able to provide informed consent or parental permission with appropriate assent
Main Exclusion Criteria
- Total treatment of IIH of more than one week in the past six weeks
- Corticosteroids or surgery used for IIH treatment within the past two months
- Abnormalities on neurologic examination aside from papilledema and its related visual loss or VI nerve paresis (unless pre-existing and unrelated to IIH)
- Abnormal CT or MRI scan (intracranial mass, hydrocephalus, dural sinus thrombus or arteriovenous malformation) other than empty sella, dilated optic nerve sheath, flattened sclera, or secondary Chiari
- CSF pressure less than 200 mm water (patients may have repeat CSF pressure measurements if the first is normal or no opening pressure obtained)
- Abnormal CSF contents (increased cells, elevated protein, low glucose)
- Intraocular pressure currently > 28 mm Hg or > 30 mm Hg at any time in the past
- Refractive error > +/- 6.00 sphere or > +/- 3.00 cylinder in either eye
- Other disorders causing visual loss except for refractive error and amblyopia including cells in the vitreous or iritis
- Inability to provide reliable and reproducible visual field examination (failure to maintain fixation using an eye monitoring device, more than 15% false positive errors
- Abnormal blood work-up indicating a medical or systemic condition associated with raised intracranial pressure (ICP)
- Exposure to a drug, substance or disorder that has been associated with elevation of intracranial pressure within 2 months of diagnosis such as lithium, vitamin A, tetracycline, steroid withdrawal (see table in Manual of Procedures (MOP) for conditions and drugs)
- Other condition requiring diuretics, steroids or other pressure lowering agents including topiramate
- Presence of a medical condition such as renal stones that would contraindicate use of the study drugs (acetazolamide)
- Pregnancy or unwillingness for subject with childbearing potential to use contraception during the first year of the study
- Presence of a physical, mental, or social condition likely to affect follow-up (drug addiction, terminal illness, no telephone, homeless)
- Anticipation of a move from the site area within six months and unwillingness to return for follow-up.
Route and Dosage Form: 250 mg acetazolamide tablets or matching placebo taken with food 4 times daily. Subjects will titrate to a maximum dose of 4 tablets 4 times daily (4 grams) as tolerated. If a subject is not able to tolerate a dose of 250 mg, 125 mg (1/2 tablet) may be tried. If this is not tolerated, no pharmacologic treatment will be given.
Duration of Treatment: 6 months of randomized treatment followed by open label acetazolamide treatment. After the 9-month visit medication will be prescribed by the subject's treating physician. The intervention phase of the study will end at Month 12 and the subject invited to continue in the observational phase.
Primary Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome measure is the change from baseline to Month 6 in PMD (perimetric mean deviation) in the eye with the most severe initial visual loss.
Secondary Outcome Measure: CSF pressure measurement by lumbar puncture Number of abnormal perimetry test locations Visual field examination ratings (improved, remained the same, or worsened) Papilledema grade QOL assessments Dietary Outcomes (BMI, Waist circumference, urinary sodium) Safety Outcomes: Adverse events will be tabulated by treatment group, severity, and perceived relationship to the study intervention Sample Size Considerations
- Conditions
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
- Being tested
- Acetazolamide, Placebo, Formal weight loss counselling program
- Keywords
- papilledema, vision loss, headache, obesity, women, diplopia, tinnitus
- Medical subject headings
- Pseudotumor Cerebri, Papilledema, Vision Disorders, Headache, Obesity, Diplopia, Tinnitus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AcetazolamideDrug
Also called naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen
Subjects will begin with four 250 mg tablets daily. Tablets will be divided among two doses, taken with meals. Beginning on day 7, subjects will increase the dose by 1 pill every week until 16 tablets daily is reached (4 grams acetazolamide or placebo) or side effects prohibit increasing the dosage further. Thus, subjects who are able to tolerate the study medication will reach the maximum dose by day 84.
PlaceboDrug
Also called naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen
Subjects will begin with four tablets daily. Tablets will be divided among two doses, taken with meals. Beginning on day 7, subjects will increase the dose by 1 pill every week until 16 tablets daily is reached (4 grams acetazolamide or placebo) or side effects prohibit increasing the dosage further. Thus, subjects who are able to tolerate the study medication will reach the maximum dose by day 84.
Formal weight loss counselling programBehavioural
Also called naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen
Teleconference, web-based from central location, using site visits and subject self-assessment tools
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Acetazolamide | Active comparator | Acetazolamide given in escalating doses Receives: Drug: Acetazolamide; Behavioral: Formal weight loss counselling program |
| Sugar pill | Placebo comparator | Given in escalating "dose" (number of pill) Receives: Drug: Placebo; Behavioral: Formal weight loss counselling program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean Change in Perimetric Mean Deviation
Treatment Effects on the Primary Outcome Variable, Mean change From Baseline to Month 6 in Perimetric Mean Deviation (PMD) in the Study Eye. Perimetric mean deviation is a measure of global visual field loss (mean deviation from age-corrected normal values), with a range of 2 to -32 dB; larger negative values indicate greater vision loss.
Measured: base line and 6 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Mean Change of Papilledema Grade on Fundus Photography
Mean change at month 6 as compared to baseline. Frisén papilledema grade is an ordinal scale that uses ocular fundus features to rate the severity of papilledema; grade 0 indicates no features of papilledema and grade 5 indicates severe papilledema.
Measured: Baseline and 6 Months
Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)
Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) total score, VFQ-25 10-item neuro-ophthalmic supplement total score: 0-100 (higher scores indicate better quality of life)
Measured: baseline
Visual Acuity (No. of Correct Letters)
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Oct 2009 (estimated)
- Study startJan 2010
- Primary completionJun 2013
- Study completionJan 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (13)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Idiopathic Intracranial HypertensionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 165 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Eye Institute (NEI), University of Rochester, University of Iowa, University of California, Davis
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Michael Wall, MD, Study director, University of Iowa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01003639
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NORDIC01
- Other IDs
- 1U10EY017281-01A1, 1U10EY017387-01A1
- Acronym
- IIHTT
- Status last verified
- Nov 2018
- First submitted
- 28 Oct 2009
- Last updated
- 12 Dec 2018
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group Writing Committee; Wall M, McDermott MP, Kieburtz KD, Corbett JJ, Feldon SE, Friedman DI, Katz DM, Keltner JL, Schron EB, Kupersmith MJ. Effect of acetazolamide on visual function in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and mild visual loss: the idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial. JAMA. 2014 Apr 23-30;311(16):1641-51. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3312.
PubMed 24756514Wang JK, Kardon RH, Ledolter J, Sibony PA, Kupersmith MJ, Garvin MK; OCT Sub-Study Committee and the NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Peripapillary Retinal Pigment Epithelium Layer Shape Changes From Acetazolamide Treatment in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 May 1;58(5):2554-2565. doi: 10.1167/iovs.16-21089.
PubMed 28492874Wall M, Thurtell MJ; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Optic disc haemorrhages at baseline as a risk factor for poor outcome in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Br J Ophthalmol. 2017 Sep;101(9):1256-1260. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-309852. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
PubMed 28130349Bruce BB, Digre KB, McDermott MP, Schron EB, Wall M; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Quality of life at 6 months in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Neurology. 2016 Nov 1;87(18):1871-1877. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000003280. Epub 2016 Sep 30.
PubMed 27694262Wall M, Johnson CA, Cello KE, Zamba KD, McDermott MP, Keltner JL; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Visual Field Outcomes for the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 Mar;57(3):805-12. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-18626.
PubMed 26934136Sibony PA, Kupersmith MJ; OCT Substudy Group of the NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. "Paton's Folds" Revisited: Peripapillary Wrinkles, Folds, and Creases in Papilledema. Ophthalmology. 2016 Jun;123(6):1397-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.12.017. Epub 2016 Jan 14. No abstract available.
PubMed 26778344Cello KE, Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Wall M; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Factors Affecting Visual Field Outcomes in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. J Neuroophthalmol. 2016 Mar;36(1):6-12. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000327.
PubMed 26618282Sibony PA, Kupersmith MJ, Feldon SE, Wang JK, Garvin M; OCT Substudy Group for the NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Retinal and Choroidal Folds in Papilledema. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 Sep;56(10):5670-80. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-17459.
PubMed 26335066Fischer WS, Wall M, McDermott MP, Kupersmith MJ, Feldon SE; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Photographic Reading Center of the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT): Methods and Baseline Results. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 May;56(5):3292-303. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-16465.
PubMed 26024112OCT Sub-Study Committee for NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group; Auinger P, Durbin M, Feldon S, Garvin M, Kardon R, Keltner J, Kupersmith MJ, Sibony P, Plumb K, Wang JK, Werner JS. Baseline OCT measurements in the idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial, part II: correlations and relationship to clinical features. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Nov 4;55(12):8173-9. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14961.
PubMed 25370513OCT Sub-Study Committee for NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group; Auinger P, Durbin M, Feldon S, Garvin M, Kardon R, Keltner J, Kupersmith M, Sibony P, Plumb K, Wang JK, Werner JS. Baseline OCT measurements in the idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial, part I: quality control, comparisons, and variability. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Nov 4;55(12):8180-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14960.
PubMed 25370510Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Cello KE, Wall M; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Baseline visual field findings in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Apr 29;55(5):3200-7. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14243.
PubMed 24781936Wall M, Kupersmith MJ, Kieburtz KD, Corbett JJ, Feldon SE, Friedman DI, Katz DM, Keltner JL, Schron EB, McDermott MP; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. The idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial: clinical profile at baseline. JAMA Neurol. 2014 Jun;71(6):693-701. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.133.
PubMed 24756302
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Dec 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study of Weight-Reduction and/or Low Sodium Diet Plus Acetazolamide vs Diet Plus Placebo in Subjects With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension With Mild Visual Loss
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01003639
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IIHTT / NORDIC01
- Conditions
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
- Keywords
- papilledema, vision loss, headache, obesity, women, diplopia, tinnitus
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 165 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Eye Institute (NEI), University of Rochester, University of Iowa, University of California, Davis
- Study start
- Jan 2010
- Primary completion
- Jun 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jan 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Oct 2009 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 12 Dec 2018
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also called pseudotumor cerebri, is a disorder of elevated intracranial pressure of unknown cause [Corbett, et al., 1982; Wall, et al., 1991]. Its incidence is 22.5 new cases each year per 100,000 overweight women of childbearing age, and is rising [Garrett, et al., 2004] in parallel with the obesity epidemic. It affects about 100,000 Americans. Most patients suffer debilitating headaches. Because of pressure on the optic nerve (papilledema), 86% have some degree of permanent visual loss and 10% develop severe visual loss [Wall, et al., 1991]. Interventions to prevent loss of sight, all with unproven efficacy, include diet, diuretics such as acetazolamide, repeated spinal taps, optic nerve sheath fenestration surgery, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting procedures. The purported goal of these therapies is to lower intracranial pressure; however, it is unclear which treatments work and by what mechanism. None of these strategies has been verified by properly designed clinical trials. Thus, there is confusion, uncertainty, and weak scientific rationales to guide treatment decisions. This trial will study subjects who have mild visual loss from IIH to (1) establish convincing, evidence-based treatment strategies for IIH to restore and protect vision, (2) follow subjects up to 4 years to observe the long-term treatment outcomes and (3) determine the cause of IIH. To meet those aims, the trial will be divided into a 12-month intervention phase and a 3-year observational phase. Subjects are not required to complete the observational phase of the study, but will be asked to do so and consented for the observational phase of the study at the conclusion of the intervention phase (12 months).
Detailed description
Clinical Phase: Phase II Investigators: NORDIC Network sites Study Centers: 38 study centers Coordinating Center - University of Rochester Statistical Center - University of Rochester Study Period Planned enrollment duration: 2 years Planned duration of treatment: 6 months followed by open-label treatment Planned duration of follow-up: 4.5 years Study Objectives: The primary objective is determining the efficacy of diet plus acetazolamide vs diet alone in reducing or reversing visual loss in subjects with mild visual loss.
The secondary objective is to identify proteomic and genetic risk factors for IIH by screening a large cohort of IIH patients and controls.
Study Population This project will enroll 166 individuals with IIH who are 18-60 years of age. We anticipate that the population will be primarily composed of women in the childbearing years that are overweight. 154 control subjects will also be enrolled. Control subjects will be matched as closely as possibly by age, sex, race, ethnicity and weight to subjects enrolled at the site.
Study Design: Multi-center, double-blind randomized intervention study followed by a 4-year observation period. Subjects will be randomized to diet and acetazolamide or diet and placebo. The study will use 250 mg acetazolamide or matching placebo tablets taken with food at meals and at bedtime. The subject will begin with one tablet four times daily, at meals and at bedtime for the first week. Beginning on Day 7, subjects will increase the dosage by 1 tablet every 4 days until a final dosage of 4 tablets four times daily (4 grams) is reached or side effects prohibit increasing the dosage further. If the study drug is not tolerated at a dose of 250 mg, then 125 mg (1/2 tablet) will be tried. If this is not tolerated, no pharmacologic treatment will be given.
After the 6 month visit, all subjects will transition from study medication to acetazolamide (open label) by replacing one tablet of study drug with 250 mg of acetazolamide every four days. The acetazolamide dose will be titrated in a manner similar to the initial study drug schedule to the maximum tolerated dose of acetazolamide. To avoid treating subjects (who may have initially been assigned to placebo) unnecessarily, any subject with grade 0-1 papilledema will be tapered off study drug but not placed on acetazolamide unless they have persisting headaches or pulse-synchronous tinnitus. If so, they will be placed on acetazolamide regardless of the low papilledema grade. At the 9-month follow-up visit, we will make sure that the subjects' vision is stable after the transition off of study medication. After the 9 month visit, medication will be prescribed by the subject's treating physician. The intervention phase of the study will end at the subject's 12 month visit and subjects will be invited to participate in the observational phase of the study and consented to do so if willing.
Number of Subjects: 166 subjects with IIH and 154 control subjects Main Inclusion Criteria
- Diagnosis of IIH by modified Dandy criteria
- Diagnosis of IIH for 6 weeks or less
- Age 18 to 60 years at time of diagnosis
- Reproducible visual loss present on automated perimetry (in eye with greatest loss)*
- perimetric mean deviation (PMD) -2 decibel (dB) up to -5 dB in the worst eye
- Presence of bilateral papilledema
- Able to provide informed consent or parental permission with appropriate assent
Main Exclusion Criteria
- Total treatment of IIH of more than one week in the past six weeks
- Corticosteroids or surgery used for IIH treatment within the past two months
- Abnormalities on neurologic examination aside from papilledema and its related visual loss or VI nerve paresis (unless pre-existing and unrelated to IIH)
- Abnormal CT or MRI scan (intracranial mass, hydrocephalus, dural sinus thrombus or arteriovenous malformation) other than empty sella, dilated optic nerve sheath, flattened sclera, or secondary Chiari
- CSF pressure less than 200 mm water (patients may have repeat CSF pressure measurements if the first is normal or no opening pressure obtained)
- Abnormal CSF contents (increased cells, elevated protein, low glucose)
- Intraocular pressure currently > 28 mm Hg or > 30 mm Hg at any time in the past
- Refractive error > +/- 6.00 sphere or > +/- 3.00 cylinder in either eye
- Other disorders causing visual loss except for refractive error and amblyopia including cells in the vitreous or iritis
- Inability to provide reliable and reproducible visual field examination (failure to maintain fixation using an eye monitoring device, more than 15% false positive errors
- Abnormal blood work-up indicating a medical or systemic condition associated with raised intracranial pressure (ICP)
- Exposure to a drug, substance or disorder that has been associated with elevation of intracranial pressure within 2 months of diagnosis such as lithium, vitamin A, tetracycline, steroid withdrawal (see table in Manual of Procedures (MOP) for conditions and drugs)
- Other condition requiring diuretics, steroids or other pressure lowering agents including topiramate
- Presence of a medical condition such as renal stones that would contraindicate use of the study drugs (acetazolamide)
- Pregnancy or unwillingness for subject with childbearing potential to use contraception during the first year of the study
- Presence of a physical, mental, or social condition likely to affect follow-up (drug addiction, terminal illness, no telephone, homeless)
- Anticipation of a move from the site area within six months and unwillingness to return for follow-up.
Route and Dosage Form: 250 mg acetazolamide tablets or matching placebo taken with food 4 times daily. Subjects will titrate to a maximum dose of 4 tablets 4 times daily (4 grams) as tolerated. If a subject is not able to tolerate a dose of 250 mg, 125 mg (1/2 tablet) may be tried. If this is not tolerated, no pharmacologic treatment will be given.
Duration of Treatment: 6 months of randomized treatment followed by open label acetazolamide treatment. After the 9-month visit medication will be prescribed by the subject's treating physician. The intervention phase of the study will end at Month 12 and the subject invited to continue in the observational phase.
Primary Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome measure is the change from baseline to Month 6 in PMD (perimetric mean deviation) in the eye with the most severe initial visual loss.
Secondary Outcome Measure: CSF pressure measurement by lumbar puncture Number of abnormal perimetry test locations Visual field examination ratings (improved, remained the same, or worsened) Papilledema grade QOL assessments Dietary Outcomes (BMI, Waist circumference, urinary sodium) Safety Outcomes: Adverse events will be tabulated by treatment group, severity, and perceived relationship to the study intervention Sample Size Considerations
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Acetazolamide | Active comparator | Drug: Acetazolamide, Behavioral: Formal weight loss counselling programAcetazolamide given in escalating doses |
| Sugar pill | Placebo comparator | Drug: Placebo, Behavioral: Formal weight loss counselling programGiven in escalating "dose" (number of pill) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Diagnosis of IIH by modified Dandy criteria Signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure Absence of localizing findings on neurologic examination Absence of deformity, displacement, or obstruction of the ventricular system and otherwise normal neurodiagnostic studies, except for evidence of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure (>200 mm water). Abnormal neuroimaging except for empty sella turcica, optic nerve sheath enlargement, and smooth-walled non flow-related venous sinus stenosis or collapse106 should lead to another diagnosis Awake and alert No other cause of increased intracranial pressure present
- Diagnosis of IIH for 6 weeks or less
- Age 18 to 60 years at time of diagnosis
- Reproducible visual loss present on automated perimetry (in eye with greatest loss)
- Average PMD -2 dB up to -5 dB in the worst eye
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Total treatment of IIH of more than two weeks (except for acetazolamide which is limited to 1 week). For every day on treatment there must be a one-day washout period.
- Previous surgery for IIH including optic nerve sheath fenestration, CSF shunting procedures, subtemporal decompression and venous stenting
- Previous gastric bypass surgery
- Abnormalities on neurologic examination aside from papilledema and its related visual loss or VI nerve paresis
- Abnormal CT or MRI scan (intracranial mass, hydrocephalus, dural sinus thrombus or arteriovenous malformation) other than empty sella, unfolded optic nerve sheaths, flattened sclera, or smooth- walled venous stenosis
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AcetazolamideAlso: naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofenSubjects will begin with four 250 mg tablets daily. Tablets will be divided among two doses, taken with meals. Beginning on day 7, subjects will increase the dose by 1 pill every week until 16 tablets daily is reached (4 grams acetazolamide or placebo) or side effects prohibit increasing the dosage further. Thus, subjects who are able to tolerate the study medication will reach the maximum dose by day 84. | Drug | Acetazolamide |
| PlaceboAlso: naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofenSubjects will begin with four tablets daily. Tablets will be divided among two doses, taken with meals. Beginning on day 7, subjects will increase the dose by 1 pill every week until 16 tablets daily is reached (4 grams acetazolamide or placebo) or side effects prohibit increasing the dosage further. Thus, subjects who are able to tolerate the study medication will reach the maximum dose by day 84. | Drug | Sugar pill |
| Formal weight loss counselling programAlso: naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofenTeleconference, web-based from central location, using site visits and subject self-assessment tools | Behavioural | Acetazolamide, Sugar pill |
Primary outcome
Mean Change in Perimetric Mean Deviation
Time frame: base line and 6 months
Treatment Effects on the Primary Outcome Variable, Mean change From Baseline to Month 6 in Perimetric Mean Deviation (PMD) in the Study Eye. Perimetric mean deviation is a measure of global visual field loss (mean deviation from age-corrected normal values), with a range of 2 to -32 dB; larger negative values indicate greater vision loss.
3 secondary outcomes
Mean Change of Papilledema Grade on Fundus Photography
Time frame: Baseline and 6 Months
Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)
Time frame: baseline
Visual Acuity (No. of Correct Letters)
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Dec 2018.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Results publication: PubMed 24756514NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group Writing Committee; Wall M, McDermott MP, Kieburtz KD, Corbett JJ, Feldon SE, Friedman DI, Katz DM, Keltner JL, Schron EB, Kupersmith MJ. Effect of acetazolamide on visual function in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and mild visual loss: the idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial. JAMA. 2014 Apr 23-30;311(16):1641-51. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3312.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28492874Wang JK, Kardon RH, Ledolter J, Sibony PA, Kupersmith MJ, Garvin MK; OCT Sub-Study Committee and the NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Peripapillary Retinal Pigment Epithelium Layer Shape Changes From Acetazolamide Treatment in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 May 1;58(5):2554-2565. doi: 10.1167/iovs.16-21089.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28130349Wall M, Thurtell MJ; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Optic disc haemorrhages at baseline as a risk factor for poor outcome in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Br J Ophthalmol. 2017 Sep;101(9):1256-1260. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-309852. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 27694262Bruce BB, Digre KB, McDermott MP, Schron EB, Wall M; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Quality of life at 6 months in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Neurology. 2016 Nov 1;87(18):1871-1877. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000003280. Epub 2016 Sep 30.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26934136Wall M, Johnson CA, Cello KE, Zamba KD, McDermott MP, Keltner JL; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Visual Field Outcomes for the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 Mar;57(3):805-12. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-18626.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26778344Sibony PA, Kupersmith MJ; OCT Substudy Group of the NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. "Paton's Folds" Revisited: Peripapillary Wrinkles, Folds, and Creases in Papilledema. Ophthalmology. 2016 Jun;123(6):1397-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.12.017. Epub 2016 Jan 14. No abstract available.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26618282Cello KE, Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Wall M; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Factors Affecting Visual Field Outcomes in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. J Neuroophthalmol. 2016 Mar;36(1):6-12. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000327.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26335066Sibony PA, Kupersmith MJ, Feldon SE, Wang JK, Garvin M; OCT Substudy Group for the NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Retinal and Choroidal Folds in Papilledema. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 Sep;56(10):5670-80. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-17459.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26024112Fischer WS, Wall M, McDermott MP, Kupersmith MJ, Feldon SE; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Photographic Reading Center of the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT): Methods and Baseline Results. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 May;56(5):3292-303. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-16465.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25370513OCT Sub-Study Committee for NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group; Auinger P, Durbin M, Feldon S, Garvin M, Kardon R, Keltner J, Kupersmith MJ, Sibony P, Plumb K, Wang JK, Werner JS. Baseline OCT measurements in the idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial, part II: correlations and relationship to clinical features. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Nov 4;55(12):8173-9. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14961.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25370510OCT Sub-Study Committee for NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group; Auinger P, Durbin M, Feldon S, Garvin M, Kardon R, Keltner J, Kupersmith M, Sibony P, Plumb K, Wang JK, Werner JS. Baseline OCT measurements in the idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial, part I: quality control, comparisons, and variability. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Nov 4;55(12):8180-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14960.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 24781936Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Cello KE, Wall M; NORDIC Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Study Group. Baseline visual field findings in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Apr 29;55(5):3200-7. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14243.
- Organization Web-siteLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michael Wall, MD study director
University of Iowa
41 sites in 2 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing Acetazolamide and Formal weight loss counselling program in people with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, run by St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center at 41 sites in 2 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Dec 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 41 sites in United States, Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 12 Dec 2018). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mean Change in Perimetric Mean Deviation (time frame: base line and 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01003639, which also lists 13 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Dec 2018.