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Anemia, Sickle CellPhase 2/3SMILESNCT04351698

SMILES: Study of Montelukast in Sickle Cell Disease

A Phase 2/3 study testing Montelukast in people with Anemia, Sickle Cell and Sleep-Disordered Breathing, run by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood condition causing long term health problems including pain and brain problems which affect quality of life. These may be made worse if patients have low night-time oxygen levels when the upper airways close repeatedly during the night (obstructive sleep apnoea). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 3 to 8 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Montelukast
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
200 participants
Where
1 siteUnited Kingdom
Study dates
16 Oct 2023to 30 Sep 2024
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 3 to 8 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Aged between 3 and <8 years
  • Informed consent with assent in accordance with institutional policies and European guidelines; ICF (informed consent form) must be signed by patients/guardian
  • HbSS 9homozygous SS disease) or HbSβ0 thalassaemia diagnosed by standard techniques (HPLC, IEF (Isoelectric focusing), MS (Mass spectrometry) or AlkE)
  • History of Sleep-Disordered Breathing, (i.e. parent-reported any degree of snoring (CHSQ questionnaire) and/or any abnormality on overnight oximetry compared with published data in children of the same age (e.g. nadir SO2 (oxygen saturation) <93%; mean SO2<96%))
  • Able to speak and understand English

Who cannot join

  • Other neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Patient already on Montelukast
  • Patient has had side effects on or an adverse reaction to Montelukast in the past

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Fenella Kirkham, MA MB Bchir contact

+44 207 9052191

fenella.kirkham@ucl.ac.uk

Satwinder Sahota, MSc contact

+442079052191

s.sahota@ucl.ac.uk

United Kingdom1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    London, WC1N 1EH

    Sati OSHNF Sahota, s.sahota@ucl.ac.uk

    Fenella Kirkham, MD, FRCP, FRCPCH

    Recruiting

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Study of Montelukast In ChiLdrEn With Sickle Cell Disease (SMILES)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood condition causing long term health problems including pain and brain problems which affect quality of life. These may be made worse if patients have low night-time oxygen levels when the upper airways close repeatedly during the night (obstructive sleep apnoea). This is associated with increased pain, poorer concentration and increased kidney problems. Montelukast, widely used in the treatment of Asthma, has been shown to improve symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients without sickle cell anaemia. Investigators think this treatment could be useful in patients with sickle cell disease too. Early intervention with Montelukast could help prevent deterioration in concentration and thinking skills.

The aim of this trial is to see whether young children with sickle cell disease randomised (randomise: the same as tossing a coin and not knowing whether it will come up heads or tails) to Montelukast treatment have better thinking skills compared with people randomised to placebo (tablet with no active medical ingredients - i.e. "sugar pill"). This means that the child could be on Montelukast treatment or he/she might be on placebo tablets.

Read the detailed description

This trial, funded by Action Medical Research, will involve 200 SCD patients recruited from haematology clinics and ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery waiting lists or their local sleep laboratory at Evelina Children's hospital (Guy's \& St Thomas), University College London hospital, North Middlesex hospital and Whittington Hospitals. Patients are eligible if they are between 3 and <8 years old w SCD, give informed consent, have any Sleep-Disordered Breathing, e.g. snoring, and/or any abnormality on overnight oximetry. After consenting, the PI/Coordinator will organise a simple app-based questionnaire and baseline testing of brain speed, with an optional brain scan, and randomisation to chewable Montelukast tablets or Placebo for 3 months after which the brain speed tests, questionnaires and MRI will be repeated.

Purpose and design:

This is designed as a phase 2/3 trial of Montelukast therapy to investigate whether this drug improves processing speed, which appears to underpin the difference in full scale IQ (intelligence quotient) United Kingdom.

between children with sickle cell disease and their siblings.

Recruitment:

Patients will be recruited from the paediatric and adult sickle clinics at the involved hospitals. These clinics are attended by over 2000 patients with sickle cell disease.

This is a paediatric trial in a group of children who mainly belong to an ethnic minority as it is this age group who are vulnerable to sleep-disordered breathing (90% of children with sickle cell disease in our previous study snored). The investigators have successfully run 4 previous randomised controlled trials and 2 longitudinal studies in this group of children. The proposal has been developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers/scientists, many of whom have lengthy clinical experience in this area. This team includes two patient representatives. Processing speed has been measured until recently using the Coding and Symbol search Wechsler subtests but investigators found that there was a practice effect in both arms of our pilot trial of continuous positive airways pressure, which was not seen for Cancellation, another test of processing speed and attention. The NIH toolbox processing speed is a new iPad test which has extensive normal data down to the age of 3 years, but a team member who has used it has found a practice effect. Investigators are therefore including 2 primary endpoints: Cancellation and the NIH toolbox processing speed It is possible that investigators will not recruit 200 patients across the 4 London sites so:

  1. Investigators have ensured that they will be adequately powered to detect an effect of Montelukast on adenoid: nasopharynx ratio on MRI if they recruit at least 3 willing to undergo MRI in each arm; this will allow exploration of the secondary brain MRI endpoints in addition to the primary endpoints.
  2. Investigators will extend to additional UK sites
  3. Investigators will apply for additional funds to extend the study outside the UK, e.g. by applying for $500,000 from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes (USA) to run the study in Cincinnati and New York.
Being tested
Montelukast, Oral Placebo
Medical subject headings
Anemia, Sickle Cell, Sleep Apnea Syndromes

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • MontelukastDrug

    Also called singulair

    Montelukast is used to treat and prevent asthma. It will decrease the symptoms and the number of acute asthma attacks. However this medicine should not be used to relieve an asthma attack that has already started.

  • Oral PlaceboOther

    Inert chewable tablet with no therapeutic value

Study groups in NCT04351698
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
InvestigationActive comparatorMontelukast
Receives: Drug: Montelukast
Match PlaceboPlacebo comparatorMatched Placebo
Receives: Other: Oral Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in processing speed scores from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    NIH toolbox processing speed

    Measured: 12 weeks

  2. Change in processing speed scores from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    Cancellation (Wechsler scales and paper-and-pencil)

    Measured: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Change in executive function (from NIH Toolbox® Cognition Battery) from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    Dimensional Change Card Sort Test: There are 40 trials, and scoring was based on a combination of accuracy and reaction time.

    Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test: There are 40 trials. For children aged 3-7.99 years scores of ≥ 90% using preliminary fish stimuli were followed that an additional 20 trials using arrows. Scoring was based on a combination of accuracy and reaction time.

    List Sorting Working Memory Test: The number of items in series increases from 2 to a maximum of 8. The test was discontinued when 2 trials at the same length were failed. Responses were entered by the examiner on a wireless keyboard. Children under 7 years did not complete this test. Scoring was based on the total number of items correctly recalled across all trials.

    Each measure will be analysed separately and as a combined composite. Higher scores indicate better executive function (mean = 100, standard deviation = 15, range = 50 - 150).

    Measured: 12 weeks

  2. Change in executive function (parent reported questionnaire) from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-2) is an 63-item questionnaire that assesses EF behaviours in the school and home environments. The Global Executive Composite, Behavioural Regulation, and Emotion Regulation indices will be used in analyses. Higher T-scores (> 65) indicate more clinical concern (range = 0 - 100).

    Measured: 12 weeks

  3. Change in sleep and respiratory symptoms from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    Children's Sleep Habit questionnaire (CSHQ): a 45-item parent-rated questionnaire that assesses the frequency of behaviors associated with common paediatric sleep difficulties (range = 0 - 135).

    Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire: a 22-item parent-rated questionnaire that asks about snoring frequency, loud snoring, observed apneas, difficulty breathing during sleep, daytime sleepiness, inattentive or hyperactive behaviour (range = 0 - 22).

    Total sleep time/total scores will be used in analyses. Higher scores are of greater clinical concern.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  4. Change in pain symptoms from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    Pain and hurt and pain management and control scales from the PedsQL - Sickle Cell Module: The PedsQL is a 43-item questionnaire with 9 dimensions that assesses health-related quality of life in individuals with SCD (pain and hurt range = 0 - 36, pain management and control range = 0 - 8).

    Total scores will be used in analyses. Lower scores are of greater concern.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  5. Number of Participants With Treatment-Related Adverse Events from Montelukast

    All AEs (adverse events), hospital attendances, days of illness, and days lost from pre-school/school to be recorded on CRFs (case report forms) by coordinator and encrypted and stored separately

    Measured: 12 weeks

  6. Change in Brain MRI from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm.

    Adenoidal size, volumetrics, white-matter integrity, structural and functional connectivity, perfusion) and nocturnal oximetry will be measured.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Apr 2020
  2. Study start16 Oct 2023
  3. Primary completion30 Sep 2024 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2024 (estimated)

Resources

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
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
200 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04351698
Sponsor's protocol ID
Protocol Number: 16NC06
Acronym
SMILES
Status last verified
Oct 2023
First submitted
2 Oct 2019
Last updated
1 Nov 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Hood AM, Stotesbury H, Kolbel M, DeHaan M, Downes M, Kawadler JM, Sahota S, Dimitriou D, Inusa B, Wilkey O, Pelidis M, Trompeter S, Leigh A, Younis J, Drasar E, Chakravorty S, Rees DC, Height S, Lawson S, Gavlak J, Gupta A, Ridout D, Clark CA, Kirkham FJ. Study of montelukast in children with sickle cell disease (SMILES): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Oct 10;22(1):690. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05626-6.

    PubMed 34629091

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing Montelukast in people with Anemia, Sickle Cell and Sleep-Disordered Breathing, run by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.

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 5 inclusion and 3 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Nov 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. 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?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Fenella Kirkham, MA MB Bchir (+44 207 9052191, fenella.kirkham@ucl.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in processing speed scores from baseline to 12 weeks for participants with sickle cell disease randomised to the control arm or the treatment arm. (time frame: 12 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT04351698, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 1 Nov 2023.

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