Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Rosacea
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00945373 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : July 24, 2009
Last Update Posted : June 22, 2011
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea | Drug: calcium dobesilate Procedure: pulsed dye laser | Phase 1 |
Rosacea is a common cutaneous disorder characterized by facial erythema, papules and pustules and telangiectasias. The clinical manifestations of this disorder are distributed along the convexities of the face such as the cheeks, chin, nose and central aspects of the forehead.
The flushing and telangiectasias associated with erythematotelangietatic rosacea (ETR) are notoriously difficult to treat with standard medications. Patients with ETR have a lower threshold for irritation from topically applied drugs and these substances may even exacerbate their symptoms.
Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is widely considered as the treatment of choice for vascular malformations including telangiectasias, port wine stains and hemangiomas. Several studies have shown successful treatment of rosacea-associated telangiectasia and erythema with pulsed dye laser. Moreover, calcium dobesilate (2,5-dihydroxybenzene sulfonate) is a drug that inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell growth and inhibits cellular proliferation. As a synthetic inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), calcium dobesilate targets angiogenic growth factors which lead to uncontrolled blood vessel growth. In light of the fact that angiogenesis has been implicated in erythematotelangietatic rosacea, calcium dobesilate will be useful in the treatment of this subtype of rosacea.
Thus, combination treatment with PDL and calcium dobsilate will act in a synergistic manner to reduce the erythema, flushing and telangectasia associated with erythematotelangietatic rosacea.
If the subject meets the inclusion criteria and informed consent is obtained, the subject will receive 2.5% calcium dobesilate get to apply to half of the face (randomized). The subject will also receive pulsed dye laser treatments to the whole face at two week intervals for a maximum of 3 treatments. The primary endpoint of this study will be the severity of rosacea at the end of the 20 week study.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 6 participants |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea |
Study Start Date : | July 2009 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | October 2010 |

- Drug: calcium dobesilate
2.5% gel
- Procedure: pulsed dye laser
All study patients will be treated with 595 nm PDL (Vbeam, Candela Corp, Wayland, Mass) with an initial test spot using a fluence of 10 J/cm2, 7-mm spot size and 1.5-ms pulse duration. Based on the biologic response of the test area, the fluence will accordingly be adjusted up or down to find a fluence that produces a transient purpuric effect for a few seconds only.
- global rosacea scale [ Time Frame: one year ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent form.
- Must be male or female and aged ≥ 18 years at time of consent.
- Must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.
- Must have clinically typical confirmed diagnosis of erythematotelangestatic rosacea.
- Females of childbearing potential (FCBP)‡ must have one negative urine pregnancy tests at screening. In addition, sexually active FCBP must agree to use TWO of the following adequate forms of contraception while on study medication: oral, injectable, or implantable hormonal contraceptives; tubal ligation; intrauterine device; barrier contraceptive with spermicide; or vasectomized partner while on the study. A FCBP must agree to have pregnancy tests every 4 weeks while on study medication.
- Males (including those who have had a vasectomy) must agree to use barrier contraception (latex condoms) when engaging in sexual activity with FCBP while on study medication.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to provide voluntary informed consent.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding female.
- A skin examination reveals the presence of another skin disease and/or condition (excessive facial hair, excessive scarring, sunburn, or other disfigurement) located on the face that would confound the evaluation of the rosacea.
- Current or past ocular rosacea, such as conjunctivitis, iritis and keratitis of sufficient severity to require topical or systemic antibiotics.
- Subjects with recurrent gastritis, renal dysfunction or ulcer disease (peptic or duodenal).
- Treatment with topical antibiotics, topical steroids, topical retinoids and other topical rosacea treatments on the face within 14 days of baseline and throughout the study.
- Treatment with any systemic medication or therapy known to affect inflammatory responses within the 30 days prior to baseline and throughout the study.
- Treatment with systemic retinoids within 6 months prior to study entry (e.g., acitretin, isotretinoin).
- Use of laser or light based rosacea treatments within the past 2 months.
- History of hypersensitivity or allergies to any ingredient in the study drug.
- Current drug or alcohol abuse.
- Have participated in any clinical trial involving an investigational drug or cosmetic product or procedure within the past 30 days.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00945373
United States, New York | |
Mount Sinai School of Medicine | |
New York, New York, United States, 10029 |
Principal Investigator: | Ellen Marmur, MD | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai |
Responsible Party: | Ellen Marmur, Chief, Dermatologic & Cosmetic Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00945373 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
GCO # 09-0839 |
First Posted: | July 24, 2009 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 22, 2011 |
Last Verified: | June 2011 |
Keywords provided by Marmur, Ellen, M.D.:
rosacea telangiectasias topical treatment pulsed dye laser |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Rosacea Skin Diseases Calcium Dobesilate Hemostatics Coagulants |