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The Efficacy of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy in Children With Crohn's Disease (LDN-Ped)

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: NCT00715117
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : July 15, 2008
Results First Posted : May 30, 2013
Last Update Posted : September 6, 2018
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Study Description
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Brief Summary:

It is hypothesized that oral naltrexone will improve inflammation of the bowel by increasing endogenous enkephalin levels in subjects with active Crohn's disease. This is especially important in children who often are suffering from nutritional deprivation which retards their growth.

The key objectives are to:

  1. Evaluate the effects of low dose naltrexone in children with Crohn's Disease by using the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), plasma inflammatory markers, weight, and pediatric quality of life survey.
  2. To determine the safety and toxicity of low dose naltrexone in pediatric subjects with active Crohn's Disease.
  3. Assess the potential mechanism by which naltrexone exerts its action by measuring plasma opioid (enkephalin and endorphin levels) and proinflammatory cytokines.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Crohn's Disease Drug: Naltrexone Other: Placebo, sugar pill Phase 2

Detailed Description:
The present proposal is designed as double-blinded placebo controlled study involving 30 children between 6-17 years of age with active Crohn's disease. Children will be treated with either naltrexone or placebo for the first 8 weeks then all subjects will receive active naltrexone drug the last 8 weeks. A one month follow-up appointment will be scheduled 4-weeks after completion of the active drug for safety and to assess Crohn's activity. Low dose naltrexone (LDN) will be dispensed in either capsules at a dose of 4.5 mg for those ages 10 years or older and in liquid form at 0.1 mg/kg for those under age of 10 or less than 45 kg. Half of the subjects in the first 8 weeks will be randomized to placebo which will be either capsules filled with avicel (see section 6.0) or diluent (flavored water) if in liquid form. Children are eligible who are not of child-bearing potential or are using two means of effective birth control, have a Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) of at least 31 points, and have the confirmed diagnosis of Crohn's disease by either endoscopic or radiographic tests.
Study Design
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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 14 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: The Efficacy of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy in Children With Crohn's Disease
Study Start Date : July 2008
Actual Primary Completion Date : May 2010
Actual Study Completion Date : August 2010

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus related topics: Crohn's Disease

Arms and Interventions
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Arm Intervention/treatment
Placebo Comparator: Sugar pill
Subjects will receive placebo for for the first 8 weeks administered orally one time daily. After 8 weeks placebo treated subjects are then crossed over to active drug naltrexone 0.1 mg/kg not to exceed 4.5 mg PO once daily for an additional 8 weeks.
 Other: Placebo, sugar pill
Placebo -Sugar pill or liquid identical to active drug in appearance and taste given by mouth at bedtime once daily
Other Name: sugar pill
Experimental: Naltrexone
Naltrexone 0.1 mg/kg (not to exceed 4.5mg) once a day orally either in capsules or liquid blinded for 8 weeks followed by open-labeled naltrexone for an additional 8 weeks. Safety and toxicity will be compared to placebo. Also change in Crohn's activity index scores of naltrexone to placebo are compared.
 Drug: Naltrexone
Naltrexone 0.1 mg/kg (not to exceed 4.5mg) once a day orally for 16 weeks
Other Name: Revia, Vivitrol


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Number of Patients Reporting Side Effects [ Time Frame: 8 weeks or 16 weeks ]
    Using adverse events and laboratory values Safety & toxicity were evaluated between those on placebo for 8 weeks and those on naltrexone for either 8 or 16 weeks.


Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index Score (PCDAI) [ Time Frame: Pretreatment and 8 weeks ]

    Secondary outcome was efficacy on clinical activity. Mean pretreatment PCDAI scores in patients had moderate to severe disease activity at baseline were compared between those who received placebo for 8 weeks and those who received active experimental drug, naltrexone.

    The PCDAI score is a number unit that is calculated from symptoms scores by the subject over a 7-day period prior to the visit, laboratory values, height & weight, and physical exam findings. A score of 10 and under denotes "remission". Mild disease (score of 11-30); moderate disease (score of 31-45), a severe disease (scores greater than 45. A decline of 10 points or more is considered "response to therapy". The score can range from 0 to >60 Patient must have a PCDAI score of equal or greater than 30 to qualify for this study (i.e., moderate to severe disease).


  2. Change in Quality of Life Scores From Baseline to After 8 Weeks of Naltrexone Therapy [ Time Frame: 16 weeks ]
    IMPACT III was a pediatric Crohn's specific quality of life survey used in this study. It examines five major categories influencing the quality of life in children with Crohn's disease including bowel symptoms, systemic symptoms, emotional well-being, social well-being, and body image perception. The IMPACT-III uses 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5 for all answers. The outcome score ranges from 35 to 175, with higher scores suggesting better quality of life. So an increase in score denotes improved Quality of life.


Eligibility Criteria
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Ages Eligible for Study:   6 Years to 17 Years   (Child)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All subjects must give written informed consent by parent or guardian
  • Male or female subjects, > 6 - 17 years
  • Patients must have endoscopic or radiographic confirmed Crohn's Disease.
  • Patients must have a Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) of at least 31.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Adolescent women of childbearing potential and / or sexually active unless surgically sterile or using adequate contraception (either IUD, oral or deport contraceptive, or barrier plus spermicide), and willing and able to continue contraception for 3 months after the completion of the study.
  • Adolescent women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Subjects with an ostomy or ileocolic anastomosis from surgery as these operations interfere with the PCDAI assessment
  • Subjects taking tacrolimus, cyclosporin, mycophenolate, or anti-TNF-α therapy must be discontinued 4 weeks prior to study initiation.
  • Patients with abnormal liver function tests
  • Prednisone greater than 10 mg or > 0.2 mg/kg orally
Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

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): NCT00715117


Locations
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United States, Pennsylvania
Penn State University hershey Medical center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, 17033
Sponsors and Collaborators
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Jill P Smith, MD Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
More Information
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Additional Information:

Publications of Results:

Other Publications:

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Responsible Party: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00715117    
Other Study ID Numbers: PSU-IRB-27793
First Posted: July 15, 2008    Key Record Dates
Results First Posted: May 30, 2013
Last Update Posted: September 6, 2018
Last Verified: May 2013
Keywords provided by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center:
children
pediatric
Crohn's Disease
naltrexone
 LDN
IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Crohn Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Gastroenteritis
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Digestive System Diseases
Intestinal Diseases
 Naltrexone
Alcohol Deterrents
Narcotic Antagonists
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents