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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseasePhase 3DHEA-HTAPNCT00581087

Study of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Respiratory Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults

A Phase 3 study testing DHEA treatment in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Hypertension, Pulmonary, run by University Hospital, Bordeaux at 5 sites in France.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

DHEA prevents and reverses chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in a chronic hypoxic-pulmonary hypertension model in the rat. However, no study has been performed in human. The purpose of this study is to determine if DHEA is effective in the treatment of respiratory pulmonary hypertension in adults with Chronic… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
What is being tested?
DHEA treatment
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
5 sitesFrance
Study dates
Jan 2007to Jun 2015
Phase
Phase 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 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 75 years old (*)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with FEVs/VC < 70% (**)
  • Respiratory pulmonary hypertension with mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥ 25 mmHg (**) related to normal pulmonary capillary pressure assessed by catheterization of the right side of the heart (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤12mmHg)
  • PO2 ≤ 60 mmHg assessed by arterial gazometry at ease (**) or PO2 > 60 mmHg, but related with high hypoxemia after exercise (six-minute walk test )
  • Oxygenotherapy more than 6 months before pre-screening
  • Written informed consent
  • () Inclusion of young adults concerns COPD related to asthma or cystic fibrosis () Criteria assessed from last health check or the last exams for COPD diagnosis

Who cannot join

  • clinical instability and/or respiratory exacerbation within the previous three months
  • clinical instability and/or respiratory exacerbation dangerous for catheterization
  • Pregnancy (ßHCG > 20 UI /l) or breastfeeding on going
  • General corticotherapy > 0,5 mg/kg/day prédnisolone equivalent
  • Hepatic insufficiency (TP < 50%) or renal insufficiency (creatininemia > 130 µmol/l) or diabetes mellitus type I or II (treated by oral antidiabetic or insulin)
  • Left-heart failure (coronary heart disease and/or left valvulopathy)
  • High level of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) (> 2,5ng/ml)
  • Cancer antecedent or treatment on going

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 1 country.

5 sites in 1 country

France5 sites
  • University Hospital, Bordeaux

    Bordeaux

  • APHP hospital Antoine Béclère GHU sud

    Clamart, 92141

  • University Hospital, Limoges

    Limoges

  • University Hospital, Strasbourg

    Strasbourg

  • University Hospital, Toulouse

    Toulouse

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: Double-blind, Randomised, Placebo-controlled Phase III Study of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Respiratory Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults

DHEA prevents and reverses chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in a chronic hypoxic-pulmonary hypertension model in the rat. However, no study has been performed in human. The purpose of this study is to determine if DHEA is effective in the treatment of respiratory pulmonary hypertension in adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on exercise capacity and haemodynamic variables. Patients will receive after randomization either 200 mg oral DHEA or placebo over a one-year period. Evaluation concerns clinical parameters, echocardiography and right catheterization after and before treatment. Primary end-point is the six-minute walk test. This is a prospective double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study which will be realized in four university hospitals in France : Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Limoges.

Eight patients with pulmonary hypertension (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) associated with COPD were included in a pilot study between 2004 and 2005. Inclusion criteria were: COPD was defined by FEV1/FVC < 70% of reference values; resting mean pulmonary artery pressure (assessment by right pulmonary catheterization) ≥ 25mmHg with mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤ 15mmHg, PaO2 ≤ 60mmHg at rest or PaO2 ≥ 60mmHg associated with significant fall in O2 saturation with exercise; oxygen treatment initiated more than six months previously. Exclusion criteria were: clinical or respiratory instability during the three months before the inclusion in the study; corticosteroids therapy (> 0.5mg/kg/day of prednisolone or as equivalent); hepatic (prothrombin time < 50%) or renal (creatininemia > 130µmol/L) failure; diabetes; left ventricular dysfunction; PSA (prostatic antigens > 2,5ng/ml) and past history or diagnosis of cancer. The study was conducted in accordance with the Good Clinical Practices Guidelines. The study protocol was approved by the ethics review board of the University Hospital of Bordeaux (France). Written informed consent was obtained for all patients and investigations were conducted according to the institutional guidelines and to the Helsinki principles. This trial conducted enrollment between 2004 and 2005, but had not been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov because it preceded this policy.(Study design: The dose of oral DHEA administered was 200 mg once daily for three months. At baseline and after three months of treatment, clinical evaluation included 6MWT, Borg dyspnea index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, right heart catheterisation, lung function testing and serum DHEA levels were performed.)

Read the detailed description
  • Principal Objective : Efficacy of DHEA on exercise capacity (six-minute walk test)
  • Secondary Objective :
  • Efficacy of DHEA on pulmonary arterial pressures (mean, systolic and diastolic), on systemic arterial pressures, pulmonary vascular resistances
  • Safety of DHEA treatment
  • Observance of treatment by DHEA
  • Study design :

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III study. Patients will be randomized into two parallel groups to receive either 200 mg oral DHEA or placebo over a one-year treatment. This is a multicentric study in the departments of respiratory medicine of Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Limoges and Toulouse (France).

  • Inclusion criteria :
  • Age ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 75 years old (*)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with VEMS/CV < 70% ( **)
  • Respiratory pulmonary hypertension with mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥ 25 mmHg (**) related to normal pulmonary capillary pressure assessed by catheterization of the right side of the heart (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤12mmHg)
  • PO2 ≤ 60 mmHg assessed by arterial gazometry at ease (**) or PO2 > 60 mmHg, but related with high hypoxemia after exercise (six-minute walk test )
  • Oxygenotherapy more than 6 months before pre-screening
  • Written informed consent (*) Inclusion of young adults concerns COPD related to asthma or cystic fibrosis (**) Criteria assessed from last health check or the last exams for COPD diagnosis
  • Exclusion criteria :
  • Clinical instability and/or respiratory exacerbation within the previous three months
  • Clinical instability and/or respiratory exacerbation dangerous for catheterization
  • Pregnancy (ßHCG > 20 UI /l) or breastfeeding on going
  • General corticotherapy > 0,5 mg/kg/j prédnisolone equivalent
  • Hepatic insufficiency (TP < 50%) or renal insufficiency (creatininemia > 130 µmol/l) or diabetes mellitus type I or II (treated by oral antidiabetic oral or insulin)
  • Left-heart failure (coronary heart disease and/or left valvulopathy)
  • High level of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) (> 2,5ng/ml)
  • Previous cancer or treatment on going
  • Study plan:

After the screening evaluation and written consent document, patients will be randomized into two groups placebo or DHEA, over a one year treatment.

  • Number of subjects : 60 patients based on the increase of 30 % of the primary end-point, (six-minute walk test), i.e., 30 patients will be included in each group.
Being tested
DHEA treatment, Placebo
Keywords
Hypertension, pulmonary, DHEA, six-minute walk test, pulmonary arterial pressure
Medical subject headings
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Hypertension, Pulmonary

What participants receive

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

  • DHEA treatmentDrug

    DHEA : 200 mg/day hard gelatine capsule

  • PlaceboDrug

    Treatment : 200 mg/day hard gelatine capsule

Study groups in NCT00581087
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1ExperimentalDHEA
Receives: Drug: DHEA treatment
2Placebo comparatorPlacebo
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. six-minute walk test

    Measured: inclusion and one year of treatment

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures (mean, systolic and diastolic)

    Measured: Inclusion and one after year of treatment

  2. Pulmonary vascular resistances

    Measured: Inclusion and after one year of treatment

  3. Safety

    Measured: along one year of treatment

  4. Compliance

    Measured: Along one year of treatment

Timeline

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

  1. First posted27 Dec 2007 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 2007
  3. Primary completionJun 2015
  4. Study completionJun 2015

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 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00581087
Sponsor's protocol ID
Dromer
Other IDs
AFSSAPS 040479
Acronym
DHEA-HTAP
Status last verified
Jan 2015
First submitted
26 Dec 2007
Last updated
10 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Bonnet S, Dumas-de-La-Roque E, Begueret H, Marthan R, Fayon M, Dos Santos P, Savineau JP, Baulieu EE. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) prevents and reverses chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Aug 5;100(16):9488-93. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1633724100. Epub 2003 Jul 23.

    PubMed 12878719
  • Dumas de La Roque E, Savineau JP, Metivier AC, Billes MA, Kraemer JP, Doutreleau S, Jougon J, Marthan R, Moore N, Fayon M, Baulieu EE, Dromer C. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) improves pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a pilot study. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2012 Feb;73(1):20-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ando.2011.12.005. Epub 2012 Jan 26.

    PubMed 22280813

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing DHEA treatment in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Hypertension, Pulmonary, run by University Hospital, Bordeaux at 5 sites in France.

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 7 inclusion and 8 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 10 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in France. 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 phase mean?

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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

six-minute walk test (time frame: inclusion and one year of treatment). 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 NCT00581087, which also lists 2 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 10 Jun 2026.

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