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Hidradenitis SuppurativaPhase 2NCT00722800

A Study to Examine the Safety and Efficacy of Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol (YAZ) Versus Placebo In HS

A Phase 2 study testing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (YAZ) in people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to find out if taking a birth control pill, YAZ, is safe and effective for treating hidradenitis suppurativa. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic (long lasting) skin disorder that mostly affects the armpits and groin area. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 14 to 45 years, women only
Conditions the study is for
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
What is being tested?
drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (YAZ)
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
4 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Oct 2008to Dec 2011
Phase
Phase 2
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 14 to 45 years
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Female Subjects 14-45 years of age who have achieved spontaneous menarche.
  • Clinical diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa of stage II or greater on the Hurley scale.
  • Willing and able to understand and sign informed consent.
  • Able to complete study and comply with study procedures.

Who cannot join

  • Change is use of oral or topical antibiotics in past 90 days.
  • Use of intralesional steroids within 30 days.
  • Use of isotretinoin in past six months.
  • Use of biologics such as Infliximab (Remicade®) or Etanercept (Enbrel®) within the past 3 months or 5 half lives (whichever is shorter).
  • History of renal insufficiency
  • History of hepatic dysfunction
Show all 22Show fewer
  • History of adrenal Insufficiency
  • History of vascular or metabolic disease including existing or previous arterial thromboembolic diseases (myocardial infarction, stroke), existing or previous venous thromboembolic diseases (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), and any condition which could increase the risk to suffer any of the above mentioned disorders
  • History of hypertension
  • History of Diabetes mellitus with vascular involvement
  • Migraine headaches with focal neurological symptoms
  • Major surgery with prolonged immobilization
  • Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast
  • History of Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia
  • Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
  • Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior pill use
  • History of Liver tumor (benign or malignant) or active liver disease
  • Smokers
  • Regular intake of medications that may increase potassium levels such as NSAIDS, potassium sparing diuretics, potassium supplementation, ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, heparin and aldosterone antagonists.
  • Hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug
  • Clinically significant abnormal findings or conditions (other than acne), which might, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, interfere with study evaluations or pose a risk to subject safety during the study.
  • Subjects who are known to be pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Clinical Unit for Research Trials in Skin

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Single-Center, Randomized Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Study to Examine the Safety and Efficacy of YAZ Compared With Placebo In The Treatment Of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

The purpose of this study is to find out if taking a birth control pill, YAZ, is safe and effective for treating hidradenitis suppurativa. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic (long lasting) skin disorder that mostly affects the armpits and groin area. It appears as blackheads and one or more red, tender bumps that may enlarge, break open, and drain pus. Scarring may result after several attacks of the disease.

The exact cause of HS isn't known. However, it is believed that the plugging of hair follicles and bacterial infection that occur in acne also occur in HS. Many of the medications used for treating acne are also used for HS. However, none of the medications are consistently effective.

Read more

YAZ is a combination birth control pill. Nearly all birth control pills are made up of a combination of estrogen and progestin hormones. YAZ contains ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and drospirenone (a progestin). People who develop acne have sebaceous glands that are over-stimulated by male sex hormones (androgens). Sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance into a hair follicle to lubricate hair or skin. The progestin in YAZ actually blocks the male sex hormones (androgens) that cause acne. Hormones seem to play a role in HS as the condition occurs after puberty. It affects more women than men and HS often gets worse around the time a women has her menstrual period.

YAZ has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate acne in women who desire an oral contraceptive for birth control.

This study uses a placebo. A placebo looks like the study drug but contains no active drug. We use placebos in research studies to learn if the effects seen in research subjects are truly from the study drug or from other reasons.

Read the detailed description

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic suppurative and scarring disease primarily affecting the axillae and inguinal and perineal areas. The apocrine glands are the primary targets. It is characterized by firm, tender red nodules that soon become fluctuant and painful. Rupture of the lesion, suppuration, formation of sinus tracts and scarring may occur.

The exact etiology of HS remains obscure. Proposed etiologic factors include follicular occlusion and bacterial infection, genetics, host defense defects, hormones, cigarette smoking, and irritants. Hormones seem to play a role, as the condition occurs after puberty, affects more women than men, and often flares in the perimenstrual period.

Treating hidradenitis remains a challenge. Although many patients benefit from long-term treatment with systemic antibiotics (eg, tetracycline, minocycline, clindamycin, erythromycin in combination with metronidazole), no published evidence suggests that the long-term use of antibiotics alters the natural course of HS. Oral isotretinoin has been used, but is effective only in some cases. Some patients have had a beneficial response to biological agents, especially anti-TNF alpha biologicals such as infliximab. Oral contraceptives containing norgestrel or cyproterone acetate, alone or in combination with supplemental cyproterone acetate, spironolactone or dexamethasone (to block adrenal androgen production), have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks in women.

YAZ is an oral contraceptive that is FDA approved for acne vulgaris. Unlike other progestins, drospirenone has unique antimineralocorticoid (mild diuretic effect) and antiandrogenic properties. The antiandrogenic property of drospirenone means that it blocks the male sex hormones that can cause acne. It is hoped that that YAZ will offer patients with hidradenitis suppurativa a safe and effective therapeutic option.

Subjects will be assigned to a treatment group upon randomization. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals personnel, investigators, subjects and study nurse/coordinators will be blinded to the study product treatment assignment. The study duration will be 24 weeks with visits at screening, baseline (week 0), week 6, week 12, week 18, and week 24. Lesion counts (total, inflammatory, non-inflammatory) and an ISGA, and photography will be performed on every visit. A physical examination will be done at baseline and Week 24. Safety will be assessed from reported adverse events (AEs).

Being tested
drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (YAZ), Placebo
Keywords
YAZ, oral contraceptive, hidradenitis suppurativa
Medical subject headings
Hidradenitis Suppurativa

What participants receive

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

  • drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (YAZ)Drug

    1 tablet daily for 24 weeks

  • PlaceboDrug

    1 tablet daily for 24 weeks

Study groups in NCT00722800
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AExperimentaldrospirenone and ethinyl estradiol
Receives: Drug: drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (YAZ)
BPlacebo comparatorPlacebo
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Mean Improvement in the Sartorius Severity Score at Month 6.

    The Sartorius Severity score reflects changes in hidradenitis suppurative symptoms, namely the number of lesions (abscesses, nodules, and fistulas) and the longest distance between lesions. A total score is derived based on assessments at up to 8 distinct anatomical regions and ranges from 5 to indefinite. Smaller numbers are better scores and indicate less lesion involvement, thus decreases (negative changes) from baseline indicate improvement in severity of disease.

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Change From Baseline in VAS Pain Scale at Month 6.

    For this pain assessment, the participant indicated the level of average pain experienced over the past 24 hours on a horizontal line, 10 cm in length. A score of 0 indicated "no pain" and a score of 10 indicated "worst pain". The value indicates the change from the baseline participant assessment on the 0 to 10 scale. A negative value indicates a reduction in pain intensity.

    Measured: 6 months from Baseline

  2. Change From Baseline in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score at Month 6.

    Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score is a participant-reported outcome consisting of a set of 10 questions regarding the degree to which the participant's skin has affected certain behaviors and quality of life over the last week. Responses to each are: very much, a lot, a little, or not at all. The DLQI score ranges from 0 (best) to 30 (worst).

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted28 Jul 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2008
  3. Primary completionDec 2011
  4. Study completionDec 2011

Why it stopped: Poor recruitment

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
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
4 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00722800
Sponsor's protocol ID
20080p-000843
Status last verified
Jan 2014
First submitted
24 Jul 2008
Last updated
10 Feb 2014
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (YAZ) in people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.

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 4 inclusion and 22 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Feb 2014. 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 States. 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 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

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 16 Jan 2014). 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 Improvement in the Sartorius Severity Score at Month 6. (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 Feb 2014.

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