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Osteoarthritis (OA) of the KneePhase 4NCT01230424

Effect of Steroid Injections in a Knee With Osteoarthritis

A Phase 4 study testing Triamcinolone Acetonide in people with Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee, run by Tufts Medical Center at 2 sites in United States.

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

A steroid (triamcinolone) 40 mg will be compared to placebo in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial testing the effect of this steroid versus placebo given into the study knee joint that has osteoarthritis (OA). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 45 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee
What is being tested?
Triamcinolone Acetonide
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
140 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
Mar 2011to Jan 2015
Phase
Phase 4
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 45 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Female or Male, Age ≥ 45 years
  • Chronic knee discomfort based on affirmative response to the question "During the past 12 months, have you had any pain, aching, or stiffness in or around your knee(s) on most days for at least one month?"
  • Baseline (Month 0) Pain score >2 on at least one of the WOMAC weight-bearing pain questions; and total weight-bearing pain score <8
  • Tibiofemoral or patellofemoral OA on posterior-anterior weight-bearing semi-flexed or lateral knee radiographs with severity equivalent to Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or 3
  • Evidence of synovitis on ultrasound at screening
  • Clinical examination confirming knee pain or discomfort referable to the knee joint
  • Prepared to discontinue NSAID(s)/analgesic(s) for 2 days prior to each assessment

Who cannot join

  • Prior septic (study) knee joint
  • Prior reconstructive surgery in the study knee
  • Prior osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis of bone)
  • Chronic use of oral corticosteroids; knee intra-articular corticosteroid injection within 3 months of Month 0 (baseline) visit
  • Ongoing use of doxycycline, indomethacin, glucosamine and/or chondroitin; or use of these within 2 months of Screening visit
  • Evidence of other inflammatory joint disease (e.g., gout, CPPD)
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Serious medical conditions or impairments that, in the view of the investigator, would obstruct their participation in the trial such as uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, opiate dependency
  • Plan to permanently relocate from the region, or take an extended vacation for greater than 3 months during the trial period
  • Planned arthroscopy and/or arthroplasty in the study knee.
  • Any contra-indication to having an MRI
  • Inability to speak or comprehend English

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • Tufts Medical Center / Division of Rheumatology

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02111

  • Tufts Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02111

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Effect of Intra-articular Steroids on Structural Progression of Knee OA: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A steroid (triamcinolone) 40 mg will be compared to placebo in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial testing the effect of this steroid versus placebo given into the study knee joint that has osteoarthritis (OA). The knee injection will be given once every 12 weeks over two years for a total of eight knee injections. How well each participant tolerates each injection and all the injections over time will be assessed. The safety of getting a knee injection every 12 weeks will be assessed by collecting reported adverse effects, knee examinations, and clinical laboratory tests. Participants will complete questionnaires, X-ray, MRIs, and bone density tests as part of this study.

Read the detailed description

This study was a two-year stratified and block-randomized double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of the effect of intra-articular triamcinolone 40 mg injectable suspension, administered every 3 months over two years (for a total of 8 doses). The randomization was stratified by the baseline radiographic severity of knee OA (Kellgren and Lawrence grade of 2 or 3) and gender. An interim analysis would have been conducted after the first half of participants has completed the trial. This interim analysis would have allowed the trial to be stopped early for either success or futility, or allow the trial to continue if neither success nor futility has been established. However, the plan for interim analysis was eliminated with the support of the DSMB because of feasibility issues for completing cartilage measurements contemporaneously and because early trial cessation would preclude analysis of informative secondary outcomes. The primary structural outcome objective in this study was cartilage volume loss; secondary structural outcomes included peri-articular bone marrow lesions (BML), tibial peri-articular bone density ratio (paBMD). The primary clinical outcome objective was the pain domain of the WOMAC© LK3.1; secondary clinical outcomes included WOMAC© LK3.1 stiffness and function scores and physical function tests.

Being tested
Triamcinolone Acetonide, 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection as Placebo
Keywords
OA, Knee arthritis, MRI, Steroid
Medical subject headings
Osteoarthritis

What participants receive

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

  • Triamcinolone AcetonideDrug

    Also called Kenalog

    40 mg into the study knee joint every 12 weeks for a total of 8 injections.

  • 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection as PlaceboDrug

    Also called Normal Saline for injection

    Sodium chloride injection will be given into the study knee once every 12 weeks for a total of 8 injections.

Study groups in NCT01230424
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Triamcinolone AcetonideExperimental40 mg into the study knee joint every 12 weeks for a total of 8 injections.
Receives: Drug: Triamcinolone Acetonide
Sodium ChloridePlacebo comparator0.9% Sodium chloride injection as Placebo will be given into the study knee once every 12 weeks for a total of 8 injections.
Receives: Drug: 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection as Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Mean Cartilage Thickness in the Index Compartment (Compartment With the Most Damage)

    Mean cartilage thickness was measured on knee MRI (Philips Achieva X-Series 3.0 Tesla scanner). Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  2. Change in Knee Pain Severity During the Past 48 Hours From the WOMAC LK3.1 Pain Score Questionnaire.

    Pain subscale score was calculated from patient's responses on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Likert-type 3.1 Questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 24 items divided into 3 subscales, Pain, Stiffness, Physical Function. Only the Pain subscale score was used for this outcome measure. The Pain subscale consists of five items, each ranging from 0 to 4, making the total Pain subscore 0 to 20. Higher scores represent higher levels of pain, whereas lower scores represent lower levels of pain.

    Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Change in Volume of Peri-articular Bone Marrow Lesions Measured on Knee MRI.

    Change in volume of peri-articular bone marrow lesions measured on knee MRI on the log scale. Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years.

  2. Change in Effusion Volume Measured on Knee MRI.

    Change in effusion volume measured on knee MRI on the log scale. Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  3. Change in Area of Denudation Measured on Knee MRI in the Index Compartment (Compartment With the Most Damage).

    Change in area of denudation measured on knee MRI in the index compartment (compartment with the most damage). Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  4. Change in Volumetric Cartilage Damage Index (CDI) Measured on Knee MRI in the Index Compartment (Compartment With the Most Damage).

    Change in volumetric cartilage damage index (CDI) measured on knee MRI in the index compartment (compartment with the most damage). Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  5. Change in Function Severity During the Past 48 Hours From the WOMAC LK3.1 Function Score Questionnaire.

    Physical Function subscale score was calculated from patient's responses on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Likert-type 3.1 Questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 24 items divided into 3 subscales, Pain, Stiffness, Physical Function. Only the Physical Function subscale score was used for this outcome measure. The Physical Function subscale consists of 17 items, each ranging from 0 to 4, making the total Function subscore 0 to 68. Higher scores represent higher levels of difficulty performing daily activities, whereas lower scores represent lower levels of difficulty performing daily activities.

    Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  6. Change in Knee Stiffness During the Past 48 Hours From the WOMAC LK3.1 Stiffness Score Questionnaire.

    Stiffness subscale score was calculated from patient's responses on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Likert-type 3.1 Questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 24 items divided into 3 subscales, Pain, Stiffness, Physical Function. Only the Stiffness subscale score was used for this outcome measure. The Stiffness subscale consists of two items, each ranging from 0 to 4, making the total Stiffness subscore 0 to 8. Higher scores represent higher levels of stiffness, whereas lower scores represent lower levels of stiffness.

    Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  7. Change in Patient's Global Assessment (Visual Analogue Scale).

    The response to the question, "Considering all the ways your knee affects you, how much pain are you having today?", was measured and the change in the scoring was evaluated. The Patient's Global Assessment (PGA) is measured on a scale of 0 to 100 millimeters. Higher scores represent a higher level of disease activity or a worse global health. Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  8. Change in Time to Complete a Twenty-meter Walk.

    Change in time (seconds) to complete a twenty-meter walk. Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

  9. Change in Time to Complete 5 Chair Stands.

    Change in time (seconds) to complete 5 chair stands. Missing data were imputed.

    Measured: Baseline to 2 years

Timeline

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

  1. First posted29 Oct 2010 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2011
  3. Primary completionJan 2015
  4. Study completionJan 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 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
140 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01230424
Sponsor's protocol ID
NIH NIAMS R01-AR057802
Other IDs
Tufts MC IRB Protocol # 9417
Status last verified
Jun 2017
First submitted
27 Oct 2010
Last updated
31 Jul 2017
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Harvey WF, Price LL, Driban JB, Zhang M, Ward RJ. Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017 May 16;317(19):1967-1975. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.5283.

    PubMed 28510679

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Triamcinolone Acetonide in people with Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee, run by Tufts Medical Center at 2 sites 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 7 inclusion and 11 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 31 Jul 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites 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 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

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 31 Jul 2017). 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?

Change in Mean Cartilage Thickness in the Index Compartment (Compartment With the Most Damage) (time frame: Baseline to 2 years). 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 NCT01230424, 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 31 Jul 2017.

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