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Diabetic NeuropathyPhase 4NCT02439879

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy

A Phase 4 study testing Alpha lipoic acid in people with Diabetic Neuropathy, run by Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla.

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

Patients with diabetic neuropathy and total symptoms score(TSS) >7 points were invited to this open multicenter study. Patients were free of pain medications and severe diabetic complications .Patients started alpha lipoic acid (ALA)1800 mg for 4 weeks. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age
Conditions the study is for
Diabetic Neuropathy
What is being tested?
Alpha lipoic acid
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
45 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Dec 2009to Dec 2010
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 Any age
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Type 2 diabetic patients (according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria)
  • Symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy
  • Total Symptom Score (TSS) >7 points,
  • HbA1c<10%,
  • Serum creatinine <2 mg/dl.

Who cannot join

  • Active cardiovascular disease
  • Malignancy
  • Any other conditions causing neuropathic pain
  • Use of analgesic, antidepressant, or antiepileptic drugs, or any other medication aimed to relief neuropathic pain.
  • Child-bearing female patients not using any effective birth control method and under surveillance of a board-certified gynecologist

About this study

Official title: Treatment With Alpha-lipoic Acid Over 16 Weeks in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Symptomatic Polyneuropathy Who Responded to Initial 4-week High-dose Loading

Patients with diabetic neuropathy and total symptoms score(TSS) >7 points were invited to this open multicenter study. Patients were free of pain medications and severe diabetic complications .Patients started alpha lipoic acid (ALA)1800 mg for 4 weeks. Patients with a decrease >3 points in the TSS were randomly allocated to 600 mg of ALA (ALA group) or no medications (ALA withdrawal) for 16 weeks. In each visit investigators evaluated any change in the TSS and the necessity of rescue medication to control symptoms (mainly pain). At the end of the study investigators compared between ALA and ALA withdrawal groups TSS levels and the frequency of use of rescue medications. Physicians were free to manage glucose to maintain Hba1c close to the ADA target (HbA1c <7%).

Read the detailed description

This trial was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the ethics committee of Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Mexico. All participants provided a written informed consent. Type 2 diabetic patients (according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria) with symptomatic diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) defined as the presence of neuropathic symptoms (pain, paresthesias, or numbness) were invited to participate in this open-label multicenter trial. Inclusion criteria were: total symptom score (TSS) >7 points, HbA1c<10%, and serum creatinine <2 mg/dl. Exclusion criteria were evidence of active cardiovascular disease, malignancy, or any other conditions causing neuropathic pain, use of analgesic, antidepressant, or antiepileptic drugs, or any other medication aimed to relief neuropathic pain. In addition, child-bearing female patients not using any effective birth control method and under surveillance of a board-certified gynecologist were excluded.

Phase 1. All patients meeting inclusion criteria received 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) (Meda Pharma, Germany) orally tid, 30 min after each main meal for 4 weeks. During phase 1, no medication for relief of neuropathic pain was allowed. Each participating site was in charge to maintain glycemic control based on the investigator's judgment attempting that all patients were treated according to the american diabetes association (ADA) guidelines. All patients were seen once a week, and at each site visit, TSS was assessed along with a pill count to ensure drug adherence, presence of adverse events and, if needed, treatment adjustments to maintain glucose levels within the ADA targets. Patients with a TSS reduction >3 points by the end of phase 1 were selected to proceed with phase 2 of the study. Patients with a decrease <3 points in TSS or that used other neuropathic pain drugs were excluded from study phase 2.

Phase 2. Patients with a decrease of ≥3 TSS points after phase 1 were randomized to receive 600 mg of ALA orally qd for 16 weeks or ALA withdrawal. Patients were scheduled to visit the clinic every 2-3 weeks for TSS, monofilament and assessment. If needed, the patient was prescribed analgesic rescue medication which was monitored at each visit. Primary endpoint was the change in TSS in the two groups studied in phase 2 and the frequency of use of rescue medications Neurological examination was performed at baseline and after phase 1 and 2 including the monofilament test, vibration perception threshold (VPT), and ankle reflexes. A 10g nylon monofilament (Thio-Feel ® Meda Pharma, Germany) was applied to four anatomical sites in each foot (1st, 3rd and 5th metatarsal heads and plantar surface of distal hallux) as previously described (correct answer = 1 point, with a maximum of 4 points in each foot). Eight correct answers were considered normal, 1-7 correct answers indicated reduced monofilament sensation, while absent sensation was assumed if no answer was correct. VPT was evaluated using a 128-Hz tuning fork (Thio-Vib ®, Meda Pharma,Germany) applied bilaterally at the tip of the great toe. Responses were categorized as abnormal (no perception of vibration), present (examiner perceives vibration <10 seconds after patient reported disappearance of vibration perception) and reduced (examiner perceives vibration >10 sec after patient reported disappearance of vibration perception). Ankle reflexes were graded as normal, decreased, and absent

Being tested
Alpha lipoic acid
Medical subject headings
Diabetic Neuropathies

What participants receive

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

  • Alpha lipoic acidDrug

    Also called Thioctic acid, Thioctacid HR

    Alpha lipoic acid 1800 mg PO divided in 3 doses for 4 weeks . If total symptoms score decreased >3 points patients received alpha lipoic acid 600 mg PO each day or no treatment for 16 weeks.

Study groups in NCT02439879
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
alpha lipoic acid treatmentActive comparatorAfter a decrease in the total symptoms score >3 points with 600 mg orally tid of alpha lipoic acid for 4 weeks patients were randomized to recieve for 16 weeks 600 mg orally once a day of alpha lipoic acid
Receives: Drug: Alpha lipoic acid
alpha lipoic acid withdrawalNo interventionAfter a decrease in the total symptoms Score >3 points with 600 mg orally tid of alpha lipoic acid for 4 weeks patients were randomized to recieve for 16 weeks no treatment

What is being measured

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

  1. Total Symptoms Score

    Total symptoms score is a summation of presence, severity, and duration of the four main positive neuropathic sensory symptoms: lancinating/stabbing pain, burning pain, paresthesia, and asleep numbness

    Measured: 20 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted12 May 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study startDec 2009
  3. Primary completionDec 2010
  4. Study completionDec 2010

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
None (open label)
Enrolment
45 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02439879
Sponsor's protocol ID
UPAEP25082009
Status last verified
Feb 2016
First submitted
4 May 2015
Last updated
2 Mar 2016
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Papanas N, Ziegler D. Efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid in diabetic neuropathy. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2014 Dec;15(18):2721-31. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2014.972935. Epub 2014 Nov 10.

    PubMed 25381809
  • Ziegler D, Papanas N, Vinik AI, Shaw JE. Epidemiology of polyneuropathy in diabetes and prediabetes. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;126:3-22. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53480-4.00001-1.

    PubMed 25410210
  • Brownrigg JR, de Lusignan S, McGovern A, Hughes C, Thompson MM, Ray KK, Hinchliffe RJ. Peripheral neuropathy and the risk of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Heart. 2014 Dec;100(23):1837-43. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2014-305657. Epub 2014 Aug 5.

    PubMed 25095826
  • Finnerup NB, Attal N, Haroutounian S, McNicol E, Baron R, Dworkin RH, Gilron I, Haanpaa M, Hansson P, Jensen TS, Kamerman PR, Lund K, Moore A, Raja SN, Rice AS, Rowbotham M, Sena E, Siddall P, Smith BH, Wallace M. Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol. 2015 Feb;14(2):162-73. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70251-0. Epub 2015 Jan 7.

    PubMed 25575710
  • Ziegler D, Buchholz S, Sohr C, Nourooz-Zadeh J, Roden M. Oxidative stress predicts progression of peripheral and cardiac autonomic nerve dysfunction over 6 years in diabetic patients. Acta Diabetol. 2015 Feb;52(1):65-72. doi: 10.1007/s00592-014-0601-3. Epub 2014 Jun 5.

    PubMed 24898524
  • Ziegler D, Low PA, Litchy WJ, Boulton AJ, Vinik AI, Freeman R, Samigullin R, Tritschler H, Munzel U, Maus J, Schutte K, Dyck PJ. Efficacy and safety of antioxidant treatment with alpha-lipoic acid over 4 years in diabetic polyneuropathy: the NATHAN 1 trial. Diabetes Care. 2011 Sep;34(9):2054-60. doi: 10.2337/dc11-0503. Epub 2011 Jul 20.

    PubMed 21775755
  • Garcia-Alcala H, Santos Vichido CI, Islas Macedo S, Genestier-Tamborero CN, Minutti-Palacios M, Hirales Tamez O, Garcia C, Ziegler D. Treatment with alpha-Lipoic Acid over 16 Weeks in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Symptomatic Polyneuropathy Who Responded to Initial 4-Week High-Dose Loading. J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:189857. doi: 10.1155/2015/189857. Epub 2015 Aug 4.

    PubMed 26345602

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Alpha lipoic acid in people with Diabetic Neuropathy, run by Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla.

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 5 inclusion and 5 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 2 Mar 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. 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 2 Mar 2016). 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?

Total Symptoms Score (time frame: 20 weeks). 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 NCT02439879, which also lists 7 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 2 Mar 2016.

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