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Healthy SubjectsPhase 2TCI-NX-BINCT02684669

Effect of High-dose Target-controlled Naloxone Infusion on Pain and Hyperalgesia During a Burn Injury

A Phase 2 study testing Naloxone and Normal saline in people with Healthy Subjects, run by mads u werner at 1 site in Denmark.

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

In several rodent studies, it has been demonstrated that very high doses of opioid antagonists (i.e., naloxone 3-10 mg/kg) administered after weeks after recovery from an inflammatory injury may lead to a reinstatement of hyperalgesia and pain behavior. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 35 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Healthy Subjects
What is being tested?
Naloxone and Normal saline
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
80 participants
Where
1 siteDenmark
Study dates
Feb 2016to Jan 2017
Phase
Phase 2
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 35 years
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy male
  • Signed informed consent
  • Urin-sample without traces of opioids (morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, codeine, tramadol, ketobemidone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, dextro-methorphan)
  • ASA I
  • Body mass index (BMI): 18 < BMI < 30 kg/sq.m
  • In addition Days 2-4:
  • Secondary hyperalgesia areas 1 hr after a burn injury belonging to the upper quartile (Q3: high-sensitizers [n = 20]) or the lower quartile (Q1: low-sensitizers [n = 20]) The selection is made during a separate test day (Day 0 [n = 80]).

Who cannot join

  • Participants, who do not speak or understand Danish
  • Participants, who cannot cooperate with the investigation
  • Allergic reaction against morphine or other opioids (including naloxone)
  • Abuse of alcohol or drugs - according to investigator's evaluation
  • Use of psychotropic drugs
  • Neurologic or psychiatric disease
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Signs of neuropathy in the examination region
  • Previous severe trauma to the lower legs with sequelae
  • Scarring or tattoos in the examination areas
  • Chronic pain condition
  • Regular use of analgesic drugs
  • Use of prescription drugs one week before the trial
  • Use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs 48 hours before the trial
  • Does not develop measurable secondary hyperalgesia areas after BI

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Denmark1 site

  • Neuroscience Center, Copenhagen University Hospital

    Copenhagen, 2100

Other trials in Denmark

About this study

Official title: Effect of High-dose Target-controlled Naloxone Infusion on Pain and Hyperalgesia During a Burn Injury. A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Crossover Study

In several rodent studies, it has been demonstrated that very high doses of opioid antagonists (i.e., naloxone 3-10 mg/kg) administered after weeks after recovery from an inflammatory injury may lead to a reinstatement of hyperalgesia and pain behavior. This latent sensitization has recently been demonstrated also to take place in humans.

The present study examines if it is possible to foresee individuals who will demonstrate a larger degree of latent sensitization upon challenge with an injury, than others. Using an enriched design high sensitizers (e.g., the upper quartile of individuals developing large areas of secondary hyperalgesia following a mild burn injury) are compared with low sensitizers (lower quartile), regarding the propensity for developing latent sensitization

Read the detailed description

Naloxone is a mu-opioid-receptor (MOR) antagonist drug, which dose-dependently exhibits hypo-algesic and hyper-algesic properties. Naloxone (and other MOR-antagonists) have been used in research to study the role of endogenous opioids in central processing of pain. It has been hypothesized that the endogenous opioid modulation of pain is impaired or altered in chronic pain conditions.

In a previous study using an electrical pain model in human patients, naloxone (21 microg/kg) increased the established area of secondary hyperalgesia. Further, administration of naloxone and naltrexone to animals following resolution of an inflammatory condition, have demonstrated a reinstatement of hypersensitivity to a noxious stimulus, indicating latent sensitization. It has thus been speculated that endogenous opioids may play an important role in the transition from acute to chronic pain in humans.

Recently, however, the investigators were unable to show reinstatement of secondary hyperalgesia after resolution of a burn injury by administrating naloxone in a low dose (21 microg/kg). Based on these finding the investigators hypothesized, that the negative results may be due to the low dose of naloxone or insufficient tissue injury to generate latent sensitization.

The systemic doses of opioid antagonists used in animal studies to demonstrate latent sensitization have been 0.3 to 3.0 mg/kg of naltrexone or 3-10 mg/kg of naloxone. Further, high doses of 1-2 mg/kg of naloxone have been used in clinical and experimental psychiatric, endocrinological, neurological and nutritional studies in patients and healthy individuals. In one pain related study, 6 mg/kg of naloxone was given to healthy patients intramuscularly. Only mild to moderate, transitory side-effects were recorded in these studies.

The investigators, therefore, initiated a second translational study in which it was hypothesized that a higher dose of naloxone (2 mg/kg) would reinstate secondary hyperalgesia in human patients following resolution of a mild burn injury and thus show latent sensitization in humans. The investigators demonstrated in 4 out of 12 patients that naloxone administered 7 days after a mild burn injury was associated with the reinstatement of secondary hyperalgesia.

The present study examines if it is possible to foresee individuals who will demonstrate a larger degree of latent sensitization upon challenge with an injury, than others. Using an enriched design high sensitizers (e.g., the upper quartile of individuals developing large areas of secondary hyperalgesia following a mild burn injury) are compared with low sensitizers (lower quartile), regarding the propensity for developing latent sensitization.

Being tested
Naloxone, Normal saline
Keywords
burn injury, controlled trial, latent sensitization, naloxone, secondary hyperalgesia, volunteers
Medical subject headings
Burns, Hyperalgesia

What participants receive

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

  • NaloxoneDrug

    Also called Naloxon "B. Braun"

    active drug infusion

  • Normal salineDrug

    Also called Physiologic Saline

    placebo comparator

Study groups in NCT02684669
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
High-dose naloxoneExperimentalnaloxone 4 mg/ml i.v. infusion, total 3.25 mg/kg, target controlled infusion with three infusion rates (0.25 mg/kg; 0.75 mg/kg; 2.25 mg/kg) each of 25 min duration.
Receives: Drug: Naloxone
Normal salinePlacebo comparator0.9% physiological saline, i.v. infusion, total 0.81 ml/kg, target controlled infusion with three infusion rates (0.06 ml/kg; 0.19 ml/kg; 0.56 ml/kg) each of 25 min duration.
Receives: Drug: Normal saline

What is being measured

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

  1. Changes in areas of secondary hyperalgesia will be assessed before and after naloxone/placebo administration by a weighted-pin instrument

    The secondary hyperalgesia area is determined using a "weighted-pin" stimulator (PinPrick stimulators, MRC Systems GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; 128 mN [2,606 kPa]). The borders of the areas are assessed by stimulating along eight symmetrical lines, converging towards the center of the burn injury. The stimulation path starts at least 12 cm outside the borders of the burn injury area. The participants are instructed to report, with their eyes closed, when the perception of the stimulus changes from an innocuous pin-prick to a stinging, smarting and unpleasant sensation, and the position is indicated by a marker.

    Measured: Baseline, 1h, 2h and 165h, and, (during target-controlled-infusion) 167h 35min, 167h 59min and 168h 25min after the burn injury

Secondary outcomes (6)

  1. Pain during burn injury

    Assessments are obtained by a visual analog rating scale (VAS)

    Measured: Baseline, ½min, 1min, 2min, 3min, 4min, 5min, 6min and 7min during the burn injury

  2. Pin-prick pain thresholds (PPT) assessed by weighted-pin instruments at primary and secondary hyperalgesia areas

    Pin-prick pain thresholds (PPTs) in the primary BI-area and in the secondary hyperalgesia area are assessed by "weighted-pin" stimulators (8 to 512 mN [81 to 10,424 kPa]), starting with the lightest pin-prick stimulator (8 mN), and applying a modified Dixon's up-and-down technique. Participants are instructed to report the number of stimuli perceived as unpleasant after a total of five pin-prick stimuli. The lowest pinprick force associated with ≥ 3 unpleasant stimuli is defined as the PPT. The median value of the five PPTs is used in further data analysis. The PPT-data (8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 mN) are converted to corresponding ordinal values 1 to 8, where the "cut-off" value of 8 is registered if no pain is elicited during assessment with the heaviest pin-prick stimulator (512 mN).

    Measured: Baseline, 1h, 2h and 165h, and, (during target-controlled-infusion) 168h 25min after the burn injury

  3. Online Reaction Time

    Online Reaction Time is measured using http://getyourwebsiteherecom/jswb/rttest01.htm. This computer-application shows a red-green traffic light. Participants are instructed to press the button when the light changes from red to green. Three measurements are used and the median value is used as a representative estimate of reaction time.

    Measured: Baseline, 1h, 2h and 165h, and, (during target-controlled-infusion) 167h 35min, 167h 59min and 168h 25min

  4. Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)

    The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) is an examiner-based scale evaluating signs of opioid-withdrawal. Grading of symptoms, i.e. heart rate changes, sweating, restlessness, pupil size, bone or joint aches, running nose or tearing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremor, yawning, anxiety or irritability and "goose-flesh", are made in 11 categories. COWS-scores are divided into: 5-12 = mild; 13-24 = moderate; 25-36 = moderately severe ;> 36 = severe withdrawal reactions.

    Measured: Baseline and 165h, and, (during target-controlled-infusion) 167h 35min, 167h 59min and 168h 25min after the burn injury

  5. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is used to assess anxiety and signs of depression. Based on 14 questions about the subject's status in the previous week, HADS measures agitation/anxiety and depression via two subscales (each containing seven questions). Participants have to answer each question on a scale of 0 to 3. The two subscales are summed separately. The maximum score of each subscale is 21 points and a score of 11 or more points suggests that the participant might be suffering from anxiety or depression. In case of score > 11 points in the depression subscale of the HADS, a physician will decide if there are clinical signs of depression. If there are signs of depression, this diagnosis will be told to the participant. The participant will be informed that the diagnosis of depression is based on clinical assessments - the HADS scale can be included in the diagnostic procedure. If it is the participants wish, he should visit his general practitioner for diagnosis

    Measured: Baseline

  6. Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) consists of 13 questions divided into three sections: rumination, exaggeration and helplessness. The questions are answered in accordance to a scale of 0 to 4. There is evidence of catastrophizing thoughts at a total score > 30 points.

    Measured: Baseline

Timeline

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

  1. First posted18 Feb 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2016
  3. Primary completionSep 2016
  4. Study completionJan 2017

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
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
80 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02684669
Sponsor's protocol ID
H-15018869-BI
Acronym
TCI-NX-BI
Status last verified
Feb 2024
First submitted
10 Feb 2016
Last updated
23 Feb 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
No: No plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available

Publications

  • Edwards RR, Ness TJ, Fillingim RB. Endogenous opioids, blood pressure, and diffuse noxious inhibitory controls: a preliminary study. Percept Mot Skills. 2004 Oct;99(2):679-87. doi: 10.2466/pms.99.2.679-687.

    PubMed 15560360

  • Taylor BK, Corder G. Endogenous analgesia, dependence, and latent pain sensitization. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2014;20:283-325. doi: 10.1007/7854_2014_351.

    PubMed 25227929

  • Werner MU, Pereira MP, Andersen LP, Dahl JB. Endogenous opioid antagonism in physiological experimental pain models: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2015 Jun 1;10(6):e0125887. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125887. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 26029906

  • Brennum J, Kaiser F, Dahl JB. Effect of naloxone on primary and secondary hyperalgesia induced by the human burn injury model. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2001 Sep;45(8):954-60. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2001.450806.x.

    PubMed 11576045

  • Pielsticker A, Haag G, Zaudig M, Lautenbacher S. Impairment of pain inhibition in chronic tension-type headache. Pain. 2005 Nov;118(1-2):215-23. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2005.08.019. Epub 2005 Oct 3.

    PubMed 16202520

  • Koppert W, Filitz J, Troster A, Ihmsen H, Angst M, Flor H, Schuttler J, Schmelz M. Activation of naloxone-sensitive and -insensitive inhibitory systems in a human pain model. J Pain. 2005 Nov;6(11):757-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2005.07.002.

    PubMed 16275600

  • Campillo A, Cabanero D, Romero A, Garcia-Nogales P, Puig MM. Delayed postoperative latent pain sensitization revealed by the systemic administration of opioid antagonists in mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2011 Apr 25;657(1-3):89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.01.059. Epub 2011 Feb 4.

    PubMed 21300053

  • Corder G, Doolen S, Donahue RR, Winter MK, Jutras BL, He Y, Hu X, Wieskopf JS, Mogil JS, Storm DR, Wang ZJ, McCarson KE, Taylor BK. Constitutive mu-opioid receptor activity leads to long-term endogenous analgesia and dependence. Science. 2013 Sep 20;341(6152):1394-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1239403.

    PubMed 24052307

  • Pereira MP, Werner MU, Ringsted TK, Rowbotham MC, Taylor BK, Dahl JB. Does naloxone reinstate secondary hyperalgesia in humans after resolution of a burn injury? A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. PLoS One. 2013 May 31;8(5):e64608. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064608. Print 2013.

    PubMed 23741350

  • Pereira MP, Donahue RR, Dahl JB, Werner M, Taylor BK, Werner MU. Endogenous Opioid-Masked Latent Pain Sensitization: Studies from Mouse to Human. PLoS One. 2015 Aug 25;10(8):e0134441. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134441. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 26305798

  • Werner MU, Petersen KL, Rowbotham MC, Dahl JB. Healthy volunteers can be phenotyped using cutaneous sensitization pain models. PLoS One. 2013 May 9;8(5):e62733. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062733. Print 2013.

    PubMed 23671631

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Naloxone and Normal saline in people with Healthy Subjects, run by mads u werner at 1 site in Denmark.

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 14 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 23 Feb 2024. 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 Denmark. 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?

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?

Changes in areas of secondary hyperalgesia will be assessed before and after naloxone/placebo administration by a weighted-pin instrument (time frame: Baseline, 1h, 2h and 165h, and, (during target-controlled-infusion) 167h 35min, 167h 59min and 168h 25min after the burn injury). 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 NCT02684669, which also lists 11 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 23 Feb 2024.

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