A Pilot Trial of Lithium in Subjects With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or Corticobasal Degeneration

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy; Corticobasal Degeneration
• Interventions: Drug: Lithium

• Registration Number: NCT00703677
• Lead Sponsor: Westat

Brief Summary

The goal of this trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of lithium in people with progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration.

Detailed Description

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are progressive, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. Symptomatic treatment is of minimal benefit to individuals with PSP or CBD, and there are no effective disease modifying agents.

Tau phosphorylation is regulated in part by the enzyme GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta ). Inhibition of this enzyme may benefit individuals with PSP or CBD by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated tau. Lithium is known to inhibit GSK-3β and, thus, may be a rational therapeutic approach.

The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of lithium in people with PSP or CBD. Additionally, this study will evaluate potential biomarkers and clinical outcome measures as well as assess study drug compliance.

In this multicenter, open label study, 45 eligible participants with PSP or CBD will receive the study drug, lithium. The dosage of lithium will be titrated over a 5-week period, and participants will then be followed prospectively for 6 months. Participants will be evaluated at the screening visit, baseline visit, and weeks 2 and 5 during the titration phase. Clinic study visits will then occur on alternate months through week 28. Telephone visits will occur between clinic study visits.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2008-06-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-06-20
• Study First Posted: 2008-06-23
• Study Start: 2008-09
• Primary Completion: 2010-01
• Study Completion: 2010-01
• Results First Submitted: 2010-04-30
• Results First Submitted QC: 2010-04-30
• Results First Posted: 2010-06-11
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-22
• Last Update Posted: 2024-05-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 17

Inclusion Criteria

1. Able to give informed consent

2. Able to comply with the study protocol, including ability to attend follow-up study visits for the duration of the study

3. Diagnosis of PSP or CBD based on the following criteria:

   1. Probable PSP:

      • Gradually progressive akinetic disorder
      • Unequivocal and prominent slowing of vertical saccades or vertical supranuclear gaze palsy
      • Early prominent postural instability or early falls
      • Poor or absent response to levodopa

   2. Probable CBD:

      • Chronic progressive course
      • Asymmetric onset
      • Presence of higher cortical dysfunction (apraxia, apraxia of speech, non-fluent aphasia, cortical sensory loss, or alien limb)
      • Movement disorder: rigid/akinetic syndrome resistant to levodopa and either dystonic limb posturing or focal myoclonus in limb (spontaneous or stimulus sensitive)

4. If psychotropic or anti-parkinsonian medications are taken (e.g., anxiolytics, hypnotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, levodopa, amantadine), the dosage must be stable for 28 days prior to the screening visit and should be maintained at constant dosages throughout the study, as possible

5. If NSAIDs, ACE-Is, ARBs, thiazide diuretics, COX-2 inhibitors or theophylline are taken by the subject, the dosage must be stable for 28 days prior to the screening visit and should be maintained at constant dosages throughout the study, as possible.

6. Creatinine clearance > 50 ml/min

7. Able to take oral medication

8. Women must not be able to become pregnant (e.g., post menopausal, surgically sterile or using adequate birth control methods for the duration of the study.)

9. Able to identify a study partner

Exclusion Criteria

1. Evidence of other diseases that could explain the clinical presentation
2. History of known sensitivity or intolerability to lithium or to other known ingredients in the study drug
3. Exposure to any investigational agent within 28 days of the screening visit
4. Clinically significant cardiac disease or EKG findings
5. Other serious illness, including psychiatric illness ("serious illness" is defined as an illness that is unstable enough that it might jeopardize the subject's ability to complete the study)
6. Moderate to severe ongoing depression
7. Family history of "PSP" or "CBS"
8. Clinically significant abnormalities on the screening visit laboratory results
9. Any AE ≥ Grade 3 as listed on the CTCAE, version 3.0
10. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
11. History of brain surgery
12. Use of other potential GSK-3β inhibitors (e.g., valproic acid)
13. Use of iodide salts [e.g., calcium iodide, hydrogen iodide (hydriodic acid), iodide, iodinated glycerol (Organidin), iodine, potassium iodide (SSKI), and sodium iodide]
14. Previous use of lithium
15. Use of Coenzyme Q10 at a dosage greater than 600 mg a day or NanoQuinon at a dosage greater than 150mg a day or 2.5 mg/kg a day
16. Active psoriasis

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Lithium	All participants will receive lithium. The dosage will be titrated over a 5-week period. Participants will then be followed prospectively for 6 months. Participants will be evaluated at the screening visit, baseline visit, and weeks 2 and 5 during the titration phase. Clinic study visits will then occur on alternate months through week 28. Telephone visits will occur between clinic study visits.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Ability to Tolerate Lithium Carbonate	28 weeks	The ability to complete the study period on lithium at a serum concentration of at least 0.4 mEq/L.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Study Drug Compliance	28 weeks	Subjects receiving 80% or more of the prescribed doses between study visits were considered compliant.
Changes in Amount of Tau and Phosphorylated Tau in Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)	28 weeks	Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are characterized by hyperphosphorylation of tau. Lithium inhibits one of the kinases (GSK-3 beta) that phosphorylates tau; levels of tau phosphorylation will be measured at baseline and at Week 28.
Change in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in CSF	28 weeks	With inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK)-3 beta, levels of BDNF may increase. BDNF levels will be measured at baseline and at Week 28.
Change in Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK)-3 Beta Activity	28 weeks	Levels of beta-catenin and the ratio of phosphorylated GSK-3 beta to total GSK-3 beta will be measured at baseline and at Week 28
PSP Rating Scale Score: Change From Baseline	28 weeks	The PSP Rating Scale is a 28-item scale designed to assess the disability associated with PSP. The six functional categories assessed are: daily activities, behavior, bulbar function, oculomotor function, limb motor function, and gait/midline function. Subjects will be assessed at baseline and Weeks 12, 20, and 28.
Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Motor Subscale Score: Change From Baseline	28 weeks	The UPDRS is a commonly used clinical rating scale to assess motor function in patients with parkinsonism. Subjects will be assessed at baseline and Weeks 5, 12, 20, and 28.
PSP-Quality of Life Scale (QoL):Change From Baseline	28 weeks	The PSP-QoL Scale is an instrument designed to assess mental and physical aspects of quality of life specifically in patients with PSP. Subjects will be assessed at baseline and Weeks 12, 20, and 28.
Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB): Change From Baseline	28 weeks	The FAB is a brief, 6-item instrument designed to assess executive function. Subjects will be assessed at baseline and at Week 28.
Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS)-15:Change From Baseline	28 weeks	The GDS-15 is a 15-item instrument used to screen for depression in the elderly. Subjects will be assessed at the Screening Visit and at Week 28.

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Beth Israel Medical Center; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; 🇺🇸 New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Newcastle University; 🇬🇧 Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Northwestern University; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

Rush University Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

University of Louisville; 🇺🇸 Louisville, Kentucky, United States

University of Maryland; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Oregon Health & Science University; 🇺🇸 Portland, Oregon, United States

Medical University of South Carolina; 🇺🇸 Charleston, South Carolina, United States