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Efficacy and Safety of a Retinoid in the Treatment of Severe Chronic Hand Eczema

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Eczema
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT00817063
Lead Sponsor
Stiefel, a GSK Company
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of alitretinoin in the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema that does not respond to treatment with potent topical steroids.

Detailed Description

Chronic hand eczema (CHE)is a distressing disease that poses difficult problems for dermatologists. CHE leads to considerable work-absenteeism, disability and exclusion from labour market. Conventional treatments, including highly potent topical steroids, yield often unsatisfactory results. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of oral alitretinoin, a retinoid, in patients who have not responded to avoidance of causative factors, such as contact allergens and skin irritants, non-medicated skin care and highly potent topical steroids. Eligible patients are randomly assigned to receive alitretinoin or a placebo.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
599
Inclusion Criteria
  • all types of chronic hand eczema, lasting for at least 6 months since initial diagnosis
  • rated as severe by the physician
  • unresponsive to highly potent topical corticosteroids, such as clobetasol
Exclusion Criteria
  • patients whose disease is adequately controlled by standard non-medicated therapy, including potent topical steroids, skin moisturizers, and avoidance of allergens and irritants
  • patients with known allergens and irritants, who have not made a reasonable effort to avoid the substances
  • patients with psoriasis lesions
  • active fungal, bacterial or viral infections of the hands
  • female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • female patients of childbearing potential who cannot use or will not commit to use two effective methods of contraception

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
AlitretinoinalitretinoinPatients will receive alitretinoin 30mg capsule for up to 24 weeks
PlaceboPlaceboPatients will receive placebo 30mg capsule for up to 24 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of Participants Who Responded as Per Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) at Week 24Week 24 (end-of-treatment)

The investigator assigned PGA grades according to a 5-point scale (clear \[not detectable\], almost clear \[less than 10% of affected hand surface\], mild disease \[less than 10% of affected hand surface\], moderate disease \[10% to 30% of affected hand surface\], severe disease \[\>30% of affected hand surface\]). PGA ratings were based on an integrated clinical picture of signs, symptoms, and the extent of disease. Symptoms included erythema, scaling, hyperkeratosis/lichenification, vesiculation, edema, fissures, and pruritus/pain. The PGA scale ranges from 0 (no symptom) to 4 (severe disease). Participants were considered as responders when they had a PGA of clear or almost clear.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Response Duration for Responding Participants at the End-of-therapyUp to 72 Weeks (including 24 weeks of treatment and 48 weeks of follow-up)

Response Duration was defined as time from the end-of-therapy to the first diagnosis of mild, moderate, or severe CHE. Median and inter-quartile range has been presented.

Percentage Change From Baseline in Extent of Disease at End-of-treatmentBaseline (Week 0) and Week 24 (end-of-treatment)

The extent of disease was estimated as the percentage of hand area (with 100% defined as the palmar and dorsal aspects) affected by eczema at Baseline, and at the end of treatment). Extent of disease was estimated separately for the left and right hands, and the overall extent of disease for both hands was calculated as (Left+Right)/2. Baseline was defined at Week 0. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting the Baseline value from the individual post-baseline values. Percentage change from Baseline = (change from Baseline / Baseline value) \* 100.

Percentage Change From Baseline in Modified Total Lesion Symptom Score (mTLSS) at the End-of-treatmentBaseline (Week 0) and Week 24 (end-of-treatment)

A 4-point scale (0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe) was used to grade 7 signs or symptoms of CHE. The mTLSS was calculated as sum of assigned scores for the symptoms of erythema, scaling, lichenification/hyperkeratosis, vesiculation, edema, fissures and Pruritus/Pain. The total score ranged from 0 (best) to 21 (worst). Baseline was defined at Week 0. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting the Baseline value from the individual post-baseline values. Percentage change from Baseline = (change from Baseline / Baseline value) \* 100. Data for Week 24 last observation carried forward (LOCF) has been presented.

Number of Participants Who Responded as Per Patient Global Assessment (PaGA) at End-of-treatmentWeek 24 (end-of-treatment)

At Week 24 or at the end-of-treatment participants were asked by the investigator to grade their overall change from Baseline by selecting one of the following descriptions, which best matched their perception of overall treatment effect: cleared or almost cleared (at least 90% clearing), marked improvement (at least 75% clearing), moderate improvement (at least 50% clearing), mild improvement (at least 25% clearing), no change and worsening. Participants were considered as responders when the PaGa was cleared or almost cleared.

Time to Relapse for Responding Participants at the End-of-therapyUp to 72 Weeks (including 24 weeks of treatment and 48 weeks of follow-up)

Time to relapse was defined as the time from end-of-therapy to the first diagnosis of severe CHE. Median and inter-quartile range has been presented. The median was based on the very last participant having a follow-up period longer than expected, those explaining the high median.

Time to Response for Responding Participants at End-of-therapyUp to 72 Weeks (including 24 weeks of treatment and 48 weeks of follow-up)

Time to response was defined as time from start of treatment to first PGA assessment of "clear" or "almost clear". Median and inter-quartile range has been presented.

Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) During the Treatment PeriodUp to Week 24 (end-of-treatment)

An AE was defined as any adverse change from the participant's Baseline (pretreatment) clinical condition, including intercurrent illness, which occurred during the course of the clinical study after written informed consent had been given, whether considered related to treatment or not. A treatment-emergent AE was defined as any adverse change that occurred after treatment started and up to 7 days after last treatment. An SAE was any experience that suggested a significant hazard, contradiction, side effect or precaution. It was any adverse event that at any dose resulted in death, was life-threatening, required in-patient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity or was a congenital anomaly/birth defect.

Number of Participants With Adverse Ophthalmological Change as Assessed by Fundus Photography - Intraocular PressureUp to Week 24

An adverse change was defined as a change from normal at Baseline to abnormal at end of therapy, or as a worsening from Baseline for either or both eyes. A missing adverse change was defined as missing results at Baseline and end of therapy, or missing result at Baseline and abnormal at end of therapy, or normal at Baseline and missing result at end of therapy, or abnormal at Baseline and missing result at end of therapy, for both eyes or one eye when the other eye was not concerned by an adverse change. Other changes from Baseline to end of therapy was considered as no adverse change. Optic disc, macula, and retinal periphery were assessed by fundoscopy after pupil dilation using tropicamide.

Number of Participants With Maximum Post Baseline Laboratory Values Outside the Marked Reference RangeUp to Week 28

Blood samples were collected for the assessment of laboratory parameters hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, reticulocytes, platelets, white blood cell, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, total bilirubin, bilirubin conjugated (direct), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, serum albumin, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, sodium, potassium, chloride, serum calcium, serum phosphate, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/urea, uric acid, Free thyroxin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) at Baseline and every 4 weeks of treatment period and Week 28 of follow up period. Data for participants with values outside the marked reference range are reported.

Change From Baseline in Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) Over 24 WeeksBaseline (Week 0) and Week 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24

HHIE-S assessed participants by handicap category: no handicap (0 to 8 points); mild/moderate handicap (10 to 24 points); severe handicap (26-40 points). Baseline was defined at Week 0. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting the Baseline value from the individual post-baseline values.

Number of Participants Referred or Not Referred to a Psychiatrist as Per Brief Summary Inventory (BSI) 53 Questionnaire up to 24 WeeksUp to Week 24

The BSI is a 53 item self-report scale used to measure nine primary symptom dimensions (somatization, obsessive-compulsive behavior, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism). Respondents rank each feeling item (e.g., "your feelings being easily hurt") on a 5-point scale where, 0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=moderately, 3=quite a bit, 4=extremely (0 indicates best outcome and 4 indicates worst outcome). The total score ranged from 0 (best outcome) to 212 (worse outcome). Participants with an increase above Baseline of 25% or more on any domain subscore in BSI-53, or with an increase above Baseline of \>=2 points or a score \>=3 on any BSI-53 item that reflects depression, suicidality, psychotic symptoms, and hostility/aggression, were to be referred to a psychiatrist within 2 weeks.

Change From Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Score Over 28 WeeksBaseline (Week 0) and Week 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28

The PHQ-9 was a standardized tests of mood/depression. This was a nine item measure with a response for each item between 0-3 where, 0=not at all, 1= several days, 2= more than half the days, 3= nearly every day. Total scores on this measure range from 0-27, with 0 being a minimum indicating no depressive symptoms, and 27 being the maximum number and severity of depressive symptoms. Baseline was defined at Week 0. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting the Baseline value from the individual post-baseline values.

Number of Participants Meeting the Referral Criteria of Psychiatric Evaluation Over 28 WeeksUp to 28 Weeks

Participants meeting any of the following criteria were to be referred for specialist psychiatric evaluation within 2 weeks: PHQ-9 Score \>=15, Two Subsequent Scores of \>=10 and PHQ-9 Question 9 \>=1. The PHQ -9 was a standardized tests of mood/depression. This was a nine item measure with a response for each item between 0-3 where, 0=not at all, 1= several days, 2= more than half the days, 3= nearly everyday. Total scores on this measure range from 0-27, with 0 being a minimum indicating no depressive symptoms, and 27 being the maximum number and severity of depressive symptoms. Only categories with data available at the indicated time points have been presented. Categories with null values for all the arms have not been presented.

Change From Baseline in Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) Over 24 WeeksBaseline (Week 0) and Week 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24

DHI assessed participants by handicap category: no handicap (0 to 14 points); mild handicap (16 to 34 points); moderate handicap (36 to 52 points); severe handicap (54 points). Increase from Baseline of \<6 points, 6 to \<12 points and 12 points. Baseline was defined at Week 0. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting the Baseline value from the individual post-baseline values.

Number of Participants Responding to Tinnitus Ototoxicity Monitoring Interview (TOMI) Questionnaire Over 24 WeeksUp to Week 24

Participants who developed tinnitus were monitored by use of the TOMI. The numbers of participants with pre-existing tinnitus, new tinnitus, increased/decreased loudness of tinnitus, or increased/decreased duration of tinnitus, pulsing quality of tinnitus were assessed.

Percent Change From Baseline in Bone Mineral Density (BMD) by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Over 72 WeeksBaseline (Week 0) and Week 72

Bone mineral density scans of the left proximal femur (total hip) and anterior-posterior lumbar spine were obtained by use of DXA, at Baseline, at end of therapy, and 1 year (48 weeks) after end of therapy. In case of abnormality or surgery of the left hip, the right hip was to be used. If both hips were affected, the participant was not eligible for DXA. Vertebrae L1 to L4 had to be completely scanned. At least 3 vertebrae had to be free of any abnormalities potentially interfering with DXA analysis (eg, fractures, large osteophytes), otherwise the participant was not eligible for DXA. Baseline was defined at Week 0. Change from Baseline was calculated by subtracting the Baseline value from the individual post-baseline values. Percentage change from Baseline = (change from Baseline / Baseline value) \* 100. Least square means and 95% confidence interval has been presented.

Number of Participants With Adverse Audiological Change as Assessed by Puretone Audiogram at Highest FrequencyUp to Week 24

An adverse change was defined as a change from normal at Baseline to abnormal at end of therapy. A missing adverse change was defined as missing results at Baseline and end of therapy, or missing result at Baseline and abnormal at end of therapy, or normal at Baseline and missing result at end of therapy. Other changes from Baseline to end of therapy are considered as no adverse change. All puretone testing used a modified Hughson-Westlake procedure with 5 decibel (dB) step size.

Number of Participants With Adequecy of Images Assessed by X-ray Evaluation of BonesUp to Week 72

X-ray evaluations was done at Baseline (Week 0), end of therapy and at follow up period (Week 72). X-ray evaluations was done for Lateral C-Spine, Lateral T-Spine and Calcaneous. The images were evaluated as optimal, readable (but not optimal) or not readable.

Trial Locations

Locations (69)

Bernstein Clinical Research Center

🇺🇸

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Dermatology Clinical Research Center of San Antonio

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Kansas City Dermatology, PA

🇺🇸

Overland Park, Kansas, United States

Palm Beach Research Center

🇺🇸

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Longmont Clinic, P.C.

🇺🇸

Longmont, Colorado, United States

Saltzer Medical Group

🇺🇸

Nampa, Idaho, United States

Therapeutics Clinical Research

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

Indiana University Dermatology

🇺🇸

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Kansas Medical Clinic

🇺🇸

Topeka, Kansas, United States

George Washington University - Medical Faculty Associates

🇺🇸

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

University of Alabama, Birmingham

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Johnson Dermatology

🇺🇸

Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States

University of California, San Diego Dermatology Clinical Trials Unit

🇺🇸

La Jolla, California, United States

Deaconess Clinic, Inc.

🇺🇸

Evansville, Indiana, United States

Radiant Research Inc.

🇺🇸

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Hull Dermatology

🇺🇸

Rogers, Arkansas, United States

Dermatology Research of Arkansas

🇺🇸

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Shahram Jacobs, MD, Inc.

🇺🇸

Encino, California, United States

Dermatology Research Associates

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Laser and Dermatology Center

🇺🇸

Marina Del Rey, California, United States

East Bay Psoriasis Treatment Center

🇺🇸

San Ramon, California, United States

Stanford University Dept of Dermatology

🇺🇸

Stanford, California, United States

Park Avenue Dermatology, PA

🇺🇸

Orange Park, Florida, United States

Solano Clinical Research, Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences

🇺🇸

Vallejo, California, United States

Michael Bukhalo MD

🇺🇸

Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States

Dundee Dermatology

🇺🇸

West Dundee, Illinois, United States

Schaumburg Dermatology

🇺🇸

Schaumburg, Illinois, United States

Dermassociates, Ltd

🇺🇸

Belleville, Illinois, United States

Dermatology Center of Indiana/Indiana Clinical Trials Center

🇺🇸

Plainfield, Indiana, United States

The Dermatology Center

🇺🇸

New Albany, Indiana, United States

American Dermatology Association

🇺🇸

Shawnee Mission, Kansas, United States

Silverton Skin Institute

🇺🇸

Grand Blanc, Michigan, United States

Grekin Skin Institute

🇺🇸

Warren, Michigan, United States

Hamzavi Dermatology Clinic

🇺🇸

Fort Gratiot, Michigan, United States

MAPS Applied Research Center

🇺🇸

Edina, Minnesota, United States

Minnesota Clinical Studies Research Center

🇺🇸

Fridley, Minnesota, United States

Washington University Dermatology Research

🇺🇸

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

South Lincoln Dermatology

🇺🇸

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

🇺🇸

Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, Dermatology

🇺🇸

Somerset, New Jersey, United States

Helendale Dermatology and Medical Spa

🇺🇸

Rochester, New York, United States

Mount Sinai School of Medicine Clinical Dermatology

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

St.Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Derm Research Center of New York Inc.

🇺🇸

Stony Brook, New York, United States

Azalea Research Center

🇺🇸

Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Oregon Health and Science University

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Oregon Dermatology and Research Center

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Paddington Testing Co.Inc

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Fletcher Allen Health Care

🇺🇸

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Dermatology Associates of Kingsport

🇺🇸

Kingsport, Tennessee, United States

Academy of Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Arlington, Texas, United States

Tennessee Clinical Research Center

🇺🇸

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Center for Clinical Studies

🇺🇸

Webster, Texas, United States

Modern Research Associates

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

Virginia Clinical Research Inc.

🇺🇸

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Premier Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Seattle, Washington, United States

Integrated Research Group

🇺🇸

Riverside, California, United States

Toccoa Clinic Medical Associates

🇺🇸

Toccoa, Georgia, United States

Western State Clinical Research Inc.

🇺🇸

Wheat Ridge, Colorado, United States

Dermatology and Laser Center NW

🇺🇸

Bellingham, Washington, United States

University of California, Davis

🇺🇸

Sacramento, California, United States

Dermatology Specialists

🇺🇸

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Derm Research, PLLC

🇺🇸

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Wake Forrest University School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Tulane University Health Sciences, Dermatology Dept

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

University of North Carolina, Dermatology Department

🇺🇸

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Madison Skin & Research Inc.

🇺🇸

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Rhode Island Hospital

🇺🇸

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

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