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Clinical Trials/NCT02475265
NCT02475265CompletedPhase 2

Transdermal Estrogen in Older Premenopausal Women With Anorexia Nervosa

Massachusetts General Hospital1 site in 1 country11 target enrollmentStarted: July 2015Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions
Drugs

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Phase 2
Status
Completed
Enrollment
11
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Percent Change in Bone Mineral Density (BMD) of Lumbar Spine by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)

Study Overview

Brief Summary

Decreased bone strength is a common and serious medical problem present in many women with anorexia nervosa. Women with decreased bone strength are more likely to suffer broken bones than women with normal bone strength.

This study will investigate whether the use of transdermal estrogen can improve bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microarchitecture in women with anorexia nervosa anorexia nervosa when used for 6 months.

Detailed Description

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder affecting up to 1% of college-aged women in the US and an increasing number of women over 30 years of age. Among the many medical co-morbidities associated with AN, the most common is significant bone loss, which can persist despite weight recovery. Nearly 50% of women with AN have osteopenia with an additional 30% meeting WHO criteria for osteoporosis. Importantly, this severe bone loss is associated with an increased fracture risk. Nearly 30% of women with AN report a history of a fracture and a prospective study demonstrated a 7-fold increased risk of fracture in women with AN compared to age-matched controls. Because AN is a chronic disease that can persist despite psychiatric and nutritional counseling, the bone loss and increased fracture risk can persist and lead to lifelong morbidity. Therefore, finding a treatment for bone loss associated with AN is of critical importance.

This 6 month open-label study will investigate in women (ages 25 to 50 years old) with AN whether treatment with transdermal estrogen replacement will increase bone mineral density (BMD), improve parameters of bone microarchitecture as assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), and improve bone strength as estimated by microfinite element analysis.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Na
Intervention Model
Single Group
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
25 Years to 50 Years (Adult)
Sex
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Female; ages 25-50 years
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) psychiatric criteria for AN, including <85% of ideal body weight as defined by the 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Height and Weight Tables, and amenorrhea
  • T-score of < -1.5 at spine or hip
  • Treatment team or treatment professional in place for clinical treatment/monitoring during the study

Exclusion Criteria

  • Diseases known to affect bone metabolism, including untreated thyroid dysfunction, vitamin D deficiency, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus or renal insufficiency
  • Personal history of venous or arterial clot
  • History of stroke or myocardial infarction
  • History of migraine headaches
  • History of hypercoagulable disorder
  • Personal history or history of a first-degree relative with breast cancer
  • History of hereditary angioedema
  • Any medication known to affect bone metabolism, including systemic glucocorticoids within three months of the baseline visit, depot medroxyprogesterone within 6 months of the baseline visit, oral bisphosphonates within one year of the baseline visit or intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates within three years of the baseline visit
  • Bone fracture within the prior 12 months
  • Serum potassium < 3.0 meq/L or serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 3 times the upper limit of normal
  • Fasting serum triglyceride level > 150 mg/dL
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Active substance abuse

Arms & Interventions

estradiol 0.045mg/levonorgestrel 0.015mg

Experimental

6 months of estradiol 0.045mg/levonorgestrel 0.015mg (once weekly patch).

Intervention: estradiol 0.045 mg/levonorgestrel 0.015mg (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Percent Change in Bone Mineral Density (BMD) of Lumbar Spine by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)

Time Frame: 6 months

Percent change in lumbar spine bone mineral density after six-months. Lumbar spine bone mineral density measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Secondary Outcomes

No secondary outcomes reported

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Pouneh K. Fazeli, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Sites (1)

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