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Neurophysiology and Pharmacology of Cough Reflex Hypersensitivity

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Cough
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00858624
Lead Sponsor
Jacky Smith
Brief Summary

A cough lasting more than 2 months is known as a chronic cough, affecting 12-23% of the adult non-smoking population. Chronic cough has many associated complications including incontinence, muscular chest pains, blackouts and depression. Current treatment is often ineffective in these patients. To develop new medications the investigators need to understand more about the mechanisms that can lead to excessive coughing.

This study plans to compare a group of 12 healthy volunteers and 12 patients with a chronic cough. The investigators hypothesise that that chronic cough patients have a more sensitive cough reflex as a result central nervous system hyper-excitability (central sensitisation). The investigators will measure cough reflex sensitivity before and after administration of ketamine, a medication that blocks an important receptor in the central nervous system.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
24
Inclusion Criteria

Healthy Volunteers:

  • Over 18 years old
  • Measurable cough reflex sensitivity
  • No current or past history of chronic cough or chronic respiratory disease.
  • No symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, asthma or post-nasal drip.

Chronic Cough Patients

  • Over 18 years old
  • Chronic persistent cough (> 8 weeks) despite investigation and/or treatment trials for cough variant asthma/post nasal drip and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
  • Normal CXR
  • Normal lung function
  • Measurable cough reflex sensitivity
Exclusion Criteria
  • Recent Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (4 weeks)
  • Pregnancy/breast feeding
  • Current smokers or ex-smokers with < 6 months abstinence or cumulative history of > 10 packyears
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Opiate or ACE Inhibitor use.
  • Any centrally acting medication which has the potential to alter cough reflex sensitivity.
  • Significant and ongoing chronic respiratory, cardiovascular (in particular hypertension), gastro-intestinal, haematological (porphyria), neurological or psychiatric illness.
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • History of allergy or reaction to ketamine of other NMDA receptor antagonists.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Healthy Volunteersketamine-
Chronic Cough Patientsketamine-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cough Reflex Sensitivity6 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Upper Oesophageal Pain Thresholds6 months
Pain Thresholds Pharynx6 months
Pain Thresholds Chest Wall6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Manchester, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

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