The Effects of Naltrexone on Active Crohn's Disease

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Inflammation
Crohn's Disease

Interventions: Drug: Naltrexone-HCl
Drug: Placebo

Registration Number: NCT00663117

Lead Sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Brief Summary: It is hypothesized that the opioid antagonist naltrexone will improve inflammation of the bowel and quality of life in subjects with active Crohn's disease compared to placebo. In order to test this hypothesis the following specific aims are proposed:

1. Evaluate the effects of low dose naltrexone compared to placebo on the activity of Crohn's disease by the following end points: Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), pain assessment, laboratory values (CRP and ESR), endoscopic appearance, histology, and quality of life surveys;

2. Examine the effects of naltrexone given over 3 months compared to 6 months for durability of response;

3. Determine the safety and toxicity of low dose naltrexone in subjects with active Crohn's disease, and

4. Study the mechanism by which naltrexone exerts its effect by measuring plasma enkephalin levels of subjects on therapy.

Purpose statement: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of low dose naltrexone in a blinded placebo controlled study to determine the safety and efficacy of this compound in those with active Crohn's disease.

Detailed Description: Study design : The study is designed as a double-blind placebo controlled study for 3 months followed by a pseudo cross-over such that all subjects receiving placebo the first 3 months will receive active drug the second 3 months and all receiving naltrexone the first 3 months remain on the drug the last 3 months of this 6 month study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

All subjects must give written informed consent
Male or female subjects, > 18 years
Patients must have endoscopic, histologic, or radiographic confirmed Crohn's Disease.
Patients must have a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of at least 220 at Baseline
Stable doses of medications for Crohn's disease over proceeding 4 weeks (for aminosalicylates and steroids: prednisone of 10mg or less daily and Entocort 3 mg/ day are allowed), and 12 weeks for azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine.)

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects with ostomies or ileorectal anastomosis from prior surgical colectomy.
Subjects who received infliximab (Remicade) within 8 weeks of study screening or humira for 4 weeks.
Subjects requiring steroids either intravenously or prednisone >10mg /day or Entocort > 3 mg daily.
Subjects with short-bowel syndrome.
Abnormal liver enzymes at screening visit or known hepatitis or cirrhosis
Hemoglobin less than 10.
Subjects with cancer (other than skin cancer) in past 5 years.
Women of childbearing potential unless surgically sterile or using adequate contraception (either IUD, oral or deport contraceptive, or barrier plus spermicide), and willing and able to continue contraception for 3 months after the completion of the study.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo, Sugar pill	Naltrexone-HCl	placebo for 3 months blinded then followed by an open-labelled study and all are treated with naltrexone 4.5 mg for 3 additional months
Placebo, Sugar pill	Placebo	placebo for 3 months blinded then followed by an open-labelled study and all are treated with naltrexone 4.5 mg for 3 additional months
Naltrexone-HCl	Naltrexone-HCl	Subjects are treated in a blinded fashion for 3 months with naltrexone 4.5 mg po for active Crohn's disease followed an open-labelled study where naltrexone is given an additional 3 months at 4.5 mg po; hence the total treatment interval in this arm is 6 months. The response to the intervention administered is measured in the activity index and mucosal healing by colonoscopy.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Subjects Achieving a 70-point Decline in CDAI Scores (Crohn's Disease Activity Index) Scores;	3 months	The CDAI score is a number which consists of information collected from a 7-day diary from the patient regarding symptoms. It also includes objective information from the physical exam, weight and hemotocrit. Remission is considered a score of 150 or less. Active disease is considered 220 or greater. A response to therapy is considered a decline in the CDAI score of 70-points from baseline.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage Change From Baseline of Quality of Life IBDQ (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life Survey)	Between baseline and 3 months	IBDQ (Inflammatory bowel Disease questionnaire) contains questions about health ranging from a score of poor (i.e., 32) to excellent (i.e., 224) an increase from baseline indicates improvement in quality of life.
Histology Inflammatory Score by Colon Biopsies	12 weeks	Histology scores to assess microscopic inflammation and structural architecture were determined at baseline and after 12 weeks of either naltrexone therapy or placebo by mucosal biopsy samples obtained during colonoscopies.The pathology specimens were reviewed and scored by a Pathologist blinded to the treatment. The mean scores at baseline were the same between both groups.Differences between naltrexone and placebo treated subjects was assessed.The range in scores could be 0-25, with 0 representing no inflammation and 25 being maximum or severe inflammation..
Percentage of Patients With a 5 Point Drop in CDEIS Score by Endoscopy	12 weeks	A secondary outcome was the appearance of the colonic mucosa on endoscopy using the Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) score described by Mary et al. Gut 1989;30:983-989.This score ranges from 0-44 based upon the extent and severity of inflammation and ulcers seen during endoscopy of the colon. A response is a drop of \> 5 points from baseline. Endoscopic remission is a score of \< 6 and Complete endoscopic remission is a score of \> 3.