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Pentoxifylline (drug) forHepatopulmonary Syndrome (Liver and lung disease)

Recruiting
Conditions
Other specified diseases of liver,
Registration Number
CTRI/2022/04/041981
Lead Sponsor
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences
Brief Summary

Hypothesis

We hypothesize that pentoxifylline in hepatopulmonary syndrome would improve oxygenation by inhibiting TNF alpha and thereby reducing macrophage, endothelium induced NO production compared to placebo



Aim

To study efficacy of pentoxifylline in reducing AaPO2 in hepatopulmonary syndrome when compared to placebo



Methodology:

Study design: Prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial

DATA and SPECIMEN collection

Patient data, demographics, etiology of liver disease, PFT, abdominal radiological studies will be collected

6-minute walk test will be done at the baseline, 3 months, and 6 months

Sampling for ABG will be performed with the subject seated while breathing room air at baseline and at the end of 3 and 6 months and A-aPO2 values will be calculated using Alveolar gas equation.

TNF alpha levels, vWF, ET-1, VEGFR-3, iNOS, eNOS and IL-1 β levels will be measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months.

DLCO and exhaled NO will be measured at the baseline and at the end of 3 and 6 months

Blinding

The study drug and placebo will be administered in identical packaging and labelling to ensure that investigators and participants are blinded to study treatment. The study drug and placebo will be labelled with a unique label letter that will be used to allocate treatment to the patient, but the allocation will not be indicated to the investigators or participants. Except for the trial pharmacists and biostatistician, no member of the study team or their extended personnel will have access to the randomization method during the study’s execution. The investigator will get the treatment assignment from trial pharmacists in the case of a medical emergency in which breaking the blind is necessary to give medical care to the participant.



DEFINITION -

Hepatopulmonary syndrome will be defined by

a.Presence of liver disease and / or portal hypertension AND

b.Partial pressure of oxygen <80mm Hg or Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient [P (A-a)O2 gradient ≥ 15mmHg (0r 20 mmHg for patients >65 years] AND

c.Documented Intrapulmonary Vascular Dilatation by saline contrast echocardiogram



Sample size:   Assuming that the improvement in oxygenation in the pentoxifylline group is 50% and that in the control group it would be 1%, with an alpha error of 5% and power of 90% we need to enroll 38 cases in the study.



Further assuming a dropout rate of 5% we need to enroll 40 cases randomized into two groups, 20 each, by block randomization method taking a block size of 4.



STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Continuous data- Student’s t test

-Nonparametric analysis- Mann Whitney test

-Survival outcome By Kaplan-Meier method curve.

-For all tests, p≤ 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

-Analysis will be performed using SPSS.

-The analysis will be done with intention to treat and per protocol analysis if applicable.



Stopping rule:

Development of serious adverse effects leading to withdrawal of the drug or death from any cause

Adverse events

It is defined as the new onset event that is considered as a part of intervention which otherwise may be absent in absence of such intervention or therapy. All adverse events will be recorded.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Open to Recruitment
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria

1.Age 18 – 70 years 2.Evidence of portal hypertension 3.Intrapulmonary vascular dilatation in the form of shunting diagnosed on contrast echocardiogram 4.AaPO2 > 15mmHg on seated room air (ABG) if age <65years and >20mmHg if Age≥ 70 years.

Exclusion Criteria

1.Child C cirrhosis with CTP > 10 or with refractory ascites 2.Intrinsic significant cardiopulmonary disease i.PFT showing severe obstructive ventilatory defect (FEV1/FVC < 70) ii.Hepatic hydrothorax, Portopulmonary hypertension iii.Moderate and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction iv.Inability to perform Pulmonary function test v.Intracardiac shunting 3.Current use of exogenous nitrates 4.Patients already on pentoxifylline 5.Prior intolerance to pentoxifylline 6.Very severe cases of HPS (A-aO2 gradient ≥ 15mm Hg, PO2 <50 mmHg) 7.Active bacterial infections, active hepatic encephalopathy 8.Known malignancy including HCC 9.SBP on secondary prophylaxis 10.CKD with creatinine clearance < 30 11.Enrolled in other trials 12.Has a liver transplant option.

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Improvement in AaPO2 gradient by at least 5mmHg or to a value less than 15mm Hg at the end of 6 months from baseline6 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1.Decrease in grading of intrapulmonary shunting at the end of 3 and 6 months, from baseline as assessed by saline contrast echocardiography3 and 6 months
Change in DLCO fraction of exhaled NO after 3 and 6 months from baseline3 and 6 months
Change in seated and supine saturation and PaO2 at 3 and 6 months from baseline3 and 6 months
Change in VEGFR-3, iNOS, eNOS and IL-1 β at the end of 3 and 6 months from baseline in a subset of patients wherever feasible3 and 6 months
2.Improvement in Pulmonary function test and 6-minute walk test at the end of 3 and 6 months from baseline3 and 6 months
Change in inflammatory markers - TNF alpha levels, vWF, ET-1, IL-6, S-1-P levels at the end of 3 and 6 months from baseline3 and 6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences

🇮🇳

West, DELHI, India

Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences
🇮🇳West, DELHI, India
Dr Vishnu Girish
Principal investigator
01146300000
vishnugirish@gmail.com

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