Far Red Light to Improve Functioning in PAD
- Conditions
- Peripheral Artery DiseaseWalking, DifficultyAgingPeripheral Vascular Disease
- Interventions
- Device: Sham light therapyDevice: Far red light therapy
- Registration Number
- NCT06165016
- Lead Sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Brief Summary
The LIGHT PAD Trial is a Phase II multi-centered randomized clinical trial to collect preliminary data to test whether daily far red light treatment of the lower extremities in people with PAD improves six-minute walk distance, lower extremity perfusion, and ischemia-related damage in gastrocnemius muscle at four-month follow-up, compared to a sham control. Participants will complete 10 minutes of twice daily home treatment with either far red light or a sham light for four months.
- Detailed Description
The LIGHT PAD Trial is a Phase II multi-centered randomized clinical trial to collect preliminary data to test whether daily far red light treatment of the lower extremities in people with PAD improves six-minute walk distance, lower extremity perfusion, and ischemia-related damage in gastrocnemius muscle at four-month follow-up, compared to a sham control. Participants will complete 10 minutes of twice daily home treatment with either far red light or a sham light for four months.
Participants with PAD will be randomized at one of two centers: Northwestern University (PI: MM McDermott, MD) and the University of Alabama (PI: Nicole Lohr MD, PhD) to daily far red light or sham control for four months. The primary outcome, change in six-minute walk, will be measured at four month follow-up, immediately after the final administration of far red light or sham. In secondary and exploratory aims, investigators will distinguish between acute and chronic effects of far red light on six-minute walk, measure the effects of far red light on patient-reported outcomes, and delineate biologic pathways by which far red light improves walking performance in PAD, by measuring change in plasma nitrite and nitrosothiols, gastrocnemius muscle perfusion (MRI arterial spin labeling) and gastrocnemius muscle health and mitochondrial activity. If the proposed hypotheses are supported by this Phase II trial, results will be used to design a definitive randomized trial of far red light for people with PAD.
To achieve the specific aims, investigators will randomize 32 participants age 50 and older with PAD to one of two groups: far red light therapy or sham therapy. Participants will be followed for four months.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 32
Not provided
- Above- or below-knee amputation
- Critical limb ischemia defined as an ABI <0.30 or <0.40 with symptoms of rest pain
- Wheelchair confinement or requiring a walker to ambulate
- Walking is limited by a symptom other than PAD
- Current foot ulcer on bottom of foot
- Failure to successfully complete the study run-in
- Planned major surgery, coronary or leg revascularization during the next four months
- Major surgery, coronary or leg revascularization or major cardiovascular event in the previous three months
- Major medical illness including lung disease requiring oxygen, Parkinson's disease, a life-threatening illness with life expectancy less than six months, or cancer requiring treatment in the previous two years. [NOTE: potential participants may still qualify if they have had treatment for an early stage cancer in the past two years and the prognosis is excellent, unless the cancer is located in the lower extremities. Participants who require oxygen only at night may still qualify.]
- Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score < 23
- Non-English speaking
- Participation in or completion of a clinical trial in the previous three months. [NOTE: after completing a stem cell or gene therapy intervention, participants will become eligible after the final study follow-up visit of the stem cell or gene therapy study so long as at least six months have passed since the final intervention administration. After completing a supplement or drug therapy (other than stem cell or gene therapy), participants will be eligible after the final study follow-up visit as long as at least three months have passed since the final intervention of the trial.]
- Visual impairment that limits walking ability.
- Six-minute walk distance of <400 feet or >1700 feet.
- Participation in a supervised treadmill exercise program or a cardiac rehabilitation program in previous three months or planning to begin a supervised treadmill exercise program or a cardiac rehabilitation program in the next five months.
- Unwilling to avoid red light therapy outside of study participation.
- Baseline blood pressure <100/45.
- In addition to the above criteria, investigator discretion will be used to determine if the trial is unsafe or not a good fit for the potential participant.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Sham therapy Sham light therapy Subgroup of participants receiving the sham light device, far red light device covered with blue filter paper to block 670 nm light, resulting in mean power generated of 0.24 mW/cm2, compared to 26.3 mW/cm2 for the intervention, a 100-fold difference. Far red light therapy Far red light therapy Subgroup of participants receiving the 670 nm far red light device
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Six-Minute Walk Distance Measured at baseline and 4 month follow-up Four month change in six-minute walk distance
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Walking Impairment Questionnaire Distance (WIQ) Score Measured at baseline and 4 month follow-up Four month change in the WIQ distance score. Score range 0-100, 100 is best
Six-Minute Walk Distance Measured immediately after the first light treatment (within 15 minutes after the first treatment, acute effect) Acute change in six-minute walk distance after first light therapy
Six-minute walk distance. Measured at 4-month follow-up, 24 hours after the final treatment. Four month change in 6-minute walk, measured 24 hours after last treatment.
Calf muscle perfusion Measured at baseline and four-month follow up Changes in calf muscle perfusion at 3 Tesla measured with arterial spin labeling with MRI and post-cuff occlusion hyperemia
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Northwestern University
🇺🇸Chicago, Illinois, United States