MedPath

Hydroxychloroquine in Mild Graves' Orbitopathy

Phase 4
Recruiting
Conditions
Graves Ophthalmopathy
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05126147
Lead Sponsor
National Taiwan University Hospital
Brief Summary

This study is aimed to investigate the effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients with mild Graves' orbitopathy (GO).

Detailed Description

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is one of the common manifestations of Graves' disease (GD), which results in proptosis, eyelid retraction, soft tissue swelling, diplopia or even visual acuity impairment. In addition, mental health and quality of life are often affected. In current guidelines, limited treatment options are suggested for patients with mild GO.

Recently, cell study revealed that there are multiple effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on orbital fibroblasts in patients with mild GO, including suppression of cell proliferation, adipogenesis and production of hyaluronic acid, which poses a great potential in the treatment of mild GO clinically. This randomized controlled trial is aimed to investigate the effects of HCQ in patients with mild GO on the effects of ophthalmic outcomes, quality of life, orbital volumetry on orbital computed tomography, serum inflammatory and fibrosis markers.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
108
Inclusion Criteria
  • Mild GO according European Group on Graves' orbitopathy (EUGOGO) guidelines diagnosed by endocrinologist and ophthalmologist.
  • No previous treatment of GO except for eyedrops
  • Euthyroidism (normalized free T4 and TSH) for at least 2 months. If radioactive iodine is used for hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism needs to be achieved for at least 6 months.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Moderate-to-sever or sight-threatening GO according to EUGOGO guidelines diagnosed by endocrinologist and ophthalmologist.
  • Pregnancy
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Unable to comply with the study protocol
  • Unable to obtain informed consent
  • Use of hydroxychloroquine or systemic steroid within 3 months prior to enrollment
  • History of side effects of hydroxychloroquine
  • History of retinopathy
  • Renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60ml/min)
  • Hepatic dysfunction (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x upper limit)
  • Anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) < 10g/dl)
  • Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 100/uL)
  • Thrombocytopenia (platelet (PLT) < 150000/uL)
  • Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
  • Porphyria cutaneous tarda
  • Allergy to 4-aminoquinoline

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
HydroxychloroquineHydroxychloroquineHydroxychloroquine 200mg twice daily for 6 months.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The change of ophthalmic outcomeat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

The ophthalmic outcome is a composite outcome which includes three components: eyelid aperture, soft tissue involvement and exophthalmos.

The outcome is defined as "improvement" if any of the three components improves without deterioration of any other components. The outcome of "deterioration" is defined if upgrading of soft tissue involvement or evidence of worsening sight or optic nerve compression. The outcome of "stable" is defined if the ophthalmic outcome does not fit the definition of "improvement" or "deterioration".

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The change of quality of life (GO-QoL)at 24 weeks and 48 weeks

The outcome is grading as improvement, stable and deterioration. Improvement is defined if there are more than 6 points increase in any of the category in GO-QoL. Deterioration is defined if there are more than 6 points decrease in any of the category in GO-QoL. Stable is defined if none of above criteria is achieved.

The change of muscle volume (cm^3) on computed tomographyat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Change of muscle volume on noncontrast orbital CT

The change of fat volume (cm^3) on computed tomographyat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Change of fat volume on noncontrast orbital CT

The change of orbital volume (cm^3) on computed tomographyat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Change of orbital volume on noncontrast orbital CT

The change of muscle density on computed tomographyat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

The density of muscle is measured and recorded in Hounsfield units.

The change of fat density on computed tomographyat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

The density of fat is measured and recorded in Hounsfield units.

The change of diplopia scoreat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

The Gorman diplopia score includes four categories: no diplopia(absent), diplopia when the patient is tired or awakening (intermittent), diplopia at extremes of gaze (inconstant), and continuous diplopia in the primary or reading position (constant).

The change of clinical activity score (CAS)at 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Clinical activity score (CAS) is a 7-point scale using to evaluate the activity of GO in each eye. It includes 7 items to be scored respectively in each eye with minimum 0 point and maximum 7 points. More points indicate that GO in the eye is more active. The 7 items are listed as below:

1. Spontaneous orbital pain

2. Gaze evoked orbital pain

3. Eyelid swelling that is considered to be due to active GO

4. Eyelid erythema

5. Conjunctival redness that is considered to be due to active GO

6. Chemosis

7. Inflammation of caruncle OR plica

The change of visual acuityat 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Evaluation of visual acuity will be done by the same ophthalmologist

The change of antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) (IU/mL)at 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Change of thyroid autoantibodies

The change of thyroglobulin antibody (TA) (IU/mL)at 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Change of thyroid autoantibodies

The change of thyrotropin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII) (%).at 24 weeks and 48 weeks

Change of thyroid autoantibodies

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu branch

🇨🇳

Hsinchu, Taiwan

National Taiwan University Hospital

🇨🇳

Taipei, Taiwan

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath