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Role of Nitazoxanide and Escitalopram in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05480878
Lead Sponsor
Tanta University
Brief Summary

This study aims at evaluating the therapeutic effects of both Nitazoxanide and Escitalopram as adjuvant therapies in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and to evaluate their impact on STAT3/ JAK2, TLR /IL -1β signaling pathways.

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, controlled prospective study to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of the broad -spectrum antimicrobial (Nitazoxanide) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (Escitalopram) on synovial inflammation and angiogenesis when administered as add-on treatments to the current DMARDs treatments for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

A total of 90 RA patients recruited from Outpatient Clinic of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation at Mansoura University hospitals, Mansoura, Egypt will be included in the study. They will be diagnosed with RA according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria 2010 (the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria).

RA Patients who will meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study.

They will be classified into three groups:

Group 1: 30 RA patients who will receive the traditional therapy of rheumatoid arthritis for 12 weeks and serve as the control group.

Group 2: 30 RA patients who will receive traditional therapy plus Nitazoxanide 1 gm/day for 12 weeks.

Group 3: 30 RA patients who will receive traditional therapy plus Escitalopram 10 mg/day for 12 weeks.

Clinical Examinations and laboratory parameters will be performed and measured at the beginning of the study and 3 months after randomization to evaluate the efficacy of Nitazoxanide and Escitalopram in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
90
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria.
  • Receiving conventional disease modified anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDS).
  • Having active disease (the 28-joint disease activity score [DAS28] according to the CRP formula > 2.6).
  • Age between 18 and 75 years.
  • Conscious and cooperative.
  • Male or female.
  • Sign an informed consent for the clinical study
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Exclusion Criteria
  1. Pregnant or planning to be pregnant and breast-feeding women.
  2. Chronic disease.
  3. Other autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome and mixed connective tissue disease.
  4. Patients treated with biological TNF-α, IL6 or IL-1β antagonists.
  5. Infectious or inflammatory diseases, endocrine disorders, any past or current psychiatric or neurological diseases.
  6. Clinically significant hepatic and renal dysfunction or impairment.
  7. Alcohol abuse
  8. Receiving therapy that interact with Nitazoxanide and Escitalopram.
  9. Hypersensitivity to Nitazoxanide and Escitalopram.
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
NitazoxanideNitazoxanide 500Mg Oral TabletParticipants in this arm will receive Nitazoxanide 1 gm/day + DMARDs for 12 weeks.
EscitalopramEscitalopram 10mgParticipants in this arm will receive Escitalopram 10 mg/day + DMARDs for 12 weeks.
ControlPlaceboParticipants in this arm will receive Placebo with the current DMARDs treatments for rheumatoid arthritis for 12 weeks. .
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes from Baseline in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) ScoreBaseline, 12 weeks

To evaluate the effect of the use of Nitazoxanide and Escitalopram as an add-on therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by evaluating the change from baseline in the clinical findings as measured by Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores. A lower CDAI score from Baseline would mean improvement in disease activity and an increase in CDAI score from Baseline would mean an increase in disease activity or a worsening in disease activity. Scores: 0.0-2.8 = Range for Remission; 2.9-10.0 = Range for Low disease activity; 10.1-22.0 Range for Moderate disease activity; 22.1-76 Range for High disease activity. Total range is from 0-100, with the high scores representing high disease activity.

Changes in Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates (ESR)Baseline, 12 weeks

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates (ESR) values will be made at baseline and after 12 weeks to determine the number of patients whose test result improved or worsened. ESR (normal range 0-28 mm/hr). If the value is increased, the disease activity worsened. If the value is reduced the disease activity is improved.

Changes in C- reactive Protein (CRP)Baseline,12 weeks

C- reactive Protein (CRP) values will be made at baseline and after 12 weeks to determine the number of patients whose test result improved or worsened. CRP value (normal range \<1.0 mg/dl). If the value is increased, the disease activity worsened. If the value is reduced the disease activity is improved.

Changes in Rheumatoid factor (RF) valuesBaseline,12 weeks

Rheumatoid factor (RF) values will be made at baseline and after 12 weeks to determine the number of patients whose test result improved or worsened. If the value is increased, the disease activity worsened. If the value is reduced the disease activity is improved.

Changes in Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) valuesBaseline,12 weeks

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) values will be made at baseline and after 12 weeks to determine the number of patients whose test result improved or worsened. If the value is increased, the disease activity worsened. If the value is reduced the disease activity is improved.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Determination of Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) levelsBaseline,12 weeks

Serum STAT3 levels will be measured by means of the human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique according to the manufacturers protocol

Determination of Toll-like receptor4 (TLR-4) levelsBaseline,12 weeks

Serum TLR4 levels will be measured by means of the human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique according to the manufacturers protocol.

Determination of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levelsBaseline, 12 weeks

Serum IL-1β levels will be measured by means of the human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique according to the manufacturers protocol.

Determination of Malondialdehyde (MDA) levelsBaseline, 12 weeks

Serum MDA levels will be measured by means of the human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique according to the manufacturers protocol

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tanta university

🇪🇬

Tanta, Egypt

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