The Effect of Montelukast in Patients With Chronic Cough and Bronchial Hyperreactivity

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose The purpose is to determine whether montelukast during 6 weeks has superior antitussive effects (measured with the LCQ) compared with placebo in patients with cough lasting > 8 weeks and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity.
ConditionCough
Bronchial Hyperreactivity
InterventionDrug: montelukast
Drug: placebo
PhasePhase 4
SponsorIsala Klinieken
Responsible PartyIsala Klinieken
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00453765
First ReceivedMarch 28, 2007
Last UpdatedApril 5, 2013
Last verifiedApril 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateMarch 28, 2007
Last Updated DateApril 5, 2013
Start DateDecember 2007
Estimated Primary Completion DateSeptember 2010
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresDifference in average score on the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) between the two treatment groups; montelukast vs placebo. [Time Frame: 2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Difference in cough VAS scores; montelukast vs placebo. [Time Frame: 2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Comparison of the adverse events of montelukast vs placebo. [Time Frame: 2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleThe Effect of Montelukast in Patients With Chronic Cough and Bronchial Hyperreactivity
Official TitleProspective Single-centre, Double Blind Randomised Trial of Montelukast in Patients With Chronic Cough and Bronchial Hyperreactivity
Brief Summary
The purpose is to determine whether montelukast during 6 weeks has superior antitussive
effects (measured with the LCQ) compared with placebo in patients with cough lasting > 8
weeks and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity.
Detailed Description
Chronic cough is a frequent problem in general practice and one of the most common reasons
for referral to a respiratory clinic. Prospective studies have shown that the vast majority
of cases of chronic cough are due to one or more of three conditions: rhinitis/postnasal
drip syndrome, asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Other significant causes of
chronic cough include postviral (post-infectious) cough, and eosinophilic bronchitis. In
only a minority of the patients with a chronic cough no cause can be found. This is called
idiopathic cough.

Analysis and treatment of patients with chronic cough often proved to be difficult and
disappointing. Nevertheless, centers in which a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic
protocol was implemented reported excellent results. Therefore the first cough clinic is
started in The Isala Klinieken, Zwolle/The Netherlands in 2004.

Asthmatic cough is often accompanied by the more typical symptoms of dyspnoea and wheezing.
In a subgroup of asthmatics, however, cough is the sole or predominant symptom. This
condition is termed cough-variant asthma (CVA). Cough due to CVA usually improves within the
first week of inhaled bronchodilator therapy, however, complete resolution of cough may
require up to 8 weeks of combination therapy with inhaled bronchodilators and
corticosteroids. A subgroup of CVA patients with severe, refractory cough may require
systemic (oral) steroids, alone or followed by inhaled therapy.

Leukotrienes are contributing significantly to the pathobiology of asthma. These 'pathways
of asthma' could be suppressed by leukotriene inhibitors. Multiple clinical trials have
demonstrated the ability of the leukotriene modifiers to improve symptoms, pulmonary
function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in chronic asthma, as well as in exercise-induced
and aspirin-induced asthma. Until recently, the antitussive effects of this drug class had
not been investigated properly. Spector and Tan concluded in a pilot trial with only 14
patients that 10 mg montelukast seems to be effective in CVA. However, nowadays in care of
asthma, montelukast is widely used in a dosage of 10 mg. Therefore we intend to study the
effects of montelukast on chronic cough (VAS-cough-score) on a wider patient population; is
montelukast superior to placebo in the treatment of patients with chronic cough and a
demonstrated bronchial hyperreactivity?

Aim of the study:

The purpose is to determine whether montelukast during 6 weeks has superior antitussive
effects (measured with the VAS cough) compared with placebo in patients with cough lasting >
8 weeks and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity.

Study design:

Montelukast trial: prospective single-centre, double blind randomised trial.

In the montelukast study 84 patients between 18 and 90 years old, referred to the cough
outpatient clinic with chronic cough and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity will be
recruited after informed consent is obtained.

Patients will be randomised (for gender, age, smoking, duration of symptoms and the use of
inhaled corticosteroids) to 6- week treatment with 10 mg daily montelukast or placebo.
Before randomisation all patients have to fill in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for
detection of the degree of cough in the last 24 hours and the dutch version of the Leicester
Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) for the detection of illness specific quality of life. Adverse
events will be noted in this period. Finally, both groups will be compared.

Inhaled corticosteroids may be continued during the study at a constant dose. Nasal,
ophthalmologic and dermatological steroids are allowed according to individual needs, but
their dose should be kept constant throughout the trial.

H1 blockers, nasal anticholinergics as well as nasal or ophthalmologic preparations of
nedocromil or cromoglycate are permitted for treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Study population:

Patients between 18 and 90 years old, referred to the cough outpatient clinic with chronic
cough and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity.

Intervention:

Patients between 16 and 90 years old, referred to the cough outpatient clinic with chronic
cough and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity will receive daily montelukast 10 mg or placebo
during 6 weeks.

Main study endpoint :

1. Difference in cough VAS scores; montelukast vs placebo.

Secondary study endpoints:

1. Difference in average score on the Leicester Cough Questionaire (LCQ) between the two
treatment groups; montelukast vs placebo.

2. Comparison of the adverse events of montelukast vs placebo.

Randomisation:

Patients will be randomised by a computer minimisation program for the following factors:
gender, age, smoking, duration of symptoms and the use of inhaled corticosteroids.

Statistical analysis:

The primary analysis will be on an intention-to-treat basis. The mean change in the primary
endpoint (LCQ total and domain scores) after 6 weeks between the groups will be analysed
using an unpaired t-test. This test will also be used to analyse differences after 6 weeks
in secondary endpoints (VAS cough score).

Since both the primary and secondary endpoints in the study will be measured more than two
times (repeatedly measured) the course of these scores over time will be tested using
MANOVA-analysis. To test for differences in proportions (proportion of patients with adverse
events) the Chi2 -test will be used. Data analyses will be performed using SPSS version 12.

Burden, risks and advantages associated with participation:

Side effects have been reported in 10 % of the cases; mostly of headache and abdominal pain.
Also gastrointestinal problems, allergic reactions, psychiatric disorders, liver, and
haematological disorders could occur.

Interactions: Montelukast is metabolised by CYP3A4. Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inducing
medication like fenytoïne, phenobarbital, or rifampicin must be prevented.

Medication metabolised by CYP2C8 must also be avoided, because in vitro studies have shown
that montelukast is an powerful CYP2C8 inhibitor.

Benefits: superior resolution of cough compared to placebo.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 4
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Cough
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity
InterventionDrug: montelukast
montelukast, 8 weeks, once daily, 10 milligrams
Other Names:
singulairDrug: placebo
placebo
Study Arm (s)
  • Experimental: A
    montelukast
  • Placebo Comparator: B
    placebo

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment89
Estimated Completion DateSeptember 2010
Estimated Primary Completion DateSeptember 2010
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- patients between 18 and 90 years old, referred to the cough outpatient clinic with
chronic cough and enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity.

- chronic cough is defined as a cough > 8 weeks duration.

- enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity is a PD20 < 2.5 mg methacholine.

Exclusion Criteria:

- concomitant severe disease; lung cancer and diseases with a short life expectancy (<
1 year).

- patients suffering from COPD and/or other relevant lung diseases.

- clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values suggesting an unknown disease
requiring further clinical evaluation.

- use of systemic steroids 4 weeks (injectable depot steroids 6 weeks) before entry
into the baseline period, or more than 3 courses during the last 6 months.

- pregnancy.

- abnormal chest X-ray.

- use of medication inducing CYP3A4 (for example; fenytoïne, phenobarbital or
rifampicin.

- use of medication metabolised by CYP2C8.
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesNetherlands

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00453765
Other Study ID NumbersNL14828.075.06
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByIsala Klinieken
Study SponsorIsala Klinieken
CollaboratorsNot Provided
Investigators Study Director: Jan Willem Van Den Berg, MD Departement of Pulmonology
Verification DateApril 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Isala Klinieken
Zwolle, Netherlands, 8011 JW