ICECAN: Interstitial Cystitis: Examination of the Central Autonomic Network

Sponsor
Medical College of Wisconsin (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT03008382
Collaborator
NorthShore University HealthSystem (Other), Case Western Reserve University (Other)
80
2
2
60.5
40
0.7

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) afflicts 3 to 8 million women in the US. Symptoms of IC/BPS reduce quality of life, suppressing both social well-being and physical function. The chronic pain, voiding dysfunction, sleep deprivation and associated co-morbid conditions interfere with relationships and employment with significant direct (doctor visits, medication, surgery) and indirect (loss of productivity) economic impact, currently exceeding $100 million per year.This proposal aims to move the science of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) from simple associations towards an investigation of cause and effect relationships. The investigators will determine whether the striking changes in autonomic nervous system responsiveness (ANS-R) contribute meaningfully to the pathogenesis of IC/BPS.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Drug: Metoprolol Tartrate Oral Tablet
  • Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet
Phase 4

Detailed Description

This multi-site trial will recruit 3 groups of female subjects ages 18-80 years, evenly distributed across decades (10 or 20 per decade as appropriate): Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS), Myofascial Pelvic Pain (MPP) and Healthy Controls (HC).

This proposal aims to move the science of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) from simple associations towards an investigation of cause and effect relationships. We will determine whether the striking changes in ANS-R contribute meaningfully to the pathogenesis of Interstitial

Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome IC/BPS through 3 aims:
  1. Careful longitudinal repeated measures in individual subjects to determine if ANS-R changes precede clinical changes;

  2. Assessing the impact of an intervention designed to change ANS-R on the clinical course of IC/BPS;

  3. Evaluating changes in brain connectivity between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the periaqueductal gray (PAG) associated with changes in ANS-R and improved disease status.

Subjects will be pre-screened in person or on the phone. An in-person pre-screen takes place in the MCW Neurology Research Rooms at Froedtert Hospital. If the subject is able to participate, subject will sign the informed consent form before completing a baseline evaluation. The baseline evaluation occurs either following consent or at another date convenient for them. Subjects must complete all baseline activities within 2 weeks, or before their Week 4/Visit 2. The baseline evaluation is comprised of a general examination, a set of questionnaires, background history documenting date of diagnosis, medications tried, duration of each treatment and dosing, surgeries and therapeutic and exploratory procedures performed. A pelvic examination will be performed with CPP subjects patients only. Active Change in Posture (ACP) is administered to the subject. Subjects will complete the uroflow (urine) measurement and Valsalva maneuver in the MCW Neurology Research Rooms with a member of the research team present.

Observational Substudy:

This substudy is identical to the above with the exception of not taking a beta-blocker or placebo and is only 12 weeks long instead of 24. This is strictly an observational study to monitor subjects who have been diagnosed with IC or MPP. If the screening information shows that the subject meets the requirements, then they will be able to start. If the screening information shows that they cannot be in the research, the research doctor will discuss other options with them and/or refer them back to their regular doctor.

If the subject is able to participate, they will complete 3 regular on-site long-visits at weeks 0, 4, and 12. The first long-visit (baseline evaluation) may occur either today following consent or at another date convenient for them. The baseline evaluation comprises a general and pelvic examination (no speculum), psychological questionnaires and a background history questionnaire.

Weekly Home Checks will occur for 24 weeks (or 12 weeks if in observational sub-study) following consent. Once each a week, subjects will complete a 24-hour heart rate (HR) recording and the ACP recording using the eMotion Faros 360° portable EKG device. A member of the research team will contact the subject each week while they complete the weekly questionnaires and ACP recording. This will ensure compliance and will give the subject the opportunity to ask any questions.The researcher will remain on the phone or via Skype to monitor the subject while the ACP recording is completed from home just prior to the subject's bedtime. The HR recording will be uploaded to MCW's secure server at the subject's next hospital visit. Throughout the study, subjects flare activity will be monitored via phone calls and recording flares in the EMA application on the smartphone. This will be a Daily Flare Question in the EMA which is a set alarmed time to sound as a reminder for the duration of the subject's participation.

The following weeks after each site visit and the night before visit 5, subjects will repeat complete the 24-hr HR recording to ensure comparability of the HRV recording at home to the one performed at the matching on-site visit., Subjects will also complete the 24-h voiding diary, a set of questions using the ICECAN mobile App installed on a pre-loaded smartphone and questionnaires. Deidentified 24-hour HRV and ACP recordings will be sent to Ohio State University for analysis.

Follow-up Visits: Weeks 4, 12, 16, 24, Visits 2-5 (weeks 4 and 12 (Visits 2 and 3) for the observational substudy) Subjects will arrive to MCW Neurology Research Rooms to repeat the following: review of comorbidities, tender points exam, questionnaires, ACP and DNIC tests. Subjects will complete the Valsalva maneuver in the MCW Neurology Research Rooms with a member of the research team present. Chronic Pelvic Pain patients subjects will complete a repeat pelvic examination at Weeks 12 and 24.

MPP and IC/BPS patients subjects will be randomized to receive 8 weeks of either placebo (a pill with no active agent), or metoprolol (a pill that reduces the impact of the brain's "fight or flight" circuits). Metoprolol is in the class of "beta-blockers" commonly used for mild blood pressure control, and also commonly used for migraine. Subjects will be administered 8 weeks of metoprolol or placebo starting at their Week 4 Visit. Subjects will complete a 4-week washout period (Week 12-16) and will be administered 8 weeks of crossover (Weeks 16-24).

Blood will be drawn (~ 50 mL, a little more than 3 tablespoons) at each in-person visit at weeks 0, 4, 12, 16, and 24 for chronic pelvic pain subjects (healthy control only at Baseline and Final visits; 2 draws total). A portion of the blood plasma/serum will be sent to the University of Pittsburgh for additional related analysis. The sample will be labeled by a number and will not contain any information that can be used to directly identify subject. This portion of the study is critical to gather new information about pelvic pain, which is very poorly understood and we highly encourage subjects to participate in this portion of the study; however, it is optional.

Healthy Controls:

60 healthy control subjects will also complete this study in 24 weeks that include 4 long site visits and 6 weekly home check visits. During this first long visit they will complete a general exam and physician evaluation, DNIC, ACP, Valsalva maneuver, and questionnaires. Subjects will complete a 24-hour HR recording from home once a week for 6 weeks total.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
80 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Crossover Assignment
Masking:
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose:
Other
Official Title:
Interstitial Cystitis: Examination of the Central Autonomic Network
Actual Study Start Date :
Mar 1, 2017
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Mar 16, 2022
Actual Study Completion Date :
Mar 16, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Other: Double-Blind Randomized Drug

Participants with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) and/or Myofascial Pelvic Pain (MPP) will be randomized to take 8 weeks of Metoprolol Tartrate Oral Tablet or Placebo Oral Tablet, followed by a 4-Week washout period, and then 8 weeks of Placebo or Metoprolol. This intervention aims at finding if subjects with IC/BPS have higher baseline HR compared to HCs. After 4 weeks baseline, subjects will receive a bottle with capsules containing 25 mg of metoprolol tartrate or placebo distributed in a double-blind manner by each site's investigational pharmacy. Subjects will start at 25 mg once daily and increase to the goal dose of 25 mg 2/day after one week, if HR has not decreased below 55 bpm at rest. Subjects will report daily rest HR for the first week. The subjects will then washout for 4 weeks and enter crossover in similar manner.

Drug: Metoprolol Tartrate Oral Tablet
Metoprolol is a beta-blocker commonly used for mild blood pressure control, and also commonly used for migraine. Subjects with IC/BPS or MPP will start metoprolol at 25 mg once daily and increase to the goal dose of 25 mg 2/day after one week and continue for 8 weeks total.
Other Names:
  • Metoprolol
  • Other: Double-Blind Randomized Placebo

    Participants with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) and/or Myofascial Pelvic Pain (MPP) will be randomized to take 8 weeks of Metoprolol Tartrate Oral Tablet or Placebo Oral Tablet, followed by a 4-Week washout period, and then 8 weeks of Placebo or Metoprolol. This intervention aims at finding if subjects with IC/BPS have higher baseline HR compared to HCs. After 4 weeks baseline, subjects will receive a bottle with capsules containing 25 mg of metoprolol tartrate or placebo distributed in a double-blind manner by each site's investigational pharmacy. Subjects will start at 25 mg once daily and increase to the goal dose of 25 mg 2/day after one week, if HR has not decreased below 55 bpm at rest. Subjects will report daily rest HR for the first week. The subjects will then washout for 4 weeks and enter crossover in similar manner.

    Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet
    Subjects with IC/BPS or MPP will start placebo distributed in a double-blind manner. Subjects will take placebo once daily and increase to the goal dose of 25 mg 2/day after one week and continue for 8 weeks total.
    Other Names:
  • Placebo
  • Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Correlation between the change in Autonomic Nervous System Responsiveness (ANS-R) and the change in the connectivity between prefrontal cortex (PFC) and periaqueductal gray (PAG) [24 Weeks]

      A linear model with connectivity at 24 weeks as outcome, connectivity at baseline as a covariate and change in ANS-R, demographics such as age and group and the interactions of group with other covariate.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    18 Years to 80 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    Female
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    Yes
    Inclusion Criteria:
    • Women aged between 18 and 80 years old

    • Healthy controls; Patients diagnosed with Interstitial cystitis/Painful bladder syndrome (IC/BPS) or Myofascial pelvic pain (MPP)

    • IC/BPS - ≥3 months chronic pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort perceived to be related to the urinary bladder accompanied by at least one other urinary symptom like persistent urge to void or frequency. Confusable diseases as the cause of the symptoms must be excluded, particularly recurrent UTI

    • MPP - ≥3 months of non-cyclic continuous pelvic pain unrelated to bladder state and a minimum of 2 of 5 examined pelvic floor TPs scoring at least 4 out of 10 on a numeric rating scale using 2 kg pressure applied with the index finger

    • Provision of informed consent prior to any study specific procedures

    Exclusion Criteria:
    • Known nervous system conditions including but not limited to diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, strokes, seizures, etc.

    • Baseline heart rate < 50 bpm; blood pressure ≥ 140/80 mmHg at rest or uncontrolled hypertension; or hypertension requiring more than two drugs for control

    • Pregnant, attempting to become pregnant , or breast-feeding

    • Unevaluated hematuria or infection at the time of enrollment

    • Pelvic or bladder neoplasm or infection

    • Severe asthma, inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue or auto-immune disorders

    • Evidence of unstable medical disorder such as kidney (rising creatinine or end-stage renal failure) or liver impairment (rising AST or ALT, or end-stage with coagulopathy); poorly controlled significant cardiovascular (CHF), respiratory, endocrine (diabetes - A1c > 9 - or untreated thyroid dysfunction) or uncontrolled psychiatric illness (such as untreated depression, psychosis, etc.)

    • Treatment with a drug or medical device within the previous 30 days that has not received regulatory approval

    • Use of hormones (except insulin, thyroid replacement or oral contraceptives). Hormone replacement therapy is acceptable

    • Current, ongoing drug or alcohol abuse

    • Current use of 150 mg or more of narcotics or morphine equivalent (or inconsistent dosages or frequency - varying by > 50 mg morphine equivalent per day)

    • Previous augmentation cystoplasty, cystectomy, cytolysis, or neurectomy. Pelvic surgery in the last 6 months.

    • Any major surgical intervention with general anesthesia in the last 90 days. Current use of anticholinergic medications.

    • Current use of beta-blocker(s).

    • Unwillingness to take a beta blocker and placebo, or planned use of beta-blocker(s) other than study medication.

    • Previous allergic or serious reaction to beta-blockers. Initiation of neural stimulator in the last 30 days.

    • Any on-going or pending medical, health or disability related litigation, or current pursuit of disability.

    • Any condition that in the judgment of the investigator and the internal advisory panel would interfere with the patient's ability to provide informed consent, comply with study instructions, place the patient at increased risk, or which would clearly confound the interpretation of the study results (specific reason will be documented).

    • Current participation in another clinical trial that interferes with ICECAN policies and procedures .

    • Investigators, study staff and their immediate families.

    • Inability to speak, read, and understand English.

    • Allergy to adhesives.

    • Initiation of any new treatment class in the last 30 days, or intent to initiate a new class of treatment in the study. Treatment classes include:

    1. Pelvic injection

    2. Pelvic floor therapy

    3. Agents with specific FDA approval for IC/BPS or MPP (e.g., Elmiron)

    4. Anticonvulsants

    5. Tricyclic agents

    6. Intravesical therapy or Botox

    7. Bladder hydrodistention

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Illinois United States 60201
    2 Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee Wisconsin United States 53226

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • Medical College of Wisconsin
    • NorthShore University HealthSystem
    • Case Western Reserve University

    Investigators

    • Principal Investigator: Thomas Chelimsky, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    Thomas Chelimsky, Medical Doctor and Professor of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT03008382
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • PRO25031
    First Posted:
    Jan 2, 2017
    Last Update Posted:
    Aug 19, 2022
    Last Verified:
    Aug 1, 2022
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    Yes
    Plan to Share IPD:
    Yes
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    Yes
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.:
    Yes
    Keywords provided by Thomas Chelimsky, Medical Doctor and Professor of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Aug 19, 2022