NCT02506192

Brief Summary

The primary objective of this clinical trial is to determine if treatment with an anti-inflammatory drug (delayed-release prednisone) improves the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI). The primary outcome measure is a change from baseline of HRQOL with respect to physical functioning and symptoms. Secondary outcomes measures include changes from baseline levels of GWI-associated biomarkers of inflammation in peripheral blood, GWI-associated symptoms (chronic pain, fatigue, and cognitive impairment), and HRQOL with respect to mental functioning.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
83

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2015

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2015

Completed
19 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 20, 2015

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 23, 2015

Completed
8.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 19, 2023

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 19, 2023

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

December 6, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

December 10, 2024

Status Verified

November 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

8.3 years

First QC Date

July 20, 2015

Results QC Date

October 19, 2023

Last Update Submit

November 18, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

Gulf War IllnessChronic InflammationModified-Release PrednisoneHealth-Related Quality of Life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change From Baseline of Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) Scores at 8 and 16 Weeks

    The SF-36V is a modification of the well-established Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). It surveys eight concepts of health: physical functioning, role limitations because of physical problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, energy/vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems and mental health. From these concepts, two summary component scores are derived: a Physical Component Summary (PCS) and a Mental Component Summary (MCS). To calculate PCS, scales are standardized with a scoring algorithm or by the scoring software. Scores are standardized and range from 0 to 100, with a US population mean of 50 points and a SD of 10 points. The PCS and the MCS have been demonstrated to have excellent psychometric properties. SF-36V PCS is a measure of HRQOL with respect to physical functioning and symptoms. Higher scores indicate better health status,

    0, 8, and 16 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Change From Baseline of McGill Pain Questionnaire-short Form (MPQ) Scores at 8 and 16 Weeks

    0, 8, and 16 weeks

  • Change From Baseline of Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) Scores at 8 and 16 Weeks

    0, 8, and 16 weeks

  • Change From Baseline of Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) Scores at 8 and 16 Weeks

    0, 8, and 16 weeks

  • Change From Baseline of Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey Mental Component Summary Score (MCS) Scores at 8 and 16 Weeks

    0, 8, and 16 weeks

  • Change From Baseline of Gulf War Illness-associated Peripheral Blood Biomarkers

    0, 8, and 16 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Modified-Release Prednisone

EXPERIMENTAL

Take oral tablets as directed (2x5mg) with food each evening at bedtime- approximately 10:00 pm

Drug: Modified-Release Prednisone

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Take oral tablets as directed (2x5mg) with food each evening at bedtime-approximately 10:00 pm

Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Modified-Release Prednisone oral tablets (2x5mg) daily for 8 weeks

Also known as: Rayos
Modified-Release Prednisone

Placebo oral tablets (2x5mg) daily for 8 weeks

Also known as: sugar pill, inactive substance
Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Scores moderate-severe on at least 3 out of 6 domains from the Kansas GWI Case Definition
  • Deployed, (and honorably discharged), from the Kuwaiti Theater of Operation (August 2, 1990-July 31, 1991)

You may not qualify if:

  • Hospitalization anytime since 1990 for Alcohol or Drug Dependence, Depression, or PTSD
  • Known hypersensitivity to Prednisone
  • Liver, (active or recent Hepatitis B or C treatment with a completion date within the past 6 months, or alcohol liver disease), or Kidney Disease (Hep B and C ok if after 6 months of treatment)
  • Treated Diabetes
  • Females who are Pregnant or Nursing
  • Female who refuses to use an accepted method of birth control
  • Has Inflammatory Arthritis (RA, or Psoriatic Arthritis, Spondylitis, Polyarthritis)
  • Reactive Arthritis, or IBD associated Arthritis
  • Has any major inflammatory disease (acute Chronic Infections, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory lung diseases- COPD or Asthma requiring steroid treatment, Pericarditis, Vasculitis)
  • Has an chronic/active infection
  • Chronic use of Prednisone or Corticosteroids (occasional inhaled use of steroids acceptable)
  • Active Gum Disease or Dental Infection
  • Has been diagnosed with Lupus, Stroke, or Multiple Sclerosis. or any other diagnosis that produces symptoms of fatigue, cognitive impairment, or pain will be excluded based on the Kansas GWI Case definition
  • Has a condition that may interfere with the ability to accurately report symptoms, (Severe Psychiatric Problems, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Alcohol or Drug Dependence requiring hospitalization, or regular illegal drug use)
  • Heart Disease (other than Hypertension), Heart Failure or Coronary Heart Disease requiring hospitalization within the past 12 months
  • +2 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55417, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Bach RR, Rudquist RR. Gulf war illness inflammation reduction trial: A phase 2 randomized controlled trial of low-dose prednisone chronotherapy, effects on health-related quality of life. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 15;18(6):e0286817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286817. eCollection 2023.

    PMID: 37319244BACKGROUND

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic PainFatigueCognitive Dysfunction

Interventions

Prednisone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsCognition DisordersNeurocognitive DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PregnadienediolsPregnadienesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic Compounds

Results Point of Contact

Title
Ronald R Bach, PhD, Principal Investigator
Organization
Minneapolis VA Health Care System

Study Officials

  • Ronald R Bach, PhD

    Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
FED
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Research Health Scientist

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 20, 2015

First Posted

July 23, 2015

Study Start

July 1, 2015

Primary Completion

October 19, 2023

Study Completion

October 19, 2023

Last Updated

December 10, 2024

Results First Posted

December 6, 2023

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

After publication, all deidentified study data will be made available to other investigators upon request. Data sharing rule of the journal will apply.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
Time Frame
After publication for as long as specified by the journal
Access Criteria
Established investigators with legitimate scientific credentials

Locations