- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT00000146
Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT)
To assess the beneficial and adverse effects of corticosteroid treatment for optic neuritis.
To determine the natural history of vision in patients who suffer optic neuritis.
To identify risk factors for the development of multiple sclerosis in patients with optic neuritis.
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Optic neuritis is an inflammatory disease of the optic nerve that typically affects young adults. Women are affected more often than men. It is second only to glaucoma as the most common acquired optic nerve disorder in persons younger than age 50.
In this disorder, closely linked to multiple sclerosis, prognosis for visual recovery is generally good. However, return of visual function is almost never complete. After resolution of optic neuritis, virtually all patients show some signs of optic nerve damage, and most are symptomatic. Even when a patient's acuity recovers to 20/20, abnormalities frequently remain in other measures such as contrast sensitivity, color vision, and visual field.
Prior to the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT), well-established guidelines for treating optic neuritis did not exist. Although corticosteroids had been used to treat this disease, studies to demonstrate their effectiveness had not been satisfactory. Some experts advocated treatment with oral prednisone while others recommended no treatment. Anecdotal reports suggested that high-dose intravenous corticosteroids might be effective.
The association between optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis is well established. Optic neuritis may be the first manifestation of multiple sclerosis, or it may occur later in its course. A strong case can be made for "isolated" optic neuritis being a forme fruste of multiple sclerosis, based on similarities between the two in such epidemiologic factors as gender, age, geographic distributions, cerebrospinal fluid changes, histocompatibility data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, and family history. The magnitude of the risk of multiple sclerosis after optic neuritis is uncertain. Previous studies have reported very disparate results, with the risk being reported to be as low as 13 percent and as high as 88 percent. The importance of risk factors such as age, gender, and MRI changes in predicting which patients with optic neuritis are most likely to develop multiple sclerosis also is unclear.
The treatment phase of the study was called the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT), whereas the current long-term followup phase is called the Longitudinal Optic Neuritis Study (LONS). The study is being conducted at 15 clinical centers in the United States. Resource centers include a data coordinating center and a visual field reading center.
Patients were randomized to one of the three following treatment groups at 15 clinical centers:
- Oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) for 14 days
- Intravenous methylprednisolone (250 mg every 6 hours) for 3 days, followed by oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) for 11 days
- Oral placebo for 14 days
Each regimen was followed by a short oral taper. The oral prednisone and placebo groups were double masked, whereas the intravenous methylprednisolone group was single masked.
Baseline testing included blood tests to evaluate for syphilis and systemic lupus erythematosus, a chest x-ray to evaluate for sarcoidosis, and a brain MRI scan to evaluate for changes suggestive of multiple sclerosis.
The rate of visual recovery and the long-term visual outcome were both assessed by measures of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, and visual field at baseline, at seven followup visits during the first 6 months, and then yearly. A standardized neurologic examination with an assessment of multiple sclerosis status was made at baseline, after 6 months, and then yearly.
Study Type
Phase
- Phase 3
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
-
-
Arkansas
-
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
- University of Arkansas
-
-
California
-
San Francisco, California, United States
- California Pacific Medical Center
-
-
District of Columbia
-
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Georgetown University
-
-
Florida
-
Gainesville, Florida, United States
- University of Florida
-
-
Illinois
-
Chicago, Illinois, United States
- University of Illinois
-
-
Iowa
-
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- University of Iowa
-
-
Maryland
-
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Johns Hopkins University
-
-
Michigan
-
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- University of Michigan
-
East Lansing, Michigan, United States
- Michigan State University
-
-
New York
-
New York, New York, United States
- New York University
-
-
North Carolina
-
Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Duke University
-
-
Oregon
-
Portland, Oregon, United States
- Devers Eye Institute
-
-
Pennsylvania
-
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Wills Eye Hospital
-
-
Texas
-
Houston, Texas, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine
-
-
Washington
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Swedish Medical Center
-
-
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
The major eligibility criteria for enrollment into the ONTT included the following:
Age range of 18 to 46 years
Acute unilateral optic neuritis with visual symptoms for 8 days or less
A relative afferent pupillary defect and a visual field defect in the affected eye
No previous episodes of optic neuritis in the affected eye
No previous corticosteroid treatment for optic neuritis or multiple sclerosis
No systemic disease other than multiple sclerosis that might be the cause of the optic neuritis
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
- Allocation: RANDOMIZED
- Masking: SINGLE
Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Cleary PA, Beck RW, Anderson MM Jr, Kenny DJ, Backlund JY, Gilbert PR. Design, methods, and conduct of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. Control Clin Trials. 1993 Apr;14(2):123-42. doi: 10.1016/0197-2456(93)90015-6.
- Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Beck RW, Cleary PA, Spurr JO. Quality control functions of the Visual Field Reading Center (VFRC) for the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT). Control Clin Trials. 1993 Apr;14(2):143-59. doi: 10.1016/0197-2456(93)90016-7.
- Anderson MM Jr, Boly LD, Beck RW. Remote clinic/patient monitoring for multicenter trials. Optic Neuritis Study Group. Control Clin Trials. 1996 Oct;17(5):407-14. doi: 10.1016/s0197-2456(96)00021-9.
- Optic Neuritis Study Group. The 5-year risk of MS after optic neuritis. Experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial. Neurology. 1997 Nov;49(5):1404-13. doi: 10.1212/wnl.49.5.1404.
- Visual function 5 years after optic neuritis: experience of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. The Optic Neuritis Study Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 1997 Dec;115(12):1545-52.
- The clinical profile of optic neuritis. Experience of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. Optic Neuritis Study Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991 Dec;109(12):1673-8. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1991.01080120057025.
- Beck RW, Cleary PA, Anderson MM Jr, Keltner JL, Shults WT, Kaufman DI, Buckley EG, Corbett JJ, Kupersmith MJ, Miller NR, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of corticosteroids in the treatment of acute optic neuritis. The Optic Neuritis Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1992 Feb 27;326(9):581-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199202273260901.
- Beck RW. Corticosteroid treatment of optic neuritis: a need to change treatment practices. The Optic Neuritis Study Group. Neurology. 1992 Jun;42(6):1133-5. doi: 10.1212/wnl.42.6.1133. No abstract available.
- Beck RW. The optic neuritis treatment trial. Implications for clinical practice. Optic Neuritis Study Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 1992 Mar;110(3):331-2. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1992.01080150029020. No abstract available.
- Beck RW, Arrington J, Murtagh FR, Cleary PA, Kaufman DI. Brain magnetic resonance imaging in acute optic neuritis. Experience of the Optic Neuritis Study Group. Arch Neurol. 1993 Aug;50(8):841-6. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1993.00540080050013.
- Beck RW, Cleary PA. Optic neuritis treatment trial. One-year follow-up results. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Jun;111(6):773-5. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1993.01090060061023.
- Beck RW, Cleary PA. Recovery from severe visual loss in optic neuritis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Mar;111(3):300. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1993.01090030018009. No abstract available.
- Beck RW; Diehl L; Cleary PA; Optic Neuritis Study Group; The Pelli-Robson Letter Chart: Normative data for young adults., Clin Vis Sci 1993;8:207-210
- Beck RW, Kupersmith MJ, Cleary PA, Katz B. Fellow eye abnormalities in acute unilateral optic neuritis. Experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial. Ophthalmology. 1993 May;100(5):691-7; discussion 697-8. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(13)31589-9.
- Chrousos GA, Kattah JC, Beck RW, Cleary PA. Side effects of glucocorticoid treatment. Experience of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. JAMA. 1993 Apr 28;269(16):2110-2.
- Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Spurr JO, Beck RW. Baseline visual field profile of optic neuritis. The experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial. Optic Neuritis Study Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Feb;111(2):231-4. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1993.01090020085029.
- Beck RW, Cleary PA, Backlund JC. The course of visual recovery after optic neuritis. Experience of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. Ophthalmology. 1994 Nov;101(11):1771-8. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(94)31103-1.
- Keltner JL, Johnson CA, Spurr JO, Beck RW. Visual field profile of optic neuritis. One-year follow-up in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 1994 Jul;112(7):946-53. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1994.01090190094027.
- Beck RW. The optic neuritis treatment trial: three-year follow-up results. Arch Ophthalmol. 1995 Feb;113(2):136-7. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1995.01100020014004. No abstract available.
- Beck RW, Trobe JD. The Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. Putting the results in perspective. The Optic Neuritis Study Group. J Neuroophthalmol. 1995 Sep;15(3):131-5. No abstract available.
- Beck RW, Trobe JD. What we have learned from the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. Ophthalmology. 1995 Oct;102(10):1504-8. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(95)30839-1. No abstract available.
- Rolak LA, Beck RW, Paty DW, Tourtellotte WW, Whitaker JN, Rudick RA. Cerebrospinal fluid in acute optic neuritis: experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial. Neurology. 1996 Feb;46(2):368-72. doi: 10.1212/wnl.46.2.368.
- Trobe JD, Beck RW, Moke PS, Cleary PA. Contrast sensitivity and other vision tests in the optic neuritis treatment trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 1996 May;121(5):547-53. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)75429-7.
- Cleary PA, Beck RW, Bourque LB, Backlund JC, Miskala PH. Visual symptoms after optic neuritis. Results from the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. J Neuroophthalmol. 1997 Mar;17(1):18-23; quiz 24-8. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)70814-1.
- Solli E, Doshi H, Elze T, Pasquale L, Wall M, Kupersmith M. Archetypal Analysis Reveals Quantifiable Patterns of Visual Field Loss in Optic Neuritis. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022 Jan 3;11(1):27. doi: 10.1167/tvst.11.1.27.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (ESTIMATE)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
- Nervous System Diseases
- Immune System Diseases
- Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS
- Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System
- Demyelinating Diseases
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Eye Diseases
- Neuromuscular Diseases
- Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
- Optic Nerve Diseases
- Cranial Nerve Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuritis
- Optic Neuritis
- Physiological Effects of Drugs
- Autonomic Agents
- Peripheral Nervous System Agents
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Antiemetics
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Glucocorticoids
- Hormones
- Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
- Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
- Neuroprotective Agents
- Protective Agents
- Prednisolone
- Methylprednisolone Acetate
- Methylprednisolone
- Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate
- Prednisolone acetate
- Prednisolone hemisuccinate
- Prednisolone phosphate
- Prednisone
Other Study ID Numbers
- NEI-47
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.
Clinical Trials on Multiple Sclerosis
-
University Hospital, Basel, SwitzerlandSwiss National Science FoundationRecruitingMultiple Sclerosis (MS) | Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) | Secondary-progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) | Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)Switzerland
-
University of California, Los AngelesUnknownRelapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary-progressive Multiple Sclerosis | Primary-progressive Multiple SclerosisUnited States
-
BiogenCompletedMultiple Sclerosis | Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis | Multiple Sclerosis, Primary Progressive | Multiple Sclerosis, Remittent ProgressiveJapan
-
The Cleveland ClinicUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterCompletedRelapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis | Progressive Relapsing Multiple SclerosisUnited States
-
Rigshospitalet, DenmarkOdense University Hospital; Aarhus University Hospital; Hvidovre University Hospital and other collaboratorsRecruitingRelapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple SclerosisDenmark
-
University of California, San FranciscoUnited States Department of DefenseRecruitingMultiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive | Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting | Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Multiple Sclerosis Relapse | Multiple Sclerosis, Primary Progressive | Multiple Sclerosis Brain Lesion | Multiple Sclerosis BenignUnited States
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiColumbia University; New York Stem Cell Foundation Research InstituteCompletedClinically Isolated Syndrome | Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple SclerosisUnited States
-
Queen Mary University of LondonTakeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.RecruitingRelapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple SclerosisUnited Kingdom
-
Banc de Sang i TeixitsVall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)CompletedRelapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple SclerosisSpain
-
BiogenElan PharmaceuticalsCompletedRelapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis | Secondary Progressive Multiple SclerosisUnited States
Clinical Trials on Prednisone
-
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyCompleted
-
University of South FloridaNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); National Institute of Arthritis... and other collaboratorsActive, not recruitingVasculitis | Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis | Wegener GranulomatosisUnited States
-
Rabin Medical CenterUnknown
-
University of Alabama at BirminghamNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)CompletedMyasthenia GravisThailand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, United States, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom
-
University of PennsylvaniaNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); National Institute of Arthritis... and other collaboratorsActive, not recruitingGranulomatosis With PolyangiitisUnited States, Canada
-
Federal University of São PauloFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloUnknown
-
Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación...Sociedad Andaluza de Trasplantes de Organos y TejidosCompletedRenal Transplant Rejection | Other Complication of Kidney TransplantSpain
-
Prof. Tony hayek MDCompletedDiabetes | Atherosclerosis | DyslipidemiasIsrael
-
Health Science Center of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityUnknownFocal Segmental GlomerulosclerosisChina
-
National Institute for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases...SuspendedInterstitial Lung Disease | Lung Neoplasm MalignantPoland