Reducing the Risk of Drug-Induced QT Interval Lengthening in Women

June 12, 2025 updated by: James E. Tisdale, Indiana University

Novel Approaches for Minimizing Drug-Induced QT Interval Lengthening: Reducing the Risk of Drug-Induced QT Interval Lengthening in Women

This research will determine if oral progesterone attenuates drug-induced QT interval lengthening in a) Postmenopausal women 50 years of age or older, and b) Premenopausal women studied during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle. This investigation will consist of two concurrent prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover-design studies in a) Postmenopausal women, and b) Premenopausal women. Each subject will take progesterone or placebo capsules for 1 week. After a two-week "washout" (no progesterone or placebo) each subject will then take the alternative therapy (progesterone or placebo) for 1 week. After 7 days of each treatment, subjects will present to the clinical research center to receive a small dose of the QT interval-lengthening drug ibutilide, and the effect on the QT, J-Tpeak and Tpeak-Tend intervals during the progesterone and placebo phases will be compared

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Torsades de pointes (TdP) is a catastrophic arrhythmia associated with corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation, which can be induced by > 150 commonly prescribed drugs. TdP risk is higher in women and is modulated by the ratio of serum progesterone and estradiol; the higher the serum progesterone and progesterone:estradiol ratio, the lower the risk, and vice-versa. TdP risk increases with age, likely due to declining postmenopausal progesterone concentrations. Methods to reduce TdP risk in postmenopausal women requiring therapy with QTc interval-prolonging drugs have not been developed. In addition, the differential effects of progesterone on drug-induced lengthening of early vs late ventricular repolarization in humans are unknown. The investigators have previously shown that oral progesterone attenuates QTc interval lengthening in young women during the menses phase when serum estradiol concentrations are low. However, whether oral progesterone remains effective for attenuating drug-induced QTc interval lengthening during menstrual cycle phases with higher serum estradiol concentrations is unknown. The efficacy of oral progesterone for attenuating drug-induced QTc interval lengthening in postmenopausal women is also unknown. Specific Aim1: Determine the efficacy of oral progesterone as a preventive method to diminish drug-induced QTc interval lengthening in postmenopausal women. Specific Aim 2: Determine the influence of oral progesterone on drug-induced lengthening of early versus late ventricular repolarization in postmenopausal women. Specific Aim 3: Determine the efficacy of oral progesterone to diminish drug-induced QTc interval lengthening in premenopausal women during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle, when serum estradiol concentrations are high. Specific Aim 4: Specific Aim 4: Determine the influence of oral progesterone on drug-induced lengthening of early versus late ventricular repolarization in premenopausal women during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle, when serum estradiol concentrations are high.

Concurrent prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled two-way crossover-design studies will be conducted in a) Postmenopausal women > 50 years of age (n=20) and b) Premenopausal women 21-40 years of age (n=20) who will be studied during the ovulation phase of the menstural cycle. QTc interval response to low-dose ibutilide will be assessed. Subjects will receive, in randomized order (with a minimum two-week washout phase) oral progesterone 400 mg or placebo once daily for 7 days. On the morning after the 7th dose, subjects will present to the Indiana Clinical Research Center to receive one dose of the QT interval-lengthening drug ibutilide 0.003 mg/kg, after which ECGs and blood for determination of serum ibutilide concentrations will be obtained serially for 8 hours. Primary outcome measures: 1) Baseline (pre-ibutilide) Fridericia (QTFrid) and Framingham (QTFram)-corrected QT intervals, 2) Maximum QTFrid and QTFram intervals following ibutilide, 3) Maximum % change in QTFrid and QTFram intervals following ibutilide, 4) Area under the QTFrid and QTFram interval-time curves from 0-1 and 0-8 hours. Secondary outcome measures: 1) J-Tpeak interval, 2) Tpeak-Tend interval, and 5) Incidence of progesterone and ibutilide adverse effects. These studies will establish oral progesterone as a safe and effective method of attenuating drug-induced QTc interval lengthening in postmenopausal women.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
27

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Heather Jaynes, MSN
  • Phone Number: 317-880-5410
  • Email: hwroblew@iu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Indiana
      • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
        • Indiana University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Postmenopausal women:

  • 50 years of age or older
  • No menstrual periods for 365 days or longer

Premenopausal women:

- 21-40 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of breast, uterine or ovarian cancer
  • History of hysterectomy and/or ovariectomy
  • Weight > 135 kg
  • Serum K+ < 3.6 mEq/L;
  • Serum Mg2+ < 1.8 mg/dL;
  • Hematocrit < 26%;
  • Hepatic transaminases > 3x upper limit of normal;
  • Baseline Bazett's-corrected QT interval > 450 ms
  • Taking hormone replacement therapy
  • Diagnosis of heart failure

  • Symptoms associated with heart failure:

    • Pitting edema > 2+
    • Crackles or rales on lung auscultation
    • S3 or S4 heart sounds
    • Unable to climb at least 2 flights of stairs without becoming short of breath
  • Current ECG rhythm of atrial fibrillation or other tachyarrhythmia
  • Family or personal history of long-QT syndrome or sudden cardiac death not associated with acute myocardial infarction
  • Concomitant use of any QTc interval-prolonging drug.
  • Permanently paced ventricular rhythm
  • Pregnancy
  • Using any hormonal contraceptives [oral contraceptives, hormone-secreting intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormonal implants]

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Postmenopausal women: Progesterone
Subjects will receive treatment with oral progesterone 400 mg once daily (two x 200 mg capsules) every evening for 7 days
Drug: Progesterone
Subjects will receive oral progesterone 400 mg (two x 200 mg capsules) once daily every evening for 7 days
Drug: Ibutilide
Ibutilide 0.003 mg/kg administered to all subjects to moderately lengthen the QT interval
Other Names:
  • Corvert
Placebo Comparator: Postmenopausal women: Placebo
Subjects will receive oral placebo, two capsules once daily every evening for 7 days
Drug: Ibutilide
Ibutilide 0.003 mg/kg administered to all subjects to moderately lengthen the QT interval
Other Names:
  • Corvert
Experimental: Premenopausal women: Progesterone
Subjects will receive treatment with oral progesterone 400 mg once daily (two x 200 mg capsules) every evening for 7 days
Drug: Progesterone
Subjects will receive oral progesterone 400 mg (two x 200 mg capsules) once daily every evening for 7 days
Drug: Ibutilide
Ibutilide 0.003 mg/kg administered to all subjects to moderately lengthen the QT interval
Other Names:
  • Corvert
Placebo Comparator: Premenopausal women: Placebo
Subjects will receive oral placebo, two capsules once daily every evening for 7 days
Drug: Ibutilide
Ibutilide 0.003 mg/kg administered to all subjects to moderately lengthen the QT interval
Other Names:
  • Corvert

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Baseline (Pre-ibutilide) QT-F Intervals
Time Frame: After 7 days of treatment with oral progesterone or placebo, prior to receiving ibutilide
QT intervals will be corrected for heart rate using the Fridericia method
After 7 days of treatment with oral progesterone or placebo, prior to receiving ibutilide
Maximum Post-ibutilide QT-F Intervals
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Maximum post-ibutilide QT-F intervals
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
% Change From Baseline (Pre-ibutilide) in Maximum QT-F Intervals
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
% change from baseline (pre-ibutilide) in maximum QT-F intervals
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Area Under the QT-F Versus Time Curves During and for 1 Hour Following Ibutilide Infusion
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1 hour after the ibutilide infusion
Area under the QT-F versus time curves during and for 1 hour
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1 hour after the ibutilide infusion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Baseline (Pre-ibutilide) Heart Rate-corrected J-Tpeak (J-Tpeakc) Intervals
Time Frame: After 7 days of treatment with oral progesterone or placebo, prior to receiving ibutilide
Baseline (pre-ibutilide) heart rate-corrected J-Tpeak (J-Tpeakc) intervals
After 7 days of treatment with oral progesterone or placebo, prior to receiving ibutilide
Maximum Post-ibutilide J-Tpeakc Intervals
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Maximum post-ibutilide J-Tpeakc intervals
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
% Change From Baseline (Pre-ibutilide) in Maximum J-Tpeakc Intervals
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
% change from baseline (pre-ibutilide) in maximum J-Tpeakc intervals
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Area Under the J-Tpeakc Versus Time Curve During and for 1 Hour Following Ibutilide Infusion
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1 hour after the ibutilide infusion
Area under the J-Tpeakc versus time curve during and for 1 hour following
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1 hour after the ibutilide infusion
Baseline (Pre-ibutilide) Tpeak-Tend Intervals
Time Frame: After 7 days of treatment with oral progesterone or placebo, prior to receiving ibutilide
Baseline (pre-ibutilide) Tpeak-Tend intervals
After 7 days of treatment with oral progesterone or placebo, prior to receiving ibutilide
Maximum Post-ibutilide Tpeak-Tend Intervals
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Maximum post-ibutilide Tpeak-Tend intervals
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
% Change From Baseline (Pre-ibutilide) Maximum Tpeak-Tend Intervals
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
% change from baseline (pre-ibutilide) maximum Tpeak-Tend intervals
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Area Under the Tpeak-Tend Versus Time Curves During and for 1 Hour Following Ibutilide Infusion
Time Frame: Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1 hour after the ibutilide infusion
Area under the Tpeak-Tend versus time curves during and for 1 hour following ibutilide infusion
Prior to ibutilide; at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1 hour after the ibutilide infusion

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Adverse effects
Time Frame: During the 7 days of treatment with progesterone/placebo and at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion
Adverse effects fo progesterone, placebo and ibutilide will be assessed
During the 7 days of treatment with progesterone/placebo and at 5 minutes into the 10-minute ibutilide infusion; end of infusion; and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after the ibutilide infusion

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Indiana University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
American Heart Association
Purdue University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: James E Tisdale, PharmD, Purdue University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 26, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 21, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 23, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 6, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 7, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 8, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 1, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 12, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1806935117

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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

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.

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