Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction in Hypogonadal Men With Epilepsy With Testosterone and Either Anastrozole or Placebo

Comparison of Anastrozole and Testosterone Versus Placebo and Testosterone Treatment of Reproductive and Sexual Dysfunction in Men With Epilepsy and Hypogonadism

The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment using a medication (anastrozole/Arimidex), which lowers estrogen levels in the blood is better than placebo, a tablet that does not contain any active medication, when combined with testosterone replacement to treat reproductive and sexual dysfunction in men with epilepsy. Anastrozole, the medication that is currently under study, does not, at this time, have FDA approval for use for this indication.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Erectile Dysfunction; Hypogonadism; Seizure Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet; Drug: Anastrozole 1mg

Detailed Description

This is a three-month study where baseline information is collected at the first visit and then each patient is started on treatment with testosterone supplementation and either anastrozole or placebo. Lab tests, seizure frequency, sexual function and mood will be monitored on a monthly basis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject must be a male between the ages of 18 and 50 years.
• Subject must have localization-related epilepsy with complex partial and/or secondary generalized seizures.
• Subject will meet criteria for hypogonadism (abnormally low bioactive testosterone levels and abnormally low scores on questionnaires of reproductive and sexual function).
• Subject will have had a normal urogenital and rectal/prostate exam during the year prior to entry.
• Subject will have had documentation of therapeutic range serum AED levels, a normal CBC, and hepatic enzyme (ALT,AST, alkaline phosphatase) levels that are less than twofold elevated during the 6 months prior to entry.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject that has taken hormones, major tranquilizers or antidepressants in the three months prior to entry.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: depotestosterone plus anastrozole (T-A); Each participant has biweekly intramuscular injections of 300 mg depotestosterone cypionate and takes an oral tablet of anastrozole 1 mg daily for the duration of the study. This group is referred to as the depotestosterone plus anastrozole (T-A) group.	Drug: Anastrozole 1mg; Other Names: Arimidex
Placebo Comparator: depotestosterone plus placebo (T-P); Each participant has biweekly intramuscular injections of 300 mg depotestosterone cypionate and takes 1 matching placebo oral tablet daily for the duration of the study. This group is referred to as the depotestosterone plus placebo (T-P) group.	Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sexual Function Scores, Calculated Using S-Score and Reynolds' Sexual Questionnaires, Will Increase More Anastrozole and Testosterone Treatment Than With Placebo and Testosterone Treatment.	S-Scores and Reynolds Questionnaire scores were assessed at baseline and once a month over three months. The average change in score for each questionnaire over the 3 month study was reported. The S-Scores questionnaire measured sexual function and consisted of four questions with five possible answers. The total scale range was 0-20, with higher scores were considered better. S-Scores that were greater than or equal to 16/20 were considered normalized S-Scores. Reynolds Questionnaire is a 21 item survey that monitors sexual interest, activity, satisfaction, and function. The scale for the Reynolds questionnaire for sexual interest was from 0-12, with higher scores being better. The scale for sexual activity was 0-41 with higher scores being better. The sexual satisfaction scale was from 0-21 with higher scores being better. The scale for sexual function was from 0 to -12 with lower scores being better.	3 month average

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Proportion of Men Who Achieve Normalization of Sexual Scores (Sexual Interest Function,) Using Anastrozole and Placebo	The proportion of men who achieve normalization of sexual scores (scores greater than or equal to 16/20) on anastrozole (T-A) and those on placebo (T-P) are reported. Both Men who achieve normalization of sexual scores and those who did not achieve normalization of sexual scores were reported for anastrozole (T-A) treatment group and the placebo treatment group. Sexual scores were gathered once per month for three months with the average of the three months reported.	Assessed for 3 months
Bioavailable Testosterone Levels in Subjects on Anastrozole (T-A) and Subjects on Placebo (T-P).	Bioavailable testosterone levels were measured at baseline and once a month over the three month study. The average change in bioactive testosterone levels from baseline to the end of the three month study was reported.	Assessed for 3 months
Estradiol Levels in Subjects on Anastrozole (T-A) and Subjects on Placebo (T-P).	Estradiol levels were measured once a month over the three month study in subjects taking anastrozole (T-A) and in subjects taking placebo (T-P). The average change in estradiol levels was reported.	Assessed for 3 months
The Bioavailable Testosterone and Estradiol Ratio in Subjects Taking Anastrozole and Subjects Taking Placebo.	Bioavailable testosterone and estradiol levels were measured once a month over the three month study in subjects taking anastrozole and subjects taking placebo. The bioavailable testosterone and estradiol levels for the three months were averaged for each subject. The ratio between the average bioavailable testosterone level and average estradiol levels were reported.	Assessed for 3 months
Bioavailable Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone Ratios in Subjects Taking Anastrozole (T-A) and in Subjects Taking Placebo (T-P).	Bioavailable Testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were measured once a month over the three month study in the treatment and placebo group. The bioactive testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were averaged for the three months. The ratio between the average bioactive testosterone level and average luteinizing hormone levels were reported.	Assessed for 3 months
Estradiol and Luteinizing Hormone Ratios in Subjects Taking Anastrozole (T-A) and in Subjects Taking Placebo (T-P).	Estradiol and luteinizing hormone levels were measured once a month over the three month study in the treatment and placebo group. The estradiol and luteinizing hormone levels were averaged for the three months. The ratio between the average estradiol levels and average luteinizing hormone levels were reported.	Assessed for 3 months
Changes in Seizure Frequency in Subjects Taking Anastrozole (T-A) and Subjects Taking Placebo (T-P).	The average change in number of seizures over the 3 month study for the depotestosterone plus anastrozole (T-A) and depotestosterone plus placebo (T-P) were reported.	Assessed for 3 months
Changes in Energy, Mood and Anxiety Scores for Subjects Taking Anastrozole (T-A) and for Subjects Taking Placebo (T-P).	Changes in energy, mood and anxiety scores were measured using The Beck Depression Inventory II and the POMS questionnaire. The Beck Depression Inventory II questionnaire consisted of 21 questions, each with answers ranging from 0-3. The answers for each question were summed. The scale ranged from 0-63 with higher scores meaning a higher depression score (worse score). The POMS questionnaire had a total of 65 questions that measured tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue and confusion. The total POMS score ranged from 0-200, with lower scores being better. The POMS tension score ranged from 0-36 with lower scores being better. The POMS depression score ranged from 0-60 with lower scores being better. The POMS anger score ranged from 0-48, lower scores being better. The POMS vigor score ranged from 0-32, lower scores being better. The POMS fatigue score ranged from 0-28, lower scores being better. The POMS confusion score ranged from 0-28 with lower scores being better.	Assessed for 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Collaborators: AstraZeneca
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrew Herzog, M.D., M.Sc., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Herzog AG, Farina EL, Drislane FW, Schomer DL, Smithson SD, Fowler KM, Dworetzky BA, Bromfield EB. A comparison of anastrozole and testosterone versus placebo and testosterone for treatment of sexual dysfunction in men with epilepsy and hypogonadism. Epilepsy Behav. 2010 Feb;17(2):264-71. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.12.003. Epub 2010 Jan 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2001
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 13, 2005
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 13, 2005
• First Posted (Estimate): September 16, 2005

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 17, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2019
• Last Verified: July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Epilepsy; Hypogonadism; Hormone; Men; Testosterone; Seizure; Sexual Dysfunction
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Endocrine System Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Epilepsy; Erectile Dysfunction; Seizures; Hypogonadism; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Hormone Antagonists; Aromatase Inhibitors; Steroid Synthesis Inhibitors; Estrogen Antagonists; Anastrozole
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2001P000149; IRUSANAS0004

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No