Evaluation of the Antipruritic Effect of Elidel (Pimecrolimus) in Non-atopic Pruritic Disease (CASM981CDE21)

The development of the topical calcineurin inhibitor pimecrolimus resulted in a significant improvement in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. In addition, an excellent amelioration of pruritus could be regularly observed. Up to now, several itchy dermatoses such as chronic irritative hand dermatitis, rosacea, graft-versus-host-disease, lichen sclerosus, prurigo simplex, scrotal eczema, and inverse psoriasis were reported as single cases also to respond to a pimecrolimus treatment.

In prurigo nodularis, pruritus is the main symptom and it is of immediate importance to find an effective antipruritic therapy. Pruritus is regularly severe and therapy refractory to topical steroids or systemic antihistamines. Capsaicin cream is one effective possibility to reduce the itch in these diseases. However, it has to be applied 3 to 6 times daily, rubs off on the clothing and induces burning in erosions. In addition, since no commercial preparation is available, it has to be prescribed in several concentrations. The application of pimecrolimus seems to be promising since it has to be applied twice daily only. Especially in prurigo nodularis we expect a good response as we could demonstrate in single patients. Furthermore it has been published recently that Tacrolimus, another calcineurin inhibitor has been successfully used in the treatment of six patients with prurigo nodularis.

This study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus 1% cream and hydrocortisone 1% cream in prurigo nodularis and to investigate the mode of action of the antipruritic effect of the drugs.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Prurigo Nodularis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Pimecrolimus; Drug: Pimecrolimus; Drug: Hydrocortisone

Detailed Description

Patients will be treated with pimecrolimus cream 1% and hydrocortisone cream 1% twice daily for 8 weeks on diseased skin in a double-blind, randomized within patient comparison (left arm pimecrolimus, right arm hydrocortisone or vice versa). Patients will then enter a 4-week treatment free follow-up period. The overall study duration is 12 months.

The study population will consist of a representative group of 30 adult patients (18 - 70 years of age) with prurigo nodularis from one center in Germany.

Inclusion criteria

• Age: 18 - 70 years
• Diagnosis: Prurigo nodularis
• Pruritus intensity above VAS 3 (Visual analogue scale 0 to 10)
• Nodules on arms and legs (target areas: arms)
• No effective current external or internal antipruritic medication
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• prurigo nodularis with massive excoriations and/or local infections
• atopic dermatitis, predisposition for atopic dermatitis
• Itch intensity below VAS 4 (visual analoge scale 0 to 10)
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women, where pregnancy is defined as the state of a female after conception and until the termination of gestation, confirmed by a positive hCG test. Pregnancy should be ruled out before stating the study by a b-subunit HCG test.
• Females of childbearing potential and not practicing a medically approved, highly effective (low failure rate) method of contraception during and up to at least 4 weeks after the end of treatment. 'Medically approved' contraception may include implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs (e.g. intrauterine device), sexual abstinence or if the woman has a vasectomized partner.
• active psychosomatic and psychiatric diseases
• History of active malignancy of any organ system
• actual diseases which need therapy and may induce pruritus (e.g. deficiency of iron, zinc)
• Systemic immunosuppression
• Topical use of tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, steroids or capsaicin within 2 weeks prior to study entry
• current and past (within 2 weeks prior to study entry) systemic use of antihistamines, steroids, cyclosporin A and other immunosuppressants, paroxetin, fluvoxamine (selective serotonin reuptake- inhibitors, study possible in case of medication since 6 months due to depression without having any Antipruritic effect) naltrexone and UV-therapy.
• wound healing disturbances, disposition for keloids, current medication which leads to increased bleeding during procedure e.g. acetylsalicylic acid (ASS), marcumar (no suction blister possible)
• History of hypersensitivity to pimecrolimus 1% cream or hydrocortisone 1% cream
• Participation in other clinical studies within the last 4 weeks

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Münster, Germany, 48149
    • Department of Dermtology, University of Münster

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18 - 70 years
• Diagnosis: Prurigo nodularis
• Pruritus intensity above VAS 3 (Visual analoge scale 0 to 10)
• Nodules on arms and legs (target areas: arms)
• No effective current external or internal antipruritic medication
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• prurigo nodularis with massive excoriations and/or local infections
• atopic dermatitis, predisposition for atopic dermatitis
• Itch intensity below VAS 4 (visual analoge scale 0 to 10)
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women, where pregnancy is defined as the state of a female after conception and until the termination of gestation, confirmed by a positive hCG test. Pregnancy should be ruled out before stating the study by a b-subunit HCG test.
• Females of childbearing potential and not practicing a medically approved, highly effective (low failure rate) method of contraception during and up to at least 4 weeks after the end of treatment. 'Medically approved' contraception may include implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs (e.g. intrauterine device), sexual abstinence or if the woman has a vasectomized partner.
• active psychosomatic and psychiatric diseases
• History of active malignancy of any organ system
• actual diseases which need therapy and may induce pruritus (e.g. deficiency of iron, zinc)
• Systemic immunosuppression
• Topical use of tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, steroids or capsaicin within 2 weeks prior to study entry
• current and past (within 2 weeks prior to study entry) systemic use of antihistamines, steroids, cyclosporin A and other immunosuppressants, paroxetin, fluvoxamine (selective serotonin reuptake- inhibitors, study possible in case of medication since 6 months due to depression without having any Antipruritic effect) naltrexone and UV-therapy.
• wound healing disturbances, disposition for keloids, current medication which leads to increased bleeding during procedure e.g. acetylsalicylic acid (ASS), marcumar (no suction blister possible)
• History of hypersensitivity to pimecrolimus 1% cream or hydrocortisone 1% cream
• Participation in other clinical studies within the last 4 weeks

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: I; Interindividual design: active and comparator (one side each) applied twice daily	Drug: Pimecrolimus; twice daily topical; Other Names: Elidel Cream 1%; Drug: Pimecrolimus; topical application as a cream twice daily; Other Names: Elidel 1% Cream
Active Comparator: II Hydrocortisone; Hydrocortisone, twice daily	Drug: Hydrocortisone; twice daily topical; Other Names: Hydrocortisone HExal

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Hypothesis: pimecrolimus is superior in the reduction of the itch intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS) compared to hydrocortisone cream 1%. H1: mean value VAS pimecrolimus < mean value VAS hydrocortisone	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Improvement of total symptom score (papule, nodules, excoriations, crusting, erythema) scored from 0-3 for each single symptom	12 months
Change of skin neuropeptide content in suction blisters	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital Muenster
• Collaborators: Novartis Pharmaceuticals
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Thomas A Luger, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, D-48149 Münster, Germany

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Stander S, Stander H, Seeliger S, Luger TA, Steinhoff M. Topical pimecrolimus and tacrolimus transiently induce neuropeptide release and mast cell degranulation in murine skin. Br J Dermatol. 2007 May;156(5):1020-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.07813.x. Epub 2007 Mar 28.
• Stander S, Luger TA. [Antipruritic effects of pimecrolimus and tacrolimus]. Hautarzt. 2003 May;54(5):413-7. doi: 10.1007/s00105-003-0521-6. Epub 2003 Mar 21. German.
• Senba E, Katanosaka K, Yajima H, Mizumura K. The immunosuppressant FK506 activates capsaicin- and bradykinin-sensitive DRG neurons and cutaneous C-fibers. Neurosci Res. 2004 Nov;50(3):257-62. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2004.07.005.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 26, 2007
• First Posted (Estimate): July 27, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 7, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 6, 2010
• Last Verified: February 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Prurigo nodularis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Prurigo; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Dermatologic Agents; Calcineurin Inhibitors; Tacrolimus; Hydrocortisone; Hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate; Hydrocortisone acetate; Hydrocortisone hemisuccinate; Pimecrolimus
• Other Study ID Numbers: SST-Pr-2-2005