Colchicine Use in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Colchicine Use in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease - a Pilot Open-labelled Randomized Trial

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major ischaemic stroke aetiology in Asia. Influenced by genetics, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. From the SAMMPRIS cohort, 1-year stroke recurrence risk was 13% even with intensive medical therapy.

In this pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the investigators shall recruit 44 patients with recent ischaemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAD) with ≥ 50% stenosis. Patients will be randomly assigned to either low-dose colchicine (0.5mg daily) (n=22) or placebo (n=22) for 12 months. High-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging will be performed at baseline and 12 months. The primary endpoint is a composite of regression of intracranial stenosis, plaque volume, or occurrence of any major adverse cardio- or cerebrovascular events at 12 months. The investigators shall also evaluate safety endpoints including diarrhea, marrow suppression, infections, neuromuscular dysfunction.

No studies had focused on the use of colchicine in patients with ICAD, which is highly prevalent in Asia. Results from this pilot trial will provide an important basis for a larger-scale main trial in the future.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: ICAD - Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Colchicine 0.5 MG

Detailed Description

Background:

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major ischaemic stroke aetiology in Asia. Influenced by genetics, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, over 40% of ischaemic strokes were related to ICAD in China. ICAD also predicted high risk of recurrence compared to other stroke aetiologies. From the SAMMPRIS cohort, 1-year stroke recurrence risk was 13% even with intensive medical therapy. While up-front endovascular intervention resulted in unacceptably high peri-procedural stroke risk of 20%-36%, minimal advances in medical therapy targeting ICAD had been made.

Literature clinical findings were supported by coronary plaque-imaging studies performed in human and animal models, which showed coronary plaque regression in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome and reduction in abdominal-aortic plaque inflammation in a rabbit-model. In parallel, under intensive medical therapy, ICAD plaque regression could be seen in 49% of patients. Nevertheless, recurrent stroke rate still exceeded 10% despite treatment targets of blood pressure ≤140/90, HbA1c ≤6.5%, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ≤1.8mmol/L in our previous cohort. There is a need to further reduce plaque growth, thrombogenicity and haemodynamic compromise by intensifying anti-atherosclerotic therapy. An updated meta-analysis showed that colchicine use in patients with high cardiovascular risk was associated with lower stroke incidence (12). However, no studies had focused on the use of colchicine in patients with ICAD, which is highly prevalent in Asia.

Objective:

In this pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the investigators aim to elucidate the efficacy and safety of low-dose colchicine (0.5mg daily) in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease. The investigators hypothesize that low-dose colchicine in addition to intensive medical therapy, compared to intensive medical therapy alone, may result in more plaque regression in patients with symptomatic ICAD. Results from this pilot trial will provide an important basis for a larger-scale main trial in the future.

Methods:

In this pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the investigators shall recruit 44 patients with recent ischaemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAD) with ≥ 50% stenosis. Patients will be randomly assigned to either low-dose colchicine (0.5mg daily) (n=22) or placebo (n=22) for 12 months. High-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging will be performed at baseline and 12 months. The primary endpoint is a composite of regression of intracranial stenosis, plaque volume, or occurrence of any major adverse cardio- or cerebrovascular events at 12 months. The investigators shall also evaluate safety endpoints including diarrhea, marrow suppression, infections, neuromuscular dysfunction.

Significance:

No studies had focused on the use of colchicine in patients with ICAD, which is highly prevalent in Asia. Results from this pilot trial will provide an important basis for a larger-scale main trial in the future.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 72
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Fung Tsang; Phone Number: +852 35051853; Email: sftsang@cuhk.edu.hk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Trista Hung; Email: tristahung@cuhk.edu.hk

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Recruiting
    • Chinese University of Hong Kong
    • Contact: Bonaventure Yiu Ming IP, MB ChB; Phone Number: 852-28902002; Email: bonaventureip@cuhk.edu.hk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

1. Chinese patients aged 40-80 years old
2. Patients with symptomatic ICAD of ≥ 50% stenosis in middle cerebral arteries, basilar artery. Degree of stenosis will be quantified by computer tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) by the WASID method (13). Symptomatic ICAD is defined as ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack with clinical or radiological signs correspond to the vascular territory supplied by the disease vessel.
3. Patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke within 8 weeks of recruitment

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients who are unable to provide an informed consent
2. Patients who are contraindicated to contrast MRI scans, e.g. non-MRI compatible pacemaker, claustrophobia, known gadolinium-based contrast allergy, estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30mL/min/1.73m2, etc.
3. Patients who have absolute or relative contraindications to colchicine therapy, e.g. colchicine allergy, neuromuscular disorders, haematological diseases, chronic diarrhea, estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30mL/min/1.73m2, chronic liver disease, etc.
4. Patients with intracranial stenosis not due to atherosclerosis, e.g. vasculitis, vasospasm, Moyamoya disease, etc.
5. Pregnancy
6. Patients with elevated creatine kinase level at randomisation stage of study.
7. Recurrent gouty arthritis that requires colchicine for > 3 months per year;
8. Inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea;
9. Neuromuscular disease or a nontransient creatine kinase level that was greater than three times the upper limit of the normal range (unless due to infarction) for > 3 months;
10. Clinically significant nontransient hematologic abnormalities with hemoglobin <10g/dL, white blood cell < 4x10^9, or platelet < 100x10^9/L for > 3 months;
11. Alcoholism;
12. Long term systemic glucocorticoid therapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Standard of care; Standard medical therapy
Active Comparator: Colchicine; 0.5 mg of Colchicine for 12 months to be orally taken	Drug: Colchicine 0.5 MG; 0.5mg Orally Taken Colchicine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Regression of intracranial stenosis	Regression in stenosis of ≥ 15% using the WASID method.	at 12 months
Regression of plaque volume	Regression of plaque burden of ≥ 15% compared to baseline.	at 12 months
Major adverse cardio- or cerebrovascular events (MACE)	Occurrence of any major adverse cardio- or cerebrovascular events (MACE).	at 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Longitudinal changes in ICAD stenosis	Subjects will receive a novel high-resolution magnetic resonant vessel-wall imaging which depicts the degree of symptomatic stenosis, plaque burden, plaque enhancement, plaque remodelling and intraplaque haemorrhage.	at 12 months
Longitudinal changes in plaque volume	Longitudinal changes in plaque volume by DSA or equivalent imaging techniques.	at 1,3,6,9,12 months
Longitudinal changes in resolution of plaque enhancement	Longitudinal changes in resolution of plaque enhancement by DSA or equivalent imaging techniques.	at 1,3,6,9,12 months
Longitudinal changes in white matter hyperintensity volume	Longitudinal changes in white matter hyperintensity volume by MRI or equivalent imaging.	at 12 months
Longitudinal changes in number of silent lacunes	Longitudinal changes in number of silent lacunes by MRI or equivalent imaging.	at 12 months
Longitudinal changes in cognitive ability	Longitudinal changes in cognitive ability by assessment: Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (5-min Protocol).	at 1,3,6,9,12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 28, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 29, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 14, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): August 16, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 4, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 2, 2024
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: CVA; colchicine; ICAD
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Intracranial Arterial Diseases; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Antirheumatic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Tubulin Modulators; Antimitotic Agents; Mitosis Modulators; Gout Suppressants; Colchicine
• Other Study ID Numbers: CREC No. 2022.008

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