Hypertonic Saline Inhalation for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease (HiNTM)
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Early Versus Delayed Hypertonic Saline Inhalation in Treatment-Naïve Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease
This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluates the clinical and microbiological effects of inhaled 3% hypertonic saline in treatment-naïve patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). Participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either early initiation of 3% hypertonic saline for 6 months or delayed initiation consisting of normal saline inhalation during the first 3 months followed by 3% hypertonic saline during the subsequent 3 months.
The primary objective is to compare respiratory symptom improvement between hypertonic saline and normal saline at Month 3. Secondary objectives include evaluating sputum microbiological outcomes, radiographic changes, inflammatory markers, small airway function, treatment initiation, safety, and within-participant changes before and after switching from normal saline to hypertonic saline in the delayed-initiation arm.
The first participant was enrolled on October 3, 2025.
研究概览
详细说明
Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) is a chronic pulmonary infection that frequently progresses despite conservative management. Because prolonged multidrug antibiotic therapy is associated with substantial treatment burden, potential toxicity, and variable effectiveness, additional non-antibiotic treatment strategies are needed, particularly for patients who defer, cannot tolerate, or are not yet indicated for antibiotic treatment.
Hypertonic saline inhalation facilitates airway clearance and sputum removal and has been increasingly used as an adjunctive treatment in specialized NTM centers. However, prospective randomized data remain limited, particularly in Asian populations.
This multicenter randomized controlled trial investigates whether early initiation of inhaled 3% hypertonic saline improves respiratory symptoms and microbiological outcomes compared with delayed initiation.
To ensure treatment safety, all participants undergo a supervised inhalation tolerance assessment before randomization. During this assessment, inhaled salbutamol (Ventolin) premedication is administered, followed by inhalation of 3% hypertonic saline. Participants demonstrating clinically significant intolerance, severe bronchospasm, or other safety concerns are excluded from study treatment.
Following successful completion of the tolerance assessment, participants are randomized to one of two groups.
The early-initiation group receives inhaled 3% hypertonic saline for 6 months. The delayed-initiation group receives inhaled normal saline during Months 0-3, followed by inhaled 3% hypertonic saline during Months 4-6.
The primary randomized comparison is performed at Month 3 between participants receiving hypertonic saline and those receiving normal saline. Additional analyses evaluate within-participant changes in the delayed-initiation arm before and after switching from normal saline to hypertonic saline.
Throughout the study, participants continue routine clinical care. Initiation of anti-NTM antibiotic treatment remains at the discretion of the treating physician.
研究类型
注册 (估计的)
阶段
- 不适用
联系人和位置
学习联系方式
- 姓名：Sheng-Wei Pan, MD, PhD
- 电话号码：+886-2-28717456
- 邮箱：swpan2@vghtpe.gov.tw
研究联系人备份
- 姓名：Jia-Yih Feng, MD, PhD
- 电话号码：+886-2-28712121
- 邮箱：jyfeng@vghtpe.gov.tw
学习地点
-
-
-
Taipei、台湾、11217
- 招聘中
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital
-
接触：
- Sheng-Wei Pan, MD, PhD
- 电话号码：+886-2-28757456
- 邮箱：swpan2@vghtpe.gov.tw
-
-
参与标准
资格标准
适合学习的年龄
- 成人
- 年长者
接受健康志愿者
描述
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults aged 18 years or older.
- Diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) according to ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA diagnostic criteria, including compatible clinical symptoms, radiographic findings, and microbiological evidence.
- Not receiving anti-NTM antibiotic treatment at the time of screening.
- Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
- Able to perform nebulized inhalation therapy using a mesh nebulizer at home.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active tuberculosis.
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
- Receiving active treatment for malignancy.
- Uncontrolled asthma.
- Frequent or clinically significant hemoptysis.
- History of intolerance, bronchospasm, or hypersensitivity during inhalation testing with hypertonic saline.
- Inability to prepare a mesh nebulizer or perform inhalation therapy at home.
- Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make participation unsafe or interfere with study participation.
学习计划
研究是如何设计的？
设计细节
- 主要用途：治疗
- 分配：随机化
- 介入模型：并行分配
- 屏蔽：无（打开标签）
武器和干预
参与者组/臂 |
干预/治疗 |
|---|---|
|
实验性的：Early Hypertonic Saline Initiation
Participants receive nebulized 3% hypertonic saline (5 mL once daily via mesh nebulizer) for 6 months in addition to standard clinical care.
Anti-NTM antibiotic treatment may be initiated at the discretion of the treating physician according to clinical indications.
|
Nebulized 3% hypertonic saline, 5 mL once daily via mesh nebulizer.
Administered during Months 0-6 in the early-initiation arm and during Months 4-6 in the delayed-initiation arm after completion of the Month 3 assessment.
|
|
有源比较器：Delayed Hypertonic Saline Initiation
Participants receive nebulized normal saline (5 mL once daily via mesh nebulizer) during Months 0-3, followed by nebulized 3% hypertonic saline during Months 4-6, in addition to standard clinical care.
Anti-NTM antibiotic treatment may be initiated at the discretion of the treating physician according to clinical indications.
|
Nebulized 3% hypertonic saline, 5 mL once daily via mesh nebulizer.
Administered during Months 0-6 in the early-initiation arm and during Months 4-6 in the delayed-initiation arm after completion of the Month 3 assessment.
Nebulized 0.9% normal saline, 5 mL once daily via mesh nebulizer during Months 0-3 in the delayed-initiation arm.
|
研究衡量的是什么？
主要结果指标
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Total Respiratory Severity Score (RSS) From Baseline to Month 3
大体时间：Baseline and Month 3
|
Total Respiratory Severity Score (RSS) ranges from 0 to 60 and is calculated from six visual analog scales evaluating cough, sputum production, dyspnea, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and overall respiratory symptoms.
Higher scores indicate worse symptoms.
|
Baseline and Month 3
|
次要结果测量
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) Sputum Smear Grade Over Time
大体时间：Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
|
AFB sputum smear grade assessed using standard semi-quantitative microscopy (negative, scanty, 1+, 2+, 3+, or 4+) at Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6. Changes in smear grade and the proportion of participants achieving smear negativity will be evaluated.
|
Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
|
|
Change in Mycobacterial Sputum Culture Status Over Time
大体时间：Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
|
Sputum culture status assessed as positive or negative for nontuberculous mycobacteria using standard mycobacterial culture methods at Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6. Culture conversion is defined as a change from positive at baseline to negative at follow-up assessments.
|
Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
|
|
Change in Radiographic Severity Score From Baseline to Month 6
大体时间：Baseline and Month 6
|
Radiographic Severity Score assessed using a chest radiographic scoring system.
Each lung is divided into three areas.
The extent of infiltration in each area is scored from 0 to 3, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 18. Higher scores indicate more extensive pulmonary disease.
|
Baseline and Month 6
|
|
Change in Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) From Baseline to Month 6
大体时间：Baseline and Month 6
|
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) will be measured using a standard clinical laboratory assay.
Higher values indicate greater systemic inflammation.
|
Baseline and Month 6
|
|
Change in R5-R20 Measured by Impulse Oscillometry From Baseline to Month 6
大体时间：Baseline and Month 6
|
R5-R20 measured by impulse oscillometry (IOS).
R5 represents total airway resistance and R20 represents central airway resistance.
The difference between R5 and R20 (R5-R20) reflects small airway dysfunction.
Higher values indicate greater small airway impairment.
|
Baseline and Month 6
|
|
Change in Post-Bronchodilator FEV1 (% Predicted) From Baseline to Month 6
大体时间：Baseline and Month 6
|
Post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), expressed as percent predicted, measured using standardized spirometry according to ATS/ERS recommendations.
Higher values indicate better lung function.
|
Baseline and Month 6
|
|
Anti-NTM Treatment Initiation
大体时间：Up to Month 6
|
Proportion of Participants Requiring Anti-NTM Antibiotic Treatment
|
Up to Month 6
|
|
Adverse Events
大体时间：Up to Month 6
|
Incidence of Adverse Events Related to Hypertonic Saline Inhalation
|
Up to Month 6
|
|
Within-Participant Change in Respiratory Severity Score During Normal Saline and Hypertonic Saline Treatment Periods in the Delayed-Initiation Arm
大体时间：Baseline to Month 6
|
Comparison of RSS change during Months 0-3 while receiving nebulized normal saline and during Months 4-6 while receiving nebulized 3% hypertonic saline in participants assigned to the delayed-initiation arm.
|
Baseline to Month 6
|
|
Change in Respiratory Severity Score From Month 3 to Month 6 in the Early-Initiation Arm
大体时间：Month 3 and Month 6
|
Evaluation of continued symptom improvement after the initial 3 months of hypertonic saline treatment.
|
Month 3 and Month 6
|
|
Change in Total RSS at Month 6
大体时间：Baseline and Month 6
|
Total RSS ranges from 0 to 60 and is calculated from six visual analog scales evaluating cough, sputum production, dyspnea, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and overall respiratory symptoms.
Higher scores indicate worse symptoms.
|
Baseline and Month 6
|
其他结果措施
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Chest CT Findings From Baseline to Month 6
大体时间：Baseline and Month 6
|
Chest CT findings including bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis (tree-in-bud pattern), nodules, consolidation, and cavitary lesions will be evaluated at baseline and Month 6 by comparison of serial CT scans.
|
Baseline and Month 6
|
|
Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) Level
大体时间：Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
|
Change in serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) concentration from baseline to Months 3 and 6.
CA19-9 will be measured using a standard clinical laboratory assay.
Higher levels may reflect greater airway inflammation and disease burden in nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.
|
Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
|
|
Serum Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125) Level
大体时间：Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
|
Change in serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) concentration from baseline to Months 3 and 6.
CA125 will be measured using a standard clinical laboratory assay.
Higher levels may reflect greater pulmonary disease activity and extent of bronchiectatic involvement.
|
Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
|
合作者和调查者
调查人员
- 首席研究员：Sheng-Wei Pan, MD, PhD、Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
出版物和有用的链接
一般刊物
- Huiberts A, Zweijpfenning SMH, Pennings LJ, Boeree MJ, van Ingen J, Magis-Escurra C, Hoefsloot W. Outcomes of hypertonic saline inhalation as a treatment modality in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. Eur Respir J. 2019 Jul 11;54(1):1802143. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02143-2018. Print 2019 Jul. No abstract available.
- Daley CL, Iaccarino JM, Lange C, Cambau E, Wallace RJ Jr, Andrejak C, Bottger EC, Brozek J, Griffith DE, Guglielmetti L, Huitt GA, Knight SL, Leitman P, Marras TK, Olivier KN, Santin M, Stout JE, Tortoli E, van Ingen J, Wagner D, Winthrop KL. Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: An Official ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 14;71(4):e1-e36. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa241.
研究记录日期
研究主要日期
学习开始 (实际的)
初级完成 (估计的)
研究完成 (估计的)
研究注册日期
首次提交
首先提交符合 QC 标准的
首次发布 (实际的)
研究记录更新
最后更新发布 (实际的)
上次提交的符合 QC 标准的更新
最后验证
更多信息
与本研究相关的术语
关键字
其他相关的 MeSH 术语
其他研究编号
- HiNTM-01
- 114-2314-B-075 -079 (其他赠款/资助编号：National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan)
- 2025-02-019A (其他标识符：Taipei Veterans General Hospital)
计划个人参与者数据 (IPD)
计划共享个人参与者数据 (IPD)？
药物和器械信息、研究文件
研究美国 FDA 监管的药品
研究美国 FDA 监管的设备产品
此信息直接从 clinicaltrials.gov 网站检索，没有任何更改。如果您有任何更改、删除或更新研究详细信息的请求，请联系 register@clinicaltrials.gov. clinicaltrials.gov 上实施更改，我们的网站上也会自动更新.