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NCT Number: NCT02484716

Efficacy of a Timolol Nasal Spray as a Treatment for Epistaxis in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) - (TEMPO)

Timolol is a nonselective β-blocker commonly used in the treatment of glaucoma. Recently it has been used topically for the treatment of superficial hemangiomas. Because of its potential mechanism of action, it is possible that timolol could also be useful for the treatment of epistaxis in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT). Moreover a case was reported in 2012 showing an improvement of nosebleeds with the use of topical nasal timolol. The aim of the study is to evaluate timolol nasal spray efficacy in HHT.

The main objective of this trial is to evaluate, 3 months after the end of the treatment, the efficacy on the duration of nosebleeds of a 4 weeks timolol intranasal treatment in HHT patients with nosebleeds (>20 min/month). Secondary objectives are to evaluate the tolerance, the efficacy at 6 months after the end of the treatment, and the efficacy on anemia and on clinical parameters (nosebleeds, quality of life and blood transfusions).

This is a prospective double blind phase II study, randomized versus placebo using an allocation ratio of 1:1. A total of 58 patients will be included. The product (solution with timolol at 0.5% or placebo) is self-administered by the patient with a posology of one spray (50 µL) in each nostril twice a day for 28 consecutive days.

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Key information

Conditions

Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Cardiovascular Abnormalities Cardiovascular Diseases Congenital Abnormalities Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Hemorrhagic Disorders Hemostatic Disorders Osler Rendu Disease Telangiectasis Vascular Diseases Vascular Malformations

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant / Service de génétique Clinique

Bron, 69500, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age > 18 years
  • Patients who give voluntary, informed consent and sign a consent form.
  • Patients affiliated with the French universal health care system
  • Patients treated for HHT, that has been confirmed clinically (presence of at least 3 Curaçao criteria) and/or by molecular biology.
  • Patients who present epistaxis averaging over 20 minutes in the three months before inclusion, justified by completed epistaxis tally sheets.

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women or women who could become pregnant during the study, or during lactation
  • Patients not affiliated with the French universal health care system
  • Patients who are protected adults according to the terms of the law (French public health laws).
  • Refusal to give consent.
  • Patients whose HHT diagnosis has not be confirmed clinically and/or by molecular biology.
  • Participation in another therapeutic trial which could interfere with the present trial (investigator jugement).
  • Bronchial asthma, presence or history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Cardiac history : cardiac failure or cardiogenic shock. Atrioventricular block (second or third degrees) not controlled with pace-maker or sinus disease (included sinoatrial block) confirmed by ECG less than one year. Ongoing treatment by calcium antagonists (bépridil, diltiazem, verapamil) or antiarrhytmics (propafénone, quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide) or clonidine or lidocaîne. Ongoing beta-blocker treatment.
  • Bradycardia (<50 pulse per minute)
  • Hypotension (PAS < 90 Hg mm)
  • Angina
  • Not controlled Pheochromocytoma
  • Severe peripheral circulatory disturbances (Raynaud disease)
  • Hypersensitivity to the active substance, any of the excipients or other beta-blocking agents
  • Ongoing treatment by floctafénine or sultopride or amiodarone
  • Patients who do not complete epistaxis grids for three months before treatment
  • Patients who present epistaxis averaging below 20 minutes in the three months before inclusion

Treatment and study plan

Timolol nasal spray

Drug

Timolol 0.5% is administered by the patient with a posology of one spray (50 µL) in each nostril twice a day for 4 weeks.

Placebo nasal spray

Drug

Placebo (NaCl) is administered by the patient with a posology of one spray (50 µL) in each nostril twice a day for 4 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Efficacy of timolol nasal spray on duration of nosebleeds for 3 months after the end of the treatment.

    Time frame: Day 0 (inclusion) ; up to 4 months

    comparison of mean monthly epistaxis duration 3 months before the treatment and 3 months after the end of the treatment.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tolerance of timolol nasal spray in patients with HHT-related epistaxis

    Time frame: up to 7 months

    Tolerance will be evaluated by observing adverse effects and clinical examinations during the follow up period.

  2. Efficacy on clinical criteria : epistaxis frequency .

    Time frame: Day 0 (inclusion) ; up to 4 months

    Comparison of number of epistaxis before and after treatment.

  3. Efficacy on clinical criteria : biological parameters (hemoglobin and ferritin level).

    Time frame: Day 0 (inclusion) ; up to 4 months

    Comparison of hemoglobin and ferritin level before and after treatment.

  4. Efficacy on clinical criteria : quality of life (SF36).

    Time frame: Day 0 (inclusion) ; up to 4 months

    Comparison of SF36 questionnaire before and after treatment.

  5. Efficacy of timolol nasal spray on duration of nosebleeds for 6 months after the end of the treatment.

    Time frame: Day 0 (inclusion) ; up to 7 months

    Comparison of mean monthly epistaxis duration 3 months before the treatment and 6 months after the end of the treatment.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of a Timolol Nasal Spray as a Treatment for Epistaxis in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) - Randomized Trial Versus Placebo

Acronym: TEMPO

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2018
First posted
Jun 30, 2015
Registry last updated
Aug 8, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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