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NCT Number: NCT00584441

Menstrual Differences in Airway Inflammation in Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness and reversible airway obstruction. Over the last decade, the prevalence of asthma is on the rise and it disproportionately affects more women than men. As much as 40% of women with asthma are known to have worsening of asthma symptoms and lung function prior to menstruation. This syndrome is being increasingly recognized as premenstrual asthma (PMA). The pathologic differences in female asthmatics with and without this syndrome are not known. The evidence regarding the role of sex hormones has been contradicting. We propose an observational cohort study to examine the changes in airway inflammation in women with asthma in relation to their menstrual cycle and their association with sex hormone levels. In addition we will include women on oral contraceptives to determine their effect on airway inflammation and asthma symptoms.

We hypothesis that:

* Women with premenstrual asthma will show increased indices of airway inflammation in various phases the monthly menstrual cycle. * In women with premenstrual asthma, a change in serum estradiol/progesterone ratio during the late luteal phase is associated with worsening of airway inflammation, air flow limitation and asthma symptoms. * The use of oral contraceptives is associated with suppression of the cyclical changes in airway inflammation due to lack of fluctuations in estradiol and progesterone levels.

Recruited subjects will be asked to record asthma symptom scores, morning Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (m-PEFR) and rescue asthma medication (β2-agonist) used daily during the one month screening period to identify women with and without pre-menstrual asthma. Asthmatic women with regular menstrual cycles will be evaluated in their follicular phase (days 5-8) and luteal phase (days 21-24) and women on oral contraceptive pills (OCP) will be evaluated on days 9-12 of their OCP cycle and during the days 25-28, off of OCP consecutively for a 2-month period.

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Key information

Conditions

Asthma Bronchial Diseases Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity, Immediate Immune System Diseases Lung Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Respiratory Hypersensitivity Respiratory Tract Diseases

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Texas Medical Branch

Galveston, Texas, 77555, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • With diagnosis of Asthma (ICD-9 Code 493)
  • Requiring low to moderate dose inhaled corticosteroids for control.
  • With Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥50% and ≤90% of predicted normal
  • With a positive bronchodilator response
  • Non smoker or Ex-smoker (Quit >1 year ago)
  • Regular menstrual cycle (24-35 days cycle)
  • With and without OCP use
  • Constant dose of asthma maintenance medication for at least 30 days prior to enrolment

Exclusion criteria

  • Recent use of systemic steroids (<30 days)
  • Severe Asthma (FEV1 <50% or frequent exacerbations or systemic steroid dependence)
  • Negative bronchodilator response
  • Current Smoker
  • Irregular Menses or postmenopausal
  • Positive pregnancy test
  • Use of hormonal contraceptives other than monophasic OCPs
  • Exacerbation or Respiratory Infection or antibiotic use within the last 30 days

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. To evaluate menstrual-related changes in airway inflammation of asthma patients with and without premenstrual worsening of symptoms.

    Time frame: 3 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. To examine the effect of sex hormones in airway inflammation

    Time frame: 3 months

  2. To examine the effect of oral contraceptive pills on airway inflammation

    Time frame: 3 months

  3. To assess the cyclical changes in airway inflammation as measured by -Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO), -Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) pH and -Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), in asthmatic women with and without premenstrual asthma.

    Time frame: 3 months

  4. To analyze the association of between serum estradiol and progesterone levels and the variation in airway inflammation, airflow limitation and asthma symptoms

    Time frame: 3 months

  5. To study the effect of oral contraceptives on airway inflammation by measuring serum and exhaled inflammatory indices

    Time frame: 3 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2010
First posted
Jan 2, 2008
Registry last updated
Feb 13, 2013

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

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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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