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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00517933

Sildenafil Trial of Exercise Performance in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease that affects an individual's ability to breathe. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of sildenafil, a medication that increases blood flow to the lungs, at improving breathing function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in people with advanced IPF.

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Key information

Conditions

Pulmonary Fibrosis Cardiovascular Diseases Fibrosis Hypertension Hypertension, Pulmonary Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Lung Diseases Lung Diseases, Interstitial Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Respiratory Tract Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

University of Alabama - Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

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About this study

IPF is a disease in which fibrous tissue clogs the lungs. This eventually damages air sacs in the lungs and leads to widespread and permanent scarring of lung tissue. Individuals with IPF may experience breathing difficulties, cough, chest pain, and a decreased exercise capacity. Pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, affects half of all people with IPF. The fibrous tissue that clogs the lungs also blocks blood from flowing through the lungs effectively, reducing the amount of oxygen in the lungs. The fibrous tissue also reduces the lungs' ability to use what oxygen is available. These factors can cause breathing difficulties and may eventually lead to heart disease. Sildenafil is a medication that can increase blood supply to the lungs and reduce the heart's workload. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of sildenafil at improving breathing function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in people with advanced IPF.

This study will enroll people with advanced IPF. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive sildenafil or placebo three times a day for 12 weeks. Study visits will occur at baseline and Weeks 1, 6, and 12. At Week 12, participants will have the option to continue in the study for an additional 12 weeks. All participants who agree to continue in the study will receive sildenafil three times a day for the second 12 weeks. Study visits will occur at Weeks 13, 18, and 24. At all study visits, a physical exam and blood collection will occur. At selected visits, the following study procedures will occur: lung function testing; urine collection; a 6-minute walk test, which will measure the distance walked in a 6-minute period; and questionnaires to assess health status, breathing, and quality of life. Participants will record medication usage and symptoms in a daily diary. Study researchers will review medical records and the Social Security death index 5 years following the end of the study to determine the incidence of death among study participants.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of IPF
  • Diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO) level less than 35% (adjusted for hemoglobin)

Exclusion criteria

  • Current enrollment in another investigational study
  • Six-minute walk distance of less than 50 meters at screening or study entry
  • Difference of greater than 15% between the screening and study entry 6-minute walk distance
  • Acute or long-term impairment other than dyspnea (e.g., angina pectoris, intermittent claudication) that limits the ability to comply with the 6-minute walk test or other study requirements
  • Forced Expiratory Volume 1-second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of less than 0.65 after bronchodilator use
  • Extent of emphysema greater than the extent of fibrotic change (e.g., honeycombing, reticular changes) on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan
  • Acute heart attack within the 6 months prior to study entry
  • Nitrate use
  • Hypersensitivity to sildenafil or any component of the formulation
  • Presence of aortic stenosis (AS)
  • Life-threatening arrhythmia within 1 month of study entry
  • Diabetes mellitus requiring insulin therapy
  • Second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block on electrocardiogram
  • Severe chronic heart failure, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 25%
  • Presence of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS)
  • Hypotension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [SBP] less than 100 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] less than 50 mm Hg)
  • Uncontrolled systemic hypertension (i.e., SBP greater than 180 mm Hg or DBP greater than 100 mm Hg)
  • Known penile deformities or conditions (e.g., sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, leukemia) that may predispose participant to priapism
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) greater than three times the upper limit of normal range
  • Kidney impairment (i.e., creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/minute)
  • Current drug or alcohol dependence
  • Retinitis pigmentosa
  • History of vision loss
  • History of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy
  • Recently initiated pulmonary rehabilitation within 30 days of study entry. Participants will be prohibited from starting pulmonary rehabilitation during the study. Participants who are currently undergoing maintenance pulmonary rehabilitation at study entry will be asked to maintain their levels of rehabilitation for the duration of the study.
  • Use of any investigational therapy as part of a clinical trial for any medical condition within 30 days of study entry
  • Start or change in dose of treatment for IPF investigational agent (e.g., interferon gamma-1b, pirfenidone, etanercept, N-acetylcysteine, any other investigational agent intended to treat IPF), corticosteroids, or cytotoxic agents within 30 days of study entry
  • Use of certain medications. More information about this criterion can be found in the study protocol.
  • Treatment for pulmonary hypertension with prostaglandins (e.g., epoprostenol, treprostinil), endothelin-1 antagonists (e.g., bosentan, sitaxsentan, ambrisentan), or any other phosphodiesterase inhibitor (e.g., tadalafil, vardenafil) within 30 days of study entry
  • Addition or discontinuation of calcium channel blockers, digitalis, diuretics, or vasodilators within 30 days of study entry (dosage must be stable for 7 days prior to study entry [except for diuretics])
  • Currently on the waiting list for a lung transplant
  • Use of L-arginine supplements
  • Use of grapefruit juice or St. John's wort
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Resting saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) (i.e., oxygen saturation measured using pulse oximetry) less than 92% with 6 liters of supplemental oxygen

Treatment and study plan

sildenafil citrate

Drug

Sildenafil citrate (20mg 3 times a day [TID] orally for 12 weeks followed by 20mg TID open-label sildenafil for an additional 12 weeks)

Other names: Revatio

Placebo

Other

Placebo (20mg TID orally for 12 weeks followed by 20mg open-label sildenafil for 12 weeks)

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in 6-minute Walk Distance From Enrollment to Week 12 (≥ 20% Improvement)

    Time frame: Measured at Week 12

    This is a binary score (1 or 0) with 1 being better than 0. All models adjust for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

Secondary outcomes

  1. 6-minute Walk Distance (6MWT)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 week, 12 week

    The 6MWT measures the distance that a participant can walk in a period of 6 minutes.

  2. Estimated Change From Baseline to 12 Weeks in 6-minute Walk Distance

    Time frame: Baseline, week 12

    The 6MWT measures the distance that a participant can walk in a period of 6 minutes. All models adjust for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  3. Desaturation During 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT)

    Time frame: Week 12

    The 6MWT was stopped when the pulse oximetry (SpO2) dropped to below 80% for six consecutive seconds. The estimates are based on the Kaplan-Meier event curves with minutes walked as the x-axis.

  4. Change in Dyspnea

    Time frame: Measured from enrollment to 12 weeks (phase I)

    The University of California at San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ) uses a 6-point scale (0 = "not at all" to 5 = "maximal or unable to do because of breathlessness") to rate 24 items. The final score ranges from 0 to 120 -- lower scores are better.

  5. University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Shortness of Breath Questionnaire Total

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The University of California at San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ) uses a 6-point scale (0 = "not at all" to 5 = "maximal or unable to do because of breathlessness") to rate 24 items. The final score ranges from 0 to 120 -- lower scores are better. (Raw scores)

    Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  6. Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) Adjusted Values

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 12

    Change in FVC (liters) from baseline (time 0) to week 12 comparing the sildenafil and placebo groups. Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  7. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 12

    Raw scores of FVC (liters) from baseline (time 0) to week 6 and 12 comparing the sildenafil and placebo groups

  8. Change in Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) Adjusted Values

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 12

    Change in DLCO (% predicted) measured at baseline (time 0), and week 12 comparing the sildenafil and placebo groups. All models adjust for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  9. Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO)

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 12

    Raw scores of DLCO (% predicted) measured at baseline (time 0), week 6, and week 12 comparing the sildenafil and placebo groups

  10. Change in Borg Dyspnea Index (BDI) After 6 Minute Walk Test (Adjusted Values)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 week

    The BDI was calculated by using a 10-point scale (0 = None, 10 = Maximum) and indicates the degree of breathlessness after completion of the 6-minute walk test. Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  11. Borg Dyspnea Index (BDI) After 6 Minute Walk Test (Raw Scores)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 week, 12 week

    The BDI was calculated by using a 10-point scale (0 = None, 10 = Maximum) and indicates the degree of breathlessness after completion of the 6-minute walk test.

  12. Change in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Total Score) (Adjusted Values)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 week

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment.) Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  13. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Total Score)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    Mean raw scores of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment.)

  14. Change in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Symptoms Score) Adjusted Value

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment). Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  15. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Symptoms Score)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment). Mean raw scores of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Mean raw scores of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire.

  16. Change in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Activity Score) Adjusted Value

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment). Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  17. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Activity Score)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment). Mean raw scores of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire.

  18. Change in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Impacts Score) Adjusted Value

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment). Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  19. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (Impacts Score)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire asks patients how breathing problems impair their life and is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 100 (maximum impairment). Mean raw scores of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire.

  20. Change in ICECAP-O Adjusted Value

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) is a measure of capability in older people for use in economic evaluation. The values of ICECAP-O range from 0 (worst) to 1 (best).

    Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  21. ICECAP-O

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) is a measure of capability in older people for use in economic evaluation. The values of ICECAP-O range from 0 (worst) to 1 (best). Mean raw scores of ICECAP-O.

  22. Change in EuroQOL Thermometer (Adjusted Value)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The thermometer score ranges from 0 (worst imaginable health state) to 100 (best imaginable health state). Higher scores indicate a better health state.

    Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  23. EuroQOL Thermometer

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The thermometer score ranges from 0 (worst imaginable health state) to 100 (best imaginable health state). Higher scores indicate a better health state.

    Mean raw scores of EuroQOL Thermometer.

  24. Change in EuroQOL (EQ-5D) Utility - Adjusted Value

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    EQ-5D: participant rated questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in terms of a single utility score. Health State Profile component assesses level of current health for 5 domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression; 1 indicates better health state (no problems); 3 indicates worst health state (eg, "confined to bed"). Scoring formula developed by EuroQol Group assigns a utility value for each domain in the profile. Score is transformed and results in total score range -0.594 to 1.000; higher score indicates better health state.

    Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  25. EuroQOL (EQ-5D) Utility

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    EQ-5D: participant rated questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in terms of a single utility score. Health State Profile component assesses level of current health for 5 domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression; 1 indicates better health state (no problems); 3 indicates worst health state (eg, "confined to bed"). Scoring formula developed by EuroQol Group assigns a utility value for each domain in the profile. Score is transformed and results in total score range -0.594 to 1.000; higher score indicates better health state.

    Mean raw scores of EuroQOL Utility.

  26. Change in Short Form Health Survey (SF36) General Health - Adjusted Value

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The SF36 measures functional health and well-being scores on eight scales that correlate with two aggregate scores.

    Each score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better function.

    Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  27. Short Form Health Survey (SF36) General Health

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The SF36 measures functional health and well-being scores on eight scales that correlate with two aggregate scores.

    Each score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better function.

    Mean raw scores of SF36 General Health

  28. Change in SF36 Aggregate Physical (Adjusted Value)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

    The SF36 measures functional health and well-being scores on eight scales that correlate with two aggregate scores.

    Each score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better function.

    Values adjusted for baseline values of age, height, sex, white race, and DLCO. Values from models are estimated changes from baseline to 12 weeks (with 95% confidence intervals). The difference estimate is based on sildenafil - placebo.

  29. Short Form Health Survey (SF36) Aggregate Physical

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

    The SF36 measures functional health and well-being scores on eight scales that correlate with two aggregate scores.

    Each score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better function.

    Mean raw scores of SF36 Aggregate Physical.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duke University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • Pfizer

Registry information

Acronym: STEP-IPF

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Aug 17, 2007
Registry last updated
Jun 24, 2015

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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