Effect of Ketoconazole on Breathlessness — KetoRLB  

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: The Effect of Ketoconazole on Breathlessness During Resistive Load Breathing in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Beta-endorphins, which are naturally occurring narcotic substances, have been shown to alter the perception of breathlessness. Oral ketoconazole, an antifungal antibiotic, increases blood levels of beta-endorphins. The study hypothesis is that oral ketoconazole will reduce ratings of breathlessness induced by resistive breathing loads.

Clinical Trial Description

Beta-endorphins are naturally occurring narcotic substances (like morphine) that are released by the brain under stressful conditions, such as exercise and when breathing through a resistive load (a tube containing fine wire mesh). In one study of 8 patients with coronary artery disease, ketoconazole, an oral medication used to treat fungal infections, was administered (1,200 mg at 12 midnight and 600 mg at 6 am) and increased blood levels of beta-endorphins five fold. In a recent study performed at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, we found that ketoconazole increased blood levels of beta-endorphins in all eight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mean values increased by 2.5 times at four hours compared with baseline values (p = 0.0078). Based on this significant response, we propose to study the effect of ketoconazole on patients' perception of breathlessness induced by resistive breathing loads in a randomized clinical trial. The hypothesis of the study is that ketoconazole will reduce ratings of breathlessness as mediated by the increased levels of beta-endorphins. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Dyspnea
• Lung Diseases
• Lung Diseases, Obstructive
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

• NCT number: NCT01378520
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: June 2011
• Completion date: February 2012