Early Pharmacotherapy Aimed at Neuroplasticity in Autism : Safety and Efficacy

Autism Clinical Trial

Official title:

Early Pharmacotherapy Aimed at Neuroplasticity in Autism : Safety and Efficacy

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00166621
• Other study ID #: PPRU 10659s
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• First received: September 9, 2005
• Last updated: July 19, 2011
• Start date: March 2004
• Est. completion date: August 2005

Study information

• Verified date: July 2011
• Source: Chugani, Diane C.
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal GovernmentUnited States: Instituional Review Board (Wayne State University)
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy, safety, and population pharmacokinetics and determinants of drug responses to buspirone in children with autism using a randomized, double blind, cross over study in children ages 2 to 6 years.

Description:

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined as qualitative impairment in social interaction and communication and restrictive stereotype patterns of behavior, interests and activities. Pharmacological agents are being increasingly used off label in very young autistic children, and there is virtually no data regarding the pharmacokinetics, safety or efficacy of these agents in young children.

The approach in this study differs from pharmacotherapy studies of autism carried out thus far in several ways:

• the rationale underlying our approach is based upon an attempt to alter synaptic plasticity during postnatal development, focusing on very young children

• are integrating our drug trial with a PG study evaluating whether buspirone response is related to expression of genes involved in serotoninergic neurotransmission

• will assess these variables together with in vivo assessment of serotonin synthesis capacity with PET.

This is a prospective, randomized, double blind, crossover study where children will be stratified by age into two groups. Treatment will last for 12 weeks with dosing twice a day. Parent ratings, cognitive tests and blood sampling will occur throughout the study period.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 20
• Est. completion date: August 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 2 Years to 6 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meet study definition for the diagnosis of autistic disorder

• Age 2 to 6 (male or female)

• Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical or lab evidence of renal or hepatic disease

• Treatment with any medication known to alter the activity of the CYP3A4 enzyme including ketoconazole, itraconazole, grapefruit juice, erythromycin, clarithromycin, cimetidine, verapamil, diltiazem, rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, or carbamazepine within the previous 3 months

• Use of centrally acting drugs during the 6 weeks prior or during the study

• Presence or history of neurological disorders, including seizure disorders

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism
• Autistic Disorder

Intervention

Drug:
• Buspirone

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	PET Center/Children's Hospital of Michigan	Detroit	Michigan

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Chugani, Diane C.

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Safety will be measured by obtaining clinical laboratory tests, vital signs and evaluating probably or definitely related adverse events.
Primary	Population pharmacokinetics will be conducted to measure plasma concentrations in relation to the drug responses to buspirone.
Primary	The primary efficacy outcome will be the overall severity score from the Clinical Global Impressions assessment obtained from two raters, (parent and examiner)
Primary	Comparisons of allele, and genotype frequencies between responders and non-responders will be done for each polymorphism using Fisher's exact test to best predict response to buspirone.

External Links

•   Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit Website