Treatment of Asian Flushing Syndrome With Topical Alpha Agonists

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Asian Flushing Syndrome (AFS) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 70% of patients of East Asian descent characterized by severe flushing with minimal ethanol consumption. This reaction is cosmetically unattractive and socially limiting. Many Asian patients avoid drinking alcohol on dates, at weddings, and during business events because of this reaction and the perception of being drunk or alcoholic.

Ethanol is normally metabolized to acetic acid by two enzymes. The first enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) converts ethanol to acetaldehyde. The second enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) converts the toxic acetaldehyde to harmless acetic acid. When ADH function is increased or ALDH2 function is decreased, the toxic intermediate acetaldehyde accumulates resulting in cutaneous flushing. Over 70% of East Asians have genetic polymorphisms in either ADH or ALDH2 leading to intense flushing with ethanol consumption.

There are no effective topical treatments for the Asian Flushing Syndrome. Oral antihistamines have been used with some success in treating symptoms of Asian Flushing Syndrome; however these can have sedating effects and may be dangerous in combination with alcohol.

Brimonidine is a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that acts through vasoconstriction and is commercially available in a topical gel. This topical treatment is FDA approved for the indication of facial flushing and has a long history of safety in human subjects.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Alcohol-Related Disorders
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Flushing

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT03497442
Study type	Interventional
Source	University of California, San Francisco
Contact
Status	Completed
Phase	Early Phase 1
Start date	July 12, 2018
Completion date	March 25, 2019

View Details

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