Low Dose Naltrexone to Improve Physical Health in Patients With Vasculitis
Low Dose Naltrexone to Improve Physical Health in Patients With Vasculitis
Naltrexone is an FDA approved drug (for alcoholism) that has found widespread use "off-label"
 to treat pain and improve quality of life at much lower doses than are used for the approved
 indication. There are a few scientific studies in three conditions (fibromyalgia, Crohn's
 disease, and multiple sclerosis) that suggest that this drug has benefit and is safe.
 However, considering the extent of use in other conditions, and uncertainty about the
 mechanism of action study is needed in a diverse set of diseases, including vasculitis.

 The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine if low dose naltrexone is effective in
 improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with vasculitis. Although it
 is a pilot study, a placebo-controlled component is used because of the prominent placebo
 group effect seen in studies with self-reported subjective outcomes.
This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial to
 evaluate the efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) 4.5 mg nightly in improving self-reported
 physical health in patients with vasculitis.

 At study enrollment, each patient will be randomized to receive either LDN for 6 weeks
 followed by oral placebo for 6 weeks, or placebo for 6 weeks followed by LDN for 6 weeks. The
 primary outcome measure and some secondary outcome measures are patient-reported and will be
 recorded every 3 weeks, or every 6 weeks
Inclusion Criteria:

 Patients must meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible for enrollment:

 1. Criteria for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu's arteritis (TAK),
 polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, Wegener's), microscopic
 polyangiitis (MPA), or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, Churg-Strauss),
 as used for the VCRC longitudinal studies

 a. Giant cell arteritis: According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
 for classification of GCA, meeting at least 2 of the following 5 remaining criteria at the
 time of diagnosis of GCA: Age of disease onset >50 years (required) i. New onset or new
 type of localized pain in the head ii. Temporal artery abnormality (i.e. temporal artery
 tenderness to palpation or decreased pulsation, unrelated to arteriosclerosis of cervical
 arteries) iii. ESR of >40 mm in the first hour by Westergren method iv. Temporal artery
 biopsy showing vasculitis characterized by a predominance of mononuclear cell infiltration
 or granulomatous inflammation, usually with multinucleated giant cells v. Large Vessel
 Vasculitis (LVV) by angiogram or biopsy not explained by something else

 b. Takayasu's arteritis: According to an adaption of the American College of Rheumatology
 criteria, meeting at least 2 of the following 5 remaining criteria at the time of inclusion
 of TAK: Arteriogram abnormalities compatible with TAK (includes conventional dye
 angiography or MR angiography or CT angiography) (required) i. Age at disease onset ≤50
 years ii. Claudication of extremities iii. Decreased brachial artery pulse (one or both
 arteries) iv. Blood pressure difference of >10mm Hg between the arms v. Bruit over
 subclavian arteritis or aorta

 c. Polyarteritis nodosa: An adaption of the America College of Rheumatology criteria will
 be used for the diagnosis of PAN. At the time of inclusion, one major and one minor
 criteria or two major criteria or isolated cutaneous PAN must be met.

 i. Major criteria (not explained by other causes):

 1. Arteriographic abnormality

 2. Presence of granulocyte or mixed leukocyte infiltrate in an arterial wall on biopsy

 3. Mononeuropathy or polyneuropathy ii. Minor criteria (not explained by other causes)

 1. Weight loss > 4 kg 2. Livedo reticularis, cutaneous ulcerations, or skin nodules 3.
 Testicular pain or tenderness 4. Myalgias 5. Diastolic blood pressure >90mm Hg 6. Elevated
 BUN or serum creatinine levels 7. Ischemic abdominal pain iii. Isolated cutaneous
 polyarteritis nodosa

 1. Biopsy-proven cutaneous PAN

 d. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Participants can be enrolled if two of the five
 modified American College of Rheumatology criteria are met: i. Nasal or oral
 inflammation: painful or painless oral ulcers or purulent or blood nasal discharge ii.
 Abnormal chest radiograph: nodules, fixed infiltrates, or cavities iii. Urinary
 sediment: microhematuria or red cell casts iv. Granulomatous inflammation on biopsy:
 granulomatous inflammation within the wall of an artery or in the perivascular area v.
 ANCA positivity by enzyme immunoassay for either PR3- or MPO-ANCA e. Microscopic
 polyangiitis: The following Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Definitions for MPA need
 to be met: i. Necrotizing vasculitis with few or no immune deposits affects small
 vessel (i.e., capillaries, venules, or arterioles) ii. Necrotizing arteritis involving
 small and medium-sized arteritis may be present iii. Necrotizing glomerulonephritis is
 very common iv. Pulmonary capillaritis often occurs

 f. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: An adaptation of the American
 College of Rheumatology criteria will be used for the diagnosis of EGPA. At the time
 of inclusion, four of the six items must have documented evidence: i. Asthma ii. Peak
 peripheral blood eosinophilia of >10% of total WBC iii. Peripheral neuropathy
 attributable to vasculitis iv. Transient pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging
 studies v. Paranasal sinus abnormalities or nasal polyposis vi. Eosinophilic
 inflammation on tissue biopsy If patients have 4 of the above 6 criteria but lack
 clear-cut documentation of small vessel vasculitis, they are also eligible for
 enrollment.

 2. Baseline normalized score on PROMIS Global Physical Health of 40 or lower.

 3. Vasculitis in remission or very low disease activity, as defined by Physician Global
 Assessment 0-1 for at least 12 weeks

 4. Stable immunosuppressive therapy (including prednisone) related to vasculitis for at
 least 12 weeks

 5. No change in medications in the past 12 weeks made with the expectation of improving
 pain, fatigue, or mood

 6. No plan to change medication or a non-pharmacologic treatment regimen likely to affect
 pain, fatigue, mood, or vasculitis activity during the next 12 weeks

 7. Age of 18 years or older

 8. Willingness and ability to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures, including
 receipt of weekly phone calls from the study coordinator

 9. Willingness and ability to provide informed consent -

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Change in any medication related to control of vasculitis, pain, fatigue, or mood
 within the past 12 weeks (medications taken as needed must be in a stable pattern per
 the patient's estimation)

 2. Use of another investigational agent as part of a clinical trial within 30 days of
 enrollment

 3. Current use of any opioid agonist including tramadol or suboxone

 4. Change in vasculitis activity in the past 12 weeks, as defined by a change in
 Physician Global Assessment greater than 1

 5. Baseline normalized score more than 40 on PROMIS Global Physical Health

 6. New major medical problem or surgery in past 12 weeks

 7. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

 8. Inability to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures

 9. Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

 10. Poorly controlled depression or anxiety, as defined by a score of ≥ 20 on PHQ-9

 11. Liver cirrhosis

 12. Significant kidney disease, defined as glomerular filtration rate <30ml/min