Treatment of Chronic Itch in Atopic Dermatitis With Opioid Antagonist Naltrexone

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Trial end date: 2024-06-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Purpose: To study the etiology and the epigenetic pathways leading to and regulating chronic itch. Similarly, to examine the mechanisms underlying skin changes, including epigenetic alterations while also testing the efficacy of opioid antagonists in atopic dermatitis. In this study, the investigators aim to examine chronic sensory disorder mechanisms related to chronic itch.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Minnesota
• Treatments: Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of AD via simplified UK Working Group Criteria and a baseline PSGA score of 2 or greater

• Willingness to adhere to study protocol

• Subjects taking hormone-containing medications must be on a stable dose for 6 months prior to study start to avoid any confounding influence on sensory and pain perception

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of topical or oral anti-inflammatory medications for 2 weeks prior to the study start.

• Use of topical or oral anti-histamines for 2 weeks prior to the study start (as rescue medication allowed).

• Use of topical or oral anti-pruritic agents for 2 weeks prior to the study start.

• Use of oral neuromodulatory agents for 2 months prior to study start.

• Current use of chronic pain medications (including opioids, antidepressants and anti-epileptic drugs).

• Use of nicotine-containing products for the past 6 months prior to study start.

• History of radiation or chemotherapy.

• History of traumatic injury on prospective test sites.

• Unstable thyroid function within the past 6 months prior to study start to exclude thyroid-related neuropathy

• Known history of central or peripheral nervous system dysfunction.

• History of acute hepatitis, chronic liver disease or end stage liver disease.

• History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

• History of neuropathy associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, documented exposure to organophosphates or heavy metals or polychlorinated biphenyls.

• Known nutritional deficiency (vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron or zinc) within 3 months prior to the study start.

• Use of illicit drugs within the past 6 months prior to study start and/or opioid use disorder.

• Regular use of opioids for chronic pain

• Lyme disease, porphyria, rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy) or use of antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents.

• Subject has any medical condition that, in the judgment of the Investigator, would jeopardize the subject's safety following exposure to the administered medications.

• Adults lacking capacity to consent