Intra-articular hyaluronic acid for haemophilic ankle arthropathy

ISRCTN ISRCTN19698897
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19698897
Secondary identifying numbers 39190
Submission date
03/09/2018
Registration date
04/09/2018
Last edited
09/08/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Haemophilia is the most common inherited severe bleeding disorder which puts patients at increased risk of bleeding into large joints, such as the ankle. Bleeding leads to changes within the joints, including joint lining inflammation (synovitis), and this in turn results in further bleeding and chronic (long-term) synovitis. Blood in the joint can also directly damage the cartilage, and with repeated bleeding, there is progressive destruction of both cartilage and bone. The end result is known as haemophilic arthropathy. The most common joint affected with haemophilic arthropathy is the ankle. Both the tibiotalar and the subtalar joints may be affected within the ankle. Haemophilic arthropathy affects young men and this has a significant impact on their occupation, earning capacity and participation in normal family life. Physiotherapy, painkillers and steroid joint injections are all helpful for management of haemophilic arthropathy but there is a need for a treatment for the damaged osteoarthritic joint where surgery is not appropriate. Routine options for painkillers for patients with haemophilia are limited as standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not allowed. COX-2 inhibitor treatment has associations in certain patient groups with increased cardiovascular (heart disease) risk. Ostenil Plus (hyaluronic acid plus mannitol) has the potential to bridge the ‘treatment gap’ between simple analgesia and more complex orthopaedic (surgical) solutions for haemophilic arthropathy. In particular in those patients with ‘bone-on-bone’ arthropathic changes, Ostenil Plus may provide cushioning to the damaged joint and in turn reduce pain and increase functionality of the joint. The potential benefits to patients may be great, and may also be more acceptable to patients when compared with an orthopaedic solution. The aim of this study is to explore whether an Ostenil Plus joint injection improves pain and functionality of the ankle joint in patients with haemophilia.

Who can participate?
Male patients aged 18 or older with haemophilia A or B and haemophilic arthropathy in one or both ankle joints

What does the study involve?
On day 1 of the study the participant completes the study questionnaires and is examined by a haemophilia doctor and a haemophilia physiotherapist. The affected joint is injected and the participant is asked to remain in the department for 30 minutes. In the following 6 months, the participant is contacted once (at 3 months) at home (by post, email, telephone depending on their preference) and is asked to complete the study questionnaires. These should take no more than 15 minutes. A list of analgesia medication is also collected. At 6 months the participant attends again for their second injection. In the subsequent 6 months, the participant is contacted again. The number of joint bleeds is recorded during the 12 month follow-up period. This is routinely collected via a system called Haemtrack and research staff collect these data. The participant is seen for their final visit at 12 months after the first injection.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefits of this study include a reduction in pain and an improvement in mobility of an affected ankle. The risks of participating include pain at the site of injection and rarely an allergic response to the treatment. It is possible that the injection will not reduce pain or improve mobility of the affected joint.

Where is the study run from?
Churchill Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2018 to August 2020

Who is funding the study?
TRB Chemedica (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Nicola Curry
nicola.curry@ouh.nhs.uk

Contact information

Dr Nicola Curry
Scientific

Oxford Haemophilia & Thrombosis Centre
Churchill Hospital
Old Road
Oxford
OX3 7LE
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-3849-0688
Phone +44 (0)1865 225316
Email nicola.curry@ouh.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designNon-randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Drug
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA single centre, open label, pilot study evaluating the effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection on pain and functionality when injected into the ankle (tibio-talar and sub-talar) joint in patients with haemophilic arthropathy
Study objectivesThis pilot study will explore whether Ostenil Plus joint injection improves pain and functionality of the ankle joint in persons with haemophilia.
Ethics approval(s)South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee, 24/10/2018, ref: 18/SC/0422
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedHaemophilic arthropathy of the ankle
InterventionThis study is a pilot, single centre study that will address the question: does intra-articular Ostenil Plus improve pain and functionality in participants with haemophilic arthropathy of the ankle complex. It will be run at the Oxford Haemophilia & Thrombosis Centre (OHTC), Oxford and will enrol 20 participants from either the OHTC or Basingstoke Haemophilia Centre.

A participant will be screened for eligibility using routinely collected clinical data by the staff at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre. Patients who are potentially eligible at Basingstoke hospital will be offered a patient information leaflet and will be offered an appointment to be seen in Oxford for screening. In particular an MRI scan will be reviewed to confirm the presence of haemophilic arthropathy. If the participant meets eligibility criteria, they will be invited to enter the study and sign consent.

On day 1 of the study the participant will complete the study questionnaires and will be examined by a haemophilia doctor and a haemophilia physiotherapist. Baseline clinical data will be collected. The affected joint will be injected and the participant will be asked to remain in the department for 30 minutes. The participant will have received their standard factor concentrate replacement therapy to ensure their factor blood level is adequate for the joint injection.

In the following 6 months, the participant will be contacted once (at 3 months) at home (by post, e-mail, telephone depending on their preference) and will be asked to complete the study questionnaires. These should take no more than 15 minutes and will include a pain score, HAL score, FAAM score and EQ-5D-5L. A list of analgesia medication will also be collected.

At 6 months of the study the participant will attend OHTC again for their second intra-articular injuection. They will complete the study questionnaires and will be examined by a haemophilia doctor and a haemophilia physiotherapist. The affected joint will be injected and the participant will be asked to remain in the department for 30 minutes. The participant will have received their standard factor concentrate replacement therapy to ensure their factor blood level is adequate for the joint injection.

In the subsequent 6 months, the participant will be contacted once (at 9 months) at home (by post, e-mail, telephone depending on their preference) and will be asked to complete the study questionnaires. These should take no more than 15 minutes and will include a pain score, HAL score, FAAM score and EQ-5D-5L. A list of analgesia medication will also be collected.

Numbers of joint bleeds will be recorded during the 12 month follow-up period. This is routinely collected via a system called Haemtrack and research staff will collect these data.

The participant will be seen for their final visit at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre at 12 months after the first injection. The participant will be examined by a haemophilia doctor and physiotherapist, will complete the study questionnaires and a list of analgesia medication will be collected. The factor concentrate used by the participant will be calculated for the 12 months following the first injection and compared to the 12 months prior. This assessment will involve an end of study form completion.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Hyaluronic acid, mannitol
Primary outcome measurePain measured by the VAS pain score; Timepoint(s): 3, 6, 9, 12 months
Secondary outcome measures1. Functionality of the haemophilia ankle measured by the ankle HJHS score, the foot and ankle mobility measure (FAAM) and the global HJHS score at 3, 6, 9, 12 months
2. Quality of life measured by the EQ-5D-5L and Haemophilia Activity List (HAL) at 3, 6, 9, 12 months
3. Safety of treatment, including increased pain and stiffness to the injected joint at 3, 6, 9, 12 months
Overall study start date01/11/2018
Completion date31/08/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexMale
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 20; UK Sample Size: 20
Total final enrolment24
Key inclusion criteria1. Written informed consent obtained before any study related activity
2. Adult male (age 18 years or older) with haemophilia A or haemophilia B of any severity, including those with inhibitors
3. MRI ankle changes consistent with haemophilic arthropathy – showing synovitic and/or degenerative changes to one or both ankle joints
Key exclusion criteria1. The patient has evidence of infection, including those patients taking antibiotic therapy
2. The patient has known inflammatory joint disease, including crystal disease
3. The patient has received an intra-articular steroid injection within the preceding 6 months
4. The patient is known to be allergic to any of the excipients of Ostenil Plus
Date of first enrolment01/11/2018
Date of final enrolment31/08/2020

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Oxford Haemophilia & Thrombosis Centre
Churchill Hospital
Old Road
Oxford
OX3 7LE
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

c/o Ms Heather House
Joint Research Office
2nd Floor
OUH Cowley
Unipart House Business Centre
Garsington
OX4 2PG
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)186 557 2233
Email ouh.sponsorship@ouh.nhs.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03h2bh287

Funders

Funder type

Industry

TRB Chemedica (UK) Ltd

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date28/02/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryOther
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a peer reviewed journal within 18 months of the study end.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 29/07/2022 01/08/2022 Yes No
Protocol file version 0.16 04/06/2018 09/08/2022 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN19698897_Protocol_v0.16_04Jun2018.pdf

Editorial Notes

09/08/2022: Protocol file uploaded.
01/08/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
3. Now that the results have been published, it is presumed that recruitment resumed.
23/04/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
28/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Haematology, Primary sub-specialty: Haematology; Health Category: Blood, Musculoskeletal; Disease/Condition: Systemic connective tissue disorders" to "Haemophilic arthropathy of the ankle" following a request from the NIHR.
24/10/2018: Ethics approval details updated.