Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition with an unknown cause that is associated with raised pressure in the brain and can cause disabling daily headaches and loss of vision, which can be permanent. The raised brain pressure squashes the nerves supplying the eye (also known as papilloedema) and this can affect vision. Over 90% of patients with IIH are overweight and weight loss is the most effective treatment. Other treatments for IIH have very little current evidence to support their use. This study aims to compare two methods of weight loss, bariatric surgery and the most effective dietary programme commonly available, Weight Watchers, to see which offers the most effective long-term treatment for IIH.
Who can participate?
Women aged between 18 and 55 with IIH and body mass index (BMI) >35kg/m2. Women who do not have IIH are also enrolled for comparison.
What does the study involve?
Participants with IIH are randomly allocated to either attend their local Weight Watchers group or undergo bariatric surgery. The latter are referred to the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital to receive a choice of gastric banding, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy. A third control group of 20 women with similar characteristics but who do not have IIH provide a comparison but do not participate further in the study. Participants with IIH are then followed up for five years, with the most important measurement being their brain pressure after one year of being in the study. Participants with IIH and the 20 obese controls are also asked to give samples of urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and are asked to participate in sub-studies which look at the relationship between IIH and other illnesses connected with obesity from which they may suffer.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefit is that both groups of participants receive a treatment which is proven to bring about weight loss. The main risk is to patients in the bariatric surgery arm: bariatric surgery, although safe, is a major operation, and careful follow-up is required. Apart from the risks of bariatric surgery for those participants in the surgery arm, the main risks are those of side effects involved in the lumbar punctures, and the discomfort of the lumbar punctures and of the blood samples being taken.
Where is the study run from?
1. University Hospitals Birmingham (UK)
2. Heartlands Hospital (UK)
3. Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (UK)
4. Musgrove Park Hospital (UK)
5. Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (UK)
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Mr Ryan Ottridge
r.ottridge@bham.ac.uk
Trial website
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/mds/trials/bctu/trials/pd/IIHWT/index.aspx
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
NCT02124486
Protocol/serial number
RG_12-089
Study information
Scientific title
A randomised controlled trial of bariatric surgery versus a community weight loss programme for the sustained treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: the IIH:WT Trial
Acronym
IIH:WT
Study hypothesis
The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of two methods of weight loss in the treatment of IIH: gastric banding vs. dietetic intervention.
Ethics approval
Black Country REC, 28/02/2014, ref: 14/WM/0011
Study design
Randomised controlled parallel arm trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) - neurology, neuro-ophthalmology.
Intervention
Patients are randomised 1:1 to bariatric surgery or dietetic intervention.
1. 32 participants randomised to the bariatric surgery arm of the trial will be referred to the surgery pathway to receive laparoscopic gastric banding.
2. 32 participants randomised to the dietetic arm will be given vouchers to except them from paying for 12 months of Weight Watchers.
There will also be a 20-participant matched obese control group who will undergo the baseline visit, and a 5-patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test scan group to validate the novel scans being used.
Updated 25/04/2017: sample size increased from 30 to 32 participants in each arm in case of increased dropout.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Change in Intracranial Pressure (ICP) between baseline and 12 months measured by lumbar puncture at baseline and 12 months. ICP will be recorded to the nearest whole number in cmH2O
Secondary outcome measures
Secondary Outcome Measures:
1. Change in ICP between baseline and 24 and 60 months measured by lumbar puncture. ICP will be recorded to the nearest whole number in cmH2O
2. Change in reported IIH symptoms from 0 to 12 months (and at 3, 6, 24 and 60 months) measured by clinician-completed CRFs and participant-completed questionnaire
3. Change in visual function from 0 to 12 months (and at 24 and 60 months). This will be measured by the LogMAR (log of the minimum angle of resolution) chart to assess visual acuity, automated perimetry (Humphrey 24-2 central threshold) to measure the visual field mean deviation, a Pelli-Robson chart to evaluate contrast sensitivity and an Ishihara book to assess colour vision.
4. Change in papilloedema from 0 to 12 months (and at 24 and 60 months). This will be measured using spectral optical coherence tomography. Papilloedema will be further graded by blinded assessment of, and assignation of Frisen score to, fundus photographs.
5. Change in headache-associated disability from 0 to 12 months (and at 24 and 60 months) measured by participant-completed questionnaire including analgesic use, Headache Index, and Headache Impact Test-6
6. Change in anthropological measures (e.g. waist, hip, fat mass) from 0 to 12 months (and at 24 and 60 months)
7. Change in quality of life (participant reported) from 0 to 12 months (and at 24 and 60 months) measured by participant-reported questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L and ICECAP-A questionnaires)
8. Difference in number of referrals to Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) shunting procedures and optic nerve sheath fenestration between treatment arms at 0 to 12 months (and at 24 and 60 months). This will be measured on clinical follow-up CRFs.
9. Health economics including cost-effectiveness at 12, 24 and 60 months measured by participant-reported health resource usage questionnaire and EQ-5D-5L and ICECAP-A questionnaires
Sub-study Exploratory Outcome Measures:
1. Change in apnoea-hypopnoea index from 0 to 12 months
2. Change in markers of peripheral neuropathy and metabolic syndrome from 0 to 12 months
3. Change in Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging (including venous stenoses) from 0 to 12 months
4. Change in cognitive function from 0 to 12 months
5. Change in biomarkers from 0 to 12 (and 24 and 60) months
6. Comparison between IIH patients and the matched control group at baseline with regards to apnoea-hypopnoea index, peripheral neuropathy and metabolic syndrome, MR imaging, cognitive function, and biomarkers
7. Change in MR imaging over a double baseline period of healthy controls
Overall trial start date
01/02/2014
Overall trial end date
30/04/2023
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Female IIH patients aged between 18 and 55 years, diagnosed according to the modified Dandy criteria who have chronic (> 2 months duration), active disease (visual impairment, papilloedema, significantly raised ICP > 25 cmH2O) and normal brain imaging (magnetic resonance imaging and venography as noted at diagnosis)
2. Body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2
3. Tried other appropriate non-surgical treatments to lose weight but have not been able to achieve or maintain adequate, clinically beneficial weight loss for at least 6 months
4. Able to give informed consent
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
90
Participant exclusion criteria
Original exclusion criteria:
1. Age less than 18 or older than 55 years
2. Pregnant
3. Significant co-morbidity, endocrinopathy or the use of hormone-manipulating medication
4. Undergone optic nerve sheath fenestration
5. Definite indication for or contraindication against surgery or dieting
6. Have a specific medical or psychiatric contraindication for surgery, including drug misuse, eating disorder or major depression (suicidal ideation, drug overdose or psychological admission in last 12 months)
Recruitment start date
06/03/2014
Recruitment end date
31/10/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University Hospitals Birmingham
Mindelsohn Way
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2GW
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Heartlands Hospital
Bordesley Green East
Birmingham
B9 5SS
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Birmingham (UK)
Sponsor details
c/o Mr Sean Jennings
Research Governance Officer
Research Support Group
Room 119 Aston Webb Building
Block B
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) - Research Fellowship, NIHR-CS-011-028
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Results will be disseminated through internal reports, relevant conferences, peer-reviewed scientific journals and online publications . First publication date anticipated to be 12 months after the primary outcome measure.
IPD sharing plan
The current data sharing plans are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
31/12/2019
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list