Bariatric surgery versus a community weight loss programme for the sustained treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

ISRCTN ISRCTN40152829
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN40152829
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02124486
Secondary identifying numbers RG_12-089
Submission date
09/01/2014
Registration date
30/01/2014
Last edited
06/07/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

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

Study website

Contact information

Dr Alexandra Sinclair
Scientific

IBR West Wing, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled parallel arm trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
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 randomised controlled trial of bariatric surgery versus a community weight loss programme for the sustained treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: the IIH:WT Trial
Study acronymIIH:WT
Study objectivesThe trial will evaluate the effectiveness of two methods of weight loss in the treatment of IIH: gastric banding vs. dietetic intervention.
Ethics approval(s)Black Country REC, 28/02/2014, ref: 14/WM/0011
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedIdiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) - neurology, neuro-ophthalmology.
InterventionPatients 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 typeOther
Primary outcome measureChange 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 measuresSecondary 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 study start date01/02/2014
Completion date30/04/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants90
Total final enrolment66
Key inclusion criteria1. 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
Key exclusion criteriaOriginal 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)
Date of first enrolment06/03/2014
Date of final enrolment31/10/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

University Hospitals Birmingham
Mindelsohn Way
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2GW
United Kingdom
Heartlands Hospital
Bordesley Green East
Birmingham
B9 5SS
United Kingdom
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
United Kingdom
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Birmingham (UK)
University/education

c/o Mr Sean Jennings
Research Governance Officer
Research Support Group
Room 119 Aston Webb Building, Block B
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.birmingham.ac.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03angcq70

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) - Research Fellowship, NIHR-CS-011-028

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/05/2021
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planResults 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 planThe current data sharing plans are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article 27/09/2017 22/04/2021 Yes No
Results article Sub-study results 22/08/2021 23/08/2021 Yes No
Results article 05/07/2022 06/07/2022 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

06/07/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been updated from 151 to 66 from the reference.
23/08/2021: Publication reference added.
22/04/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
3. The intention to publish date has been changed from 31/12/2019 to 31/05/2021.
16/11/2018: The overall trial end date was changed from 31/10/2022 to 30/04/2023.
25/04/2017: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial end date was changed from 30/09/2022 to 31/10/2022.
2. The target number of participants was changed from 85 to 90.

17/11/2016: Dissemination plan and IPD plan added. Clarifications to participant inclusion criteria, plain English summary and location details.

11/11/2016: The following changes have been made to the record:
1. Exclusion criterion 2 has been updated so now pregnant women cannot participate (previously those planning to conceive also could not participate)
2. The clinical trials.gov reference number and trial participating centre have been added
3. The recruitment end date has been updated from 30/09/2022 to 31/10/2018