Study of two anti-thyroid drug treatment regimens in young people with thyrotoxicosis

ISRCTN ISRCTN82088322
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN82088322
EudraCT/CTIS number 2011-001238-40
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01436994
Secondary identifying numbers 2759
Submission date
27/06/2011
Registration date
12/10/2011
Last edited
14/05/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Thyrotoxicosis (an overactive thyroid) arises when there is too much thyroid hormone in the body. It is an uncommon disorder in childhood and adolescence. Most patients with thyrotoxicosis have Graves’ disease, where antibodies 'switch on' the thyroid gland and causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone. Many general paediatricians have experience of managing patients with thyrotoxicosis but national guidelines to assist in patient care have not been produced to date. There is no ideal therapy for thyrotoxicosis in children and adolescents. The three treatment types for thyrotoxicosis - anti-thyroid drugs, surgery and radioiodine - all have significant disadvantages. Particular considerations when managing young people include:
1. Low remission rates following a course of anti-thyroid drug therapy - when the anti-thyroid drug is stopped the condition usually returns
2. Concerns about the morbidity associated with thyroidectomy - thyroid surgery leaves a scar, can cause voice change and can leave patients dependent on Vitamin D tablets to prevent low calcium levels
3. Shortage of data on the long-term safety of radioiodine - radioiodine involves radiation which will be associated with a small increase in cancer risk

Children and adolescents with autoimmune thyrotoxicosis in the United Kingdom are usually treated with anti-thyroid drugs, from diagnosis for 1 to 4 years. Treatment is then stopped and patients whose condition deteriorates return to anti-thyroid drugs or are treated with surgery or radioiodine. Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement will be required if the thyroid gland is removed by surgery or eradicated by radioiodine. The excess thyroid hormone in thyrotoxicosis can prevent people from concentrating properly and can also affect the health of the heart and bones. Keeping thyroid hormone levels normal is therefore very important. There are two possible approaches when treating patients with anti-thyroid drug (almost always carbimazole):
1. Combined therapy - otherwise known as 'block and replace', where thyroid hormone production is prevented by anti-thyroid drug and thyroxine is then added in a replacement dose
2. Adaptive therapy - otherwise known as 'dose titration', where the dose of the anti-thyroid drug is adjusted so that hormone production is normalised

Both strategies are used in adults but it is unclear which of these approaches is the most appropriate in the young person. Potential advantages of the combined therapy include improved stability with fewer episodes of hyper- or hypo-thyroidism, a reduced number of blood tests and visits to hospital, and improved remission rates following a larger anti-thyroid drug dose. Potential advantages of the adaptive therapy include fewer side effects with a lower anti-thyroid drug dose, and improved compliance on one rather than two medications. The aim of this study is to find out which treatment - block and replace or dose titration - is the most appropriate medical treatment during childhood and adolescence.

Who can participate?
Patients with thyrotoxicosis aged between 2 and 16 at the time of diagnosis

What does the study involve?
The study involves participants undergoing standard medical therapy for thyrotoxicosis using an anti-thyroid drug. Participants are randomly allocated to either the 'block and replace' or the 'dose titration' approach for a period of 3 years.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Risks to participants are low, as this study is looking at treatments already used in standard practice.

Where is the study run from?
Royal Victoria Infirmary (UK).

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2005 to January 2013

Who is funding the study?
Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Tim Cheetham
tim.cheetham@nuth.nhs.uk

Contact information

Dr Tim Cheetham
Scientific

c/o Old Childrens Outpatients
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
United Kingdom

Email tim.cheetham@nuth.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designTwo-arm randomised controlled 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 study of two anti-thyroid drug treatment regimens in young people with thyrotoxicosis
Study objectivesCurrent hypothesis as of 06/10/2014:
'Block and replace' vs 'dose titration' anti-thyroid drug treatment: is there any difference between the two regimens in terms of biochemical stability.

Previous hypothesis:
Block & replace vs titration - any/no difference between efficacy, side effects or remission rates.
Ethics approval(s)Thames Valley Multi-centre Research Ethics Committee (committee name changed to Berkshire Valley REC), 14/07/2004, ref: 04/12/015
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedThyrotoxicosis in children, endocrinology
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 06/10/2014:
1. This is a multi-centre phase III randomised controlled trial of two standard treatments comparing outcomes for the block and replace regimen versus dose titration regimen in patients with thyrotoxicosis
2. The target recruitment is for 128 participants
3. Participants will be randomised, on a 1:1 ratio, as follows:
3.1. Block and replace regimen: [carbimazole (or propylthiouracil) plus thyroxine]
3.2. Titration regimen: carbimazole (or propylthiouracil)
4. Block and replace regimen:
4.1. The objective of treatment is to maintain free thyroxine concentrations in the normal laboratory range (mean -2SD < FreeT4 > mean + 2SD) with a TSH that is also within the normal laboratory range (neither elevated nor suppressed)
4.2. Carbimazole is commenced in a dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day The intention is to completely prevent endogenous thyroxine production
4.3. Thyroxine is then added in a low replacement dose as the thyroid hormone levels fall into the lower half of the laboratory normal range
5. Dose titration regimen:
5.1. The objective of treatment is to maintain free thyroxine concentrations in the normal laboratory range (mean -2SD < FreeT4 > mean + 2SD) with a TSH that is also within the normal laboratory range (neither elevated or suppressed)
5.2. Carbimazole is commenced in a dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day until thyroid hormone levels fall into the local laboratory normal range
5.3. The dose is then reduced to 0.25 mg/kg/day with the intention of maintaining a euthyroid state as reflected by a free thyroxine and TSH within the normal range

Previous interventions:
1. This is a multi-centre phase III randomised controlled trial of two standard treatments comparing outcomes for the block and replace regimen versus dose titration regimen in patients with thyrotoxicosis
2. The target recruitment is for 160 participants
3. Participants will be randomised, on a 1:1 ratio, as follows:
3.1. Block and replace regimen: [carbimazole (or propylthiouracil) plus thyroxine]
3.2. Titration regimen: carbimazole (or propylthiouracil)
4. Block and replace regimen:
4.1. The primary objective of treatment is to maintain free thyroxine concentrations in the normal laboratory range (mean -2SD < FreeT4 > mean + 2SD) with a TSH that is also within the normal laboratory range (neither elevated nor suppressed)
4.2. Carbimazole is commenced in a dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day The intention is to completely prevent endogenous thyroxine production
4.3. Thyroxine is then added in a low replacement dose as the thyroid hormone levels fall into the lower half of the laboratory normal range
5. Dose titration regimen:
5.1. The primary objective of treatment is to maintain free thyroxine concentrations in the normal laboratory range (mean -2SD < FreeT4 > mean + 2SD) with a TSH that is also within the normal laboratory range (neither elevated or suppressed)
5.2. Carbimazole is commenced in a dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day until thyroid hormone levels fall into the local laboratory normal range
5.3. The dose is then reduced to 0.25 mg/kg/day with the intention of maintaining a euthyroid state as reflected by a free thyroxine and TSH within the normal range
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Carbimazole, propylthiouracil, thyroxine
Primary outcome measureCurrent primary outcome measures as of 06/10/2014:
Biochemical control as reflected by blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. The standard deviation of the proportion of TSH measurements above or below the laboratory normal range on block and replace and dose titration regimens (n=12) is approximately 0.2. A clinically important difference in means between the two study groups is 0.1. 128 patients (two groups of 64 patients) required to detect a mean difference in control of 0.1 with 80% power at the 5% level. This primary outcome measure will be assessed at year 3 when subjects will have received anti-thyroid drug for 3 years.

Previous primary outcome measures:
We have undertaken a power estimation based on the assumption that a 20% absolute improvement in remission by 4 years would establish an indisputable clinically significant benefit of one regimen over the other. To gain 80% power with an assumption of 5% loss to follow up, we calculate that we would have to allocate 80 subjects to each treatment group
Secondary outcome measuresCurrent secondary outcome measures as of 06/10/2014:
Additional measures of biochemical control:
1. A comparison of the mean and variability (SD) of TSH and thyroid hormone concentrations in the two treatment groups
2. Remission rates as defined by patients who are biochemically euthyroid at the end of the 4-year study period
3. The frequency of adverse events on the two treatment regimens

Previous secondary outcome measures:
We have also undertaken a power calculation so that we can be confident that a key secondary outcome measure (measure 2) will also be addressed. The standard deviation of the proportion of TSH measurements above or below the laboratory normal range on block and replace and dose titration regimens (n=12) is approximately 0.2 (unpublished data from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Glasgow). These outcome measures will be assessed at year 3, year 4 and year 6 using biochemistry results to show the stability of the patients thyroid function
Overall study start date10/01/2005
Completion date01/11/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit2 Years
Upper age limit16 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants128
Key inclusion criteria1. All patients with thyrotoxicosis aged between 2 and 16 years at the time of diagnosis
2. Thyrotoxicosis will be diagnosed by the paediatrician on the basis of the clinical picture and the biochemistry [suppressed thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with high thyroid hormone levels]
3. Child must consent/assent or consent via parent/guardian must be gained prior to any study-specific procedures
Key exclusion criteria1. Known toxic adenoma/toxic hyperplasia [germline activating thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) mutation]
2. McCune Albright Syndrome
3. Previous episodes of thyrotoxicosis
4. Known allergic response to any of the study medication or ingredients as per Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
5. Previous participation in this study
Date of first enrolment12/01/2005
Date of final enrolment29/11/2011

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Royal Victoria Infirmary
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre

Newcastle Joint Research Office
Level 1 Regent Point
Regent Farm Road
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3HD
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05p40t847

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

No information available

British Thyroid Foundation
Private sector organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Alternative name(s)
BTF
Location
United Kingdom
Child Growth Foundation (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Editorial Notes

14/05/2019: No publications found. Verifying results with principal investigator. The intention to publish date was added.
07/12/2017: Publication and dissemination plan and IPD sharing statement added.
06/10/2014: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/01/2013 to 01/11/2015.
2. The target number of participants was changed from 160 to 128.
3. 'The British Thyroid Foundation & The Child Growth Foundation' was added to the sources of funding field.