LACunar Intervention Trial 3
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN44436843 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN44436843 |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 1008629 |
| Protocol serial number | AC24127 |
| Sponsors | University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian |
| Funder | Health Technology Assessment Programme |
- Submission date
- 29/10/2024
- Registration date
- 24/12/2024
- Last edited
- 13/04/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Having a lacunar stroke increases the risk of another stroke, dementia, and loss of independence. A quarter of strokes, called lacunar strokes, are caused by disease of the smallest blood vessels in the brain. Lacunar strokes occur when small blood vessels deep within the brain become damaged and do not supply oxygen and nutrients well. The blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. When there is an interruption in blood supply to part of the brain, the lacunar stroke happens.
It affects about 35000 people per year in the UK. This ‘small vessel disease’ can also cause problems with thinking, balance and walking and can sometimes lead to dementia. There are no treatments yet to help the small blood vessels work better. As a result, damage to the brain may continue to build up.
We have found two drugs that may reduce damage to the small blood vessels in the brain and, therefore, could prevent strokes and thinking problems caused by small vessel disease.
One drug, called cilostazol, is most used in the UK to treat problems with the blood supply to the legs but is used to prevent more strokes from happening in many other countries.
The other drug, called isosorbide mononitrate, is commonly used worldwide, including in the UK, to treat angina (chest pains caused by poor blood supply to the heart).
A network of 60 UK hospitals will identify patients after lacunar stroke and invite them to participate. LACI-3 will need 1300 participants to confirm whether isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol, taken alone or together, reduce the risk of another stroke, dementia, and loss of independence. Participants will take study tablets for 18 months, during which we will collect information on health, cognition, and quality of life.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 30 years and older who have had a lacunar stroke.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the four groups:
1. They may be given cilostazol only.
2. They may be given isosorbide mononitrate only.
3. Both cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate will be given.
4. Neither cilostazol nor isosorbide mononitrate is given.
Everyone gets guideline standard medical care.
Participants will be taking part in LACI-3 for 18 months and follow up five times during their treatment by phone and post.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The findings of LACI-3 will be used in everyday clinical practice in the NHS to care for people with lacunar stroke and prevent future stroke and dementia before symptoms develop.
The trial has been designed to minimise the participants' burden, and the trial materials allow them to contact the trial hospital, central office, or an independent advisor at any time should they need advice. The potential side effects of the study drugs are well-known, and the hospital research team will explain the risks to the participants. Based on the results from the LACI1/2 trials, the study drugs were well-tolerated and safe.
The follow-up will be delivered remotely by phone and post at regular intervals, and participants will be asked about any new drug symptoms or health problems. To minimise travel to the hospital site, they will receive a re-supply of the study drug(s) by post or courier. Participants may find completing the follow-up questionnaires inconvenient; however, the research teams will use each follow-up visit to monitor participants' health, including blood pressure checks. Participants will also be informed that they can ask someone to complete the follow-ups on their behalf if they have difficulties in writing or visual impairment. Participants will have a chance to complete a postal questionnaire by phone if preferred.
Where is the study run from?
University of Edinburgh (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2024 to December 2028
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (UK)
Who is the main contact?
laci-3@ed.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific, Principal investigator
Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences
First floor
Chancellor’s Building
49 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh
EH16 4SB
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-9812-6642 |
|---|---|
| Joanna.Wardlaw@ed.ac.uk |
Public
Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (CCBS)
University of Edinburgh
Chancellor's Building Room
49 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh
EH16 4SB
United Kingdom
| ORCID ID |
0009-0009-5158-6818 |
|---|---|
| laci-3@ed.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Prospective randomized open-label blinded endpoint factorial trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Participant information sheet | ISRCTN44436843 LACI-3 Participant_Information Sheet_v 4.0_24 Feb 2026_TC.pdf |
| Scientific title | The LACunar Intervention Trial 3 (LACI-3). Assessment of efficacy and safety of cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate to prevent adverse outcomes in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (lacunar) ischaemic stroke. |
| Study acronym | LACI-3 |
| Study objectives | Primary research question: For adults surviving lacunar ischaemic stroke, does a policy of starting a drug called cilostazol or a drug called isosorbide mononitrate or starting both of those drugs result in a reduction of problems with memory and thinking compared to continuing routine stroke prevention therapy only? The secondary objectives of the LACI-3 study are to determine if two tested drugs called cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate, taken alone or together: 1. Reduces dependency 2. Helps prevent small vessel disease (problems in tiny blood vessels deep in the brain) from causing another stroke, heart attack or death 3. Improves mood 4. Improves quality of life 5. Reduces use of NHS or social care services 6. If they can be used safely in patients with a lacunar stroke 7. And if patients can take them over several years |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 20/01/2025, Scotland B Research Ethics Committee (Waverley Gate, 2 - 4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG, United Kingdom; +44 7814609032; Manx.Neill@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk), ref: 24/SS/0095 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Lacunar (small vessel) ischaemic stroke |
| Intervention | The intervention involves random allocation to one of the four treatment groups, in addition to the guideline standard care after lacunar ischaemic stroke, using an electronic randomisation system: 1. Isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) oral: 1.1. Slow release 50 mg once daily or 1.2. Non-slow-release 20 or 25 mg twice daily 2. Cilostazol 100 mg oral twice daily 3. Both ISMN and cilostazol - same doses as above 4. Neither ISMN nor cilostazol A target dose of isosorbide mononitrate is 40-60 mg daily. If a slow-release ISMN is not available, the non-slow-release tablets may be used. The IMP is defined by the active substance only, therefore all authorised brands may be used. There is no placebo. The comparator will be a standard care alone including guideline stroke secondary prevention prescribed post-stroke as per national guidelines. The trial treatment period is 18 months. There are five follow-up timepoints after randomisation: 1. 1–2-week follow-up by phone 2. 3–4-week follow-up by phone 3. 6-month follow-up by post and phone 4. 12-month follow-up by post and phone 5. 18-month follow-up by post and phone |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Phase III |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Cilostazol, isosorbide mononitrate |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Cognitive impairment after lacunar ischaemic stroke will be evaluated at 18 months after randomisation using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) scale operationalised, a 7-level ordinal cognitive impairment scale using subscores of the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (tMOCA), Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS), animal naming, clinical dementia diagnosis measured at 6, 12 and 18 months. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Secondary outcome measures: |
| Completion date | 31/12/2028 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 30 Years |
| Upper age limit | 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 1300 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Age ≥30 years 2. Clinical stroke syndrome compatible with a lacunar stroke and brain imaging (MRI preferred but CT allowed) at the time of the stroke shows a relevant recent small subcortical infarct, or if no relevant infarct then no other explanation for symptoms is seen 3. Genetic forms of SVD (e.g. CADASIL) may be included if they present with a lacunar stroke 4. Capacity to give consent in the opinion of the PI or any delegated member of the research team |
| Key exclusion criteria | General Exclusion Criteria: 1. Less than 24 hours since onset of the lacunar stroke or patient on dual antiplatelet drugs 2. Stroke mechanism with definite treatment indication (e.g. cardioembolism, ipsilateral carotid stenosis) 3. Other explanation for the lacunar stroke symptoms (i.e., recent cortical infarct, haemorrhage or tumour) 4. Other active neurological disease (e.g., brain tumour, multiple sclerosis, recurrent seizures, neurodevelopmental disorder - well-controlled epilepsy present prior to the lacunar stroke, a single seizure at onset of the stroke, or provoked seizure, is not an exclusion) 5. Contraindication to both trial drugs in section 4.3 of the SPCs (patients with a contraindication to one trial drug may still be randomised to the other trial drug) 6. Indication for either trial drug (patient already prescribed one trial drug may still be randomised to the other trial drug) 7. Dependent (mRS>2) 8. Clinical diagnosis of dementia 9. Planned surgery during the trial period including carotid endarterectomy. Note prior and apparently successful carotid endarterectomy (or other surgery) is not an exclusion criterion and patients who would otherwise be eligible but require endarterectomy first may be randomised after recovery from successful endarterectomy 10. Unable to swallow 11. Diagnosis of hypotension, defined as sitting systolic blood pressure less than 100mmHg 12. History of drug overdose or attempted suicide 13. Unlikely to be available for follow-up at 18 months 14. Unlikely to comply with study procedures and follow-up procedures for whatever reason (e.g., history of poor medication compliance) in the opinion of the randomising physician 15. Pregnant, breast-feeding, or of child-bearing potential and not using highly effective contraception 16. Renal impairment (creatinine clearance <25 ml/min) 17. Hepatic impairment 18. Currently prescribed dual antiplatelet treatment (single antiplatelet is not an exclusion); patients can be randomised into the trial once the 28-day period of dual antiplatelet for guideline secondary prevention following the acute lacunar ischaemic stroke has completed 19. Previously enrolled in LACI-3 20. Enrolled in a study that precludes co-enrolment with LACI-3 Cilostazol Exclusion Criteria (still allows randomisation to ISMN): 1. Definite indication for (i.e., already prescribed) Cilostazol, or definite contraindication to Cilostazol as per SPCs section 6.1.8. 2. Prohibited medications to Cilostazol (see sections 4.5 of the appended SPCs and protocol section 6.7.3) 3. Active cardiac disease (atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction in past 6 months, active angina, symptomatic cardiac failure) 4. Bleeding tendency (e.g., known platelets <100, active peptic ulcer, history of intracranial haemorrhage such as subdural haematoma, subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, but not asymptomatic haemorrhagic transformation of infarction or a few microbleeds, taking anticoagulant medication) ISMN Exclusion Criteria (still allows randomisation to Cilostazol): 1. Definite indication for (i.e., already prescribed) ISMN, or definite contraindication to ISMN as per SPCs 2. Prohibited medications to ISMN (see sections 4.5 of the appended SPCs and protocol section 6.7.3) |
| Date of first enrolment | 03/03/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/06/2027 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
Study participating centres
Chancellor's Building
49 Little France Crescent
Lothian
EH16 4SB
Scotland
Kirkcaldy
KY2 5AH
Scotland
Bury
BL9 7TD
England
Watford
WD18 0HB
England
Exeter
EX1 2ED
England
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
England
Luton
LU4 0DZ
England
Manchester
M6 8HD
England
Belfast
BT12 6BA
England
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
England
North Road
Durham
DH1 5TW
England
Treliske
Truro
TR1 3LJ
England
High Wycombe
HP11 2TT
England
Arrowe Park Road
Wirral
CH49 5PE
England
Cwmrhydyceirw
Swansea
SA6 6NL
Wales
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN
Scotland
Leeds
LS1 3EX
England
London
SW17 0QT
England
Duckworth Lane
Bradford
BD9 6RJ
England
Enniskillen
BT74 6DN
Northern Ireland
Bath
BA1 3NG
England
Antrim
BT41 2RL
Northern Ireland
London
SE1 7EH
England
London
NW1 2PG
England
Standing Way
Eaglestone
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
England
Craigavon
BT63 5QQ
Northern Ireland
Colchester
CO4 5JL
England
Leicester
LE1 5WW
England
Yeovil
BA21 4AT
England
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
England
Harrow
HA1 3UJ
England
Taunton
TA1 5DA
England
Sheffield
S10 2JF
England
Derby
DE22 3NE
England
London
W6 8RF
England
Glasgow
G51 4TF
Scotland
Hucknall Road
Nottingham
NG5 1PB
England
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TH
England
London
E1 1BB
England
Sheriff Hill
Gateshead
NE9 6SX
England
Dundonald
Belfast
BT16 1RH
Northern Ireland
London
SE5 9RS
England
Sandford Road
Cheltenham
GL53 7AN
England
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Professor Joanna Wardlaw (Joanna.Wardlaw@ed.ac.uk). Researchers may apply to use a de-identified version of the dataset for prospective individual patient data meta-analysis and a data dictionary after 1 year of the publication of the results. A LACI-3 data-sharing committee will assess the written proposals and decide whether data use is appropriate. A data-sharing agreement must be in place before any data sharing. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other files | Participant facts sheet version 1.0 |
13/04/2026 | No | No | |
| Participant information sheet | version 4.0 | 24/02/2026 | 13/04/2026 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- ISRCTN44436843 LACI-3 Participant_Facts Sheet_v 1.0_21 October 2024.pdf
- Participant facts sheet
- ISRCTN44436843 LACI-3 Participant_Information Sheet_v 4.0_24 Feb 2026_TC.pdf
- Participant information sheet
Editorial Notes
13/04/2026: The following changes were made to the study record:
1. The participant information sheet was uploaded as an additional file.
2. The participant facts sheet was uploaded as an additional file.
3. The study participating centres were updated.
28/01/2025: Ethics approval details added.
29/10/2024: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.
