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Hydroxychloroquine/Atorvastatin in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee

Hydroxychloroquine/Atorvastatin in the Treatment of OA of the Knee

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01645176
Enrollment
21
Registered
2012-07-20
Start date
2012-05-31
Completion date
2016-10-31
Last updated
2018-07-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Keywords

OA, Knee

Brief summary

The purpose of this study of a combination therapy of hydroxychloroquine and atorvastatin is to learn about the effects in inflammation and pain in patients with Osteoarthritis of the knee. These medications are FDA approved and commercially available.

Interventions

DRUGHydroxychloroquine/Atorvastatin

Hydroxychloroquine 200-600 mg /day Atorvastatin 40 mg/day

Sponsors

Stanford University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Ambulatory subjects with OA of the knee with symptoms for at least 6 months and pain on the majority of days in the last 30 days. Symptoms must include knee joint pain. 2. Male or female adults age \>40 years with a body mass index \<35 3. Radiographic evidence of at least one osteophyte in either knee on posteroanterior (PA) and lateral standing, flexed x-ray. 4. A Kellegren-Lawrence score of 2-3, or KL score of 1 accompanied by a clinically apparent effusion in the index knee. 5. A WOMAC pain score of \>8 on the index knee at screening visit.

Exclusion criteria

1. A requirement for treatment with high potency opioids for pain relief. 2. Unwilling to abstain from NSAIDs and/or other analgesic medications except acetaminophen (i.e., COX-2 inhibitors, tramadol) for 48 hours and acetaminophen for 24 hours prior to pain assessments during the study. Subjects taking low dose aspirin for cardiovascular health may remain on their stable dose throughout the study. 3. On an unstable dose of NSAIDs or analgesics for at least 1 months prior to screening visit 1. 4. Using a handicap assistance device (i.e., cane, walker) \>50% of the time. 5. Undergoing new physical therapy or participating in a weight loss or exercise program that has not been stable for at least 3 months prior to screening visit 1 and will not remain stable during their participation in the study. 6. Had a previous history of arthroscopic or open surgery to the index knee in the past 6 months or planned surgery during study follow up. 7. Had joint replacement surgery in the index knee. 8. Received corticosteroid, short acting hyaluronic acid, or other intraarticular injections of the index knee within 3 months of screening visit 1 and/or not willing to abstain from treatments for the duration of the study 9. A history in the past 5-10 years of reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis or fibromyalgia. 10. Clinical signs and symptoms of active knee infection or radiographic evidence of crystal disease other than chondrocalcinosis (i.e. gout). 11. A history of abnormal laboratory results \>2.5 x ULN indicative of any significant medical disease, which in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude the subjects participation in the study 12. Any of the following abnormal laboratory results during screening: * ALT and/or AST \>2.5x ULN * Hemoglobin \<9 g/dL * WBC \<3500 cells/mm3 * Lymphocyte count \<1000 cells/mm3 * Serum creatinine \>1.5 x ULN or calculated Glomerular filtration rate less than 50. * Creatine phosphokinase level \> 2x ULN 13. A history of malignancy in the past ten years (\<10 years), with the exception of resected basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or resected cervical atypia or carcinoma in situ. 14. Significant hip pain, ipsilateral to the index knee that may interfere with assessments of index knee pain 15. A known or clinically suspected infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or hepatitis C or B viruses 16. Participated within 3 months or will participate concurrently in another investigational drug or vaccine study 17. A history of drug or alcohol dependence or abuse in the past 3 years 18. A female with reproductive capability who is unwilling to use birth control for the duration of the study and/or intends to conceive within 12 months of dosing. 19. Ongoing use of hydroxychloroquine, or any anti-malarial, or prior history of use within past 3 months or any prior history of history of allergy, hypersensitivity or toxicity to antimalarial use. 20. Ongoing use of a statin (HMG Co A reductase inhibitor), or use within past 3 months or any prior history of history of allergy, hypersensitivity, or toxicity to statin use. 21. Use of fibric acid derivative in past 3 months. 22. Other serious, non-malignant, significant, acute or chronic medical or psychiatric illness that, in the judgment of the investigator, could compromise subject safety, limit the subject's ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study.-

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Synovitisbaseline and 16 weeksMRI readings performed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists, using a semi-quantitative scoring system based on MRI assessment of knee OASynovitis scored using axial & sagittal CE-MRI sequence, while effusion & bone marrow lesions were scored using non-CE-MRI sequences of parent study. Synovitis defined as enhancing thickened synovium (\>2 mm) & was evaluated at nine sites of joint-medial & lateral parapatellar recess, suprapateller, infrapatellar, intercondylar, medial & lateral perimeniscal, & adjacent to anterior & posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL/PCL) in all subjects. Synovial thickness was scored semi-quantitatively based on maximal thickness in any slice at each site as follows: grade 0 if \<2mm, grade 1 if 2-4 mm & grade 2 if \>4mm. For assessment of whole knee synovitis scores of all sites were summed and categorized: 0-4 normal or equivocal synovitis; 5-8 mild synovitis; 9-12 moderate synovitis & \>/= 13 severe synovitis.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Responders to ad in local paper, medical clinic May 2012 - Dec 2014

Pre-assignment details

Osteoarthritis of knee

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Hydroxychloroquine/Atorvastatin Open Label
Hydroxychloroquine/Atorvastatin: Hydroxychloroquine 200-600 mg /day Atorvastatin 40 mg/day
16
Total16

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall Studydid not complete final MRI1
Overall StudyLack of Efficacy4

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicHydroxychloroquine/Atorvastatin Open Label
Age, Continuous
age
64.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.9
Region of Enrollment
United States
16 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants
WOMAC PAIN9.8 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.2

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 21
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 21
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 21

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Synovitis

MRI readings performed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists, using a semi-quantitative scoring system based on MRI assessment of knee OASynovitis scored using axial & sagittal CE-MRI sequence, while effusion & bone marrow lesions were scored using non-CE-MRI sequences of parent study. Synovitis defined as enhancing thickened synovium (\>2 mm) & was evaluated at nine sites of joint-medial & lateral parapatellar recess, suprapateller, infrapatellar, intercondylar, medial & lateral perimeniscal, & adjacent to anterior & posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL/PCL) in all subjects. Synovial thickness was scored semi-quantitatively based on maximal thickness in any slice at each site as follows: grade 0 if \<2mm, grade 1 if 2-4 mm & grade 2 if \>4mm. For assessment of whole knee synovitis scores of all sites were summed and categorized: 0-4 normal or equivocal synovitis; 5-8 mild synovitis; 9-12 moderate synovitis & \>/= 13 severe synovitis.

Time frame: baseline and 16 weeks

Population: Participants with osteoarthritis of knee

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Osteoarthritis of KneeChange in Synovitis9.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.4

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026