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Efficacy of a Single Dose Dexamethasone in Reducing the Postembolization Syndrome in Men Undergoing Prostatic Artery Embolization for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial on the Efficacy of a Single Dose Dexamethasone in Reducing the Postembolization Syndrome in Men Undergoing Prostatic Artery Embolization for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04588857
Enrollment
60
Registered
2020-10-19
Start date
2021-03-01
Completion date
2023-06-01
Last updated
2022-03-22

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

Conditions

Prostatic Hyperplasia

Keywords

Prostatic artery embolization, Benign prostatic hyperplasia, Postembolization syndrome

Brief summary

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a frequent cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. One fourth of men older than 70 have moderate to severe LUTS that impair their quality of life (QOL). Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a new minimally invasive technique proven effective in reducing LUTS comparable to the mainstay treatment - the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The most common side effect of PAE is a collection of inflammation-related symptoms known as the postembolization syndrome (PES). The symptoms include pelvic pain, fever, nausea, and transient worsening of LUTS (painful and difficult urination). PES is a self-limiting condition that is treated symptomatically with painkillers and antipyretics. However, PES can be so severe that the patients experience high fever, shivers, dysuria and urgency mimicking a septicemia from the urinary tract. It is a clinical challenge to avoid exposure to unnecessary antibiotics treatment in those situations. A subset of patients may need admission to the hospital for observation, especially in case of fever. Usually, PES resolves within a week after PAE. Steroids have been successfully used to reduce the incidence and severity of PES after a number of procedures in interventional radiology. The investigators postulate that steroids can have a similar effect in reducing PES after PAE. In this study, the efficacy of single high dose postprocedural dexamethasone (DEXA) administration in reducing PES after PAE will be evaluated, compared to placebo.

Interventions

DRUGDexamethasone

The participants in the experimental group will receive a single 24 mg intravenous dose of dexamethasone immediately prior to PAE.

DRUGSaline

The participants in the placebo group will receive 6 ml of saline i.v. immediately prior to PAE.

Sponsors

Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of LUTS secondary to BPH refractory to/contraindicated for medical treatment or not patient preference * Moderate to severe urinary symptoms on IPSS (IPSS score 8 or over) * Qmax \<=15ml/sec, based on flowmetry * Unsuitable for TURP or refuses surgery * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent * Prostate volume \> 80 milliliters * Men with low-risk prostate cancer (T1c, Gleason score \<=6 on a maximum of 3 biopsies) who have LUTS due to a large BPH component are eligible * Indwelling or intermittent catheter is allowed

Exclusion criteria

* History of bladder cancer * Previous pelvic radiation for cancer treatment * Current bladder stones * Significant bladder diverticula * Current urethral strictures or bladder neck contracture * Neurologic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neurological diseases known to affect bladder function * Neurogenic bladder without obstruction * Active urinary tract infection at the time of intervention unless in case of regular catheter dependence and thought to represent colonization * Documented bacterial prostatitis in the last year * Severe atheromatous disease or other pathology preventing catheter-based intervention (as rated on CT angiography by an interventional radiologist) * Allergy to iodinated contrast media * Renal failure (eGFR \< 30ml/min) * High bleeding risk (spontaneous INR \> 1.6) * Contraindication to conscious sedation (if requested by participant) * Allergy to dexamethasone * Positive HIV, hepatitis B or C * Immunological disease (except topically treated skin or respiratory diseases) * Glaucoma * Active peptic or duodenal ulcer * Systemic fungal infections * Immunosuppressive treatment (systemic) * Current treatment of cancer (except low risk prostate cancer)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Body temperatureMeasured by participant on Day 2 following PAE,Mean rectal body temperature, measured in degrees Celsius
Postprocedural painDuring the first 5 days following PAEMean postprocedural pain measured on Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF), score on a 0-10 scale, higher score indicates higher level of pain
Postprocedural quality of lifeDuring the first 5 days following PAEMean postprocedural quality of life measured on BPI-SF, score on a 0-10 scale, higher score indicates lower quality of life

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Need for postprocedural medicationDuring the first 5 days following PAEUse of analgesics, antipyretics and antiemetics (frequency and dosage)
Hospital admissionDuring the first 5 days following PAEIncidence of hospital admission
LUTS severityMeasured at baseline, 2 days, 5 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months following PAEMeasured on International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, each answer is scored from 0 to 5 for a maximum score of 35 points, higher score indicates more pronounced symptoms
Erectile functionMeasured at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months following PAEMeasured on International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, each answer is scored from 1 to 5 for a maximum score of 25 points, higher score indicates more pronounced symptoms
Prostate volumeMeasured at baseline, 3 and 6 months following PAEMeasured on transrectal US, in ml
Peak urinary flow rate (Qmax)Measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months following PAEQmax, measured in ml/s
Blood glucoseDuring the first 5 days following PAESelf-measured fasting blood glucose in mmol/l, only in patients with diabetes
Residual urineMeasured at baseline, 3 and 6 months following PAEResidual urine, measured in ml
Urinary tract infectionsDuring the first 5 days following PAEIncidence of urinary tract infections
Acute urinary retentionDuring the first 5 days following PAEIncidence of acute urinary retention
Side effects of PAEDuring the first 5 days following PAEIncidence of side effects of PAE (PES excluded)
DysuriaDuring the first 5 days following PAEIncidence of dysuria
Nausea and vomitingDuring the first 5 days following PAEIncidence of nausea and vomiting
Mean urinary flow rate (Qmean)Measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months following PAEQmean, measured in ml/s
Inflammatory response markersMeasured at baseline and 2 days following PAEC-reactive protein, measured in mg/l
Prostate specific antigen (PSA)Measured at baseline, 2 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months following PAEPSA, measured in ng/ml

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

Primary ContactPetra Svarc, MD
petra.svarc@regionh.dk+4591870618

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 14, 2026