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The Effect of an Anti-obesity Drug, Semaglutide, as Treatment in New-onset Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) Compared to Standard Weight Management (Dietician) With Regards to Change in Weight and Intracranial Pressure

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP-1R) Analogue Assisted Rapid Weight Loss Program as Treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06027567
Acronym
IIH:DUAL
Enrollment
38
Registered
2023-09-07
Start date
2022-09-02
Completion date
2025-10-28
Last updated
2026-02-27

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

Conditions

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Intracranial Pressure, Obesity, Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome, Papilledema, Weight Loss

Keywords

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Papilledema, Weight loss, Obesity, Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome, Intracranial Pressure

Brief summary

50 patients with verified new-onset Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension are randomly allocated to standard weight management (dietician counselling) or trial intervention consisting of subcutaneous injections with Semaglutide for 10 months combined, in the initial 8 weeks following diagnosis, with a Very Low Calorie-Diet (max 800 kcal/day)

Detailed description

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension is primarily observed in obese female and weight management promotes disease control by yet unsettled mechanisms. Effective, fast and lasting weight loss is crucial, however, hard to achieve. Current weight management strategy in IIH in Denmark is counselling by a dietician. This study investigates whether an initial Very Low Calorie Diet (max 800 kcal/day) for 8 weeks following the diagnosis combined with GLP1-RA treatment throughout 10 months is tolerated and more efficient in achieving substantial weight loss and reduction of intracranial pressure. Furthermore, a number of secondary outcomes are measured including headache burden, quality of life, structure and function of the optic nerve, non-invasive surrogate markers of intracranial pressure, body fat mass, bone health, fatty liver disease and a range of cerebrospinal-, blood- and urine markers of i.a. the hormonal, inflammatory, metabolic, and headache biomarker profile. The intervention may candidate as a future first-line treatment regime.

Interventions

DRUGSemaglutide

Subcutaneous once-weekly injections of Semaglutide uptitrating to a maximum of 2.4 mg

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTVery Low Calorie Diet

Very Low Calorie Diet (max 800 kcal/day) using Nupo Diet meal replacement products

BEHAVIORALDietician counselling

Counselling by a dietician on weight loss through behavioural changes and life style intervention

Sponsors

Rigmor Højland Jensen
Lead SponsorOTHER
Rigshospitalet, Denmark
CollaboratorOTHER
Odense University Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Copenhagen
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Open label randomized controlled clinical treatment trial Patients are randomly assigned 1:1 to standard-of-care or intervention

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Confirmed new onset definite IIH with papilledema and lumbar opening pressure ≥25 cm cerebrospinal fluid according to Friedmann diagnostic criteria * BMI ≥ 27 * Use of contraceptive methods with failure rates of less than 1 % throughout the study period for group A and for at least an additional 2 months after cessation of Semaglutide * Written, informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to provide written informed consent or participate * Malignant IIH with visual threat that requires surgical intervention, i.e., cerebrospinal fluid diversion (shunting), optic nerve sheet fenestration or cerebral venous sinus stenting * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Treatment with antidiabetics, blood-thinners or medication that may increase the risk of adverse events * Diabetes, congestive heart failure, severe vascular disease, pancreatitis, severe ophthalmological disorders other than IIH (e.g. retinopathy) * History or family history of thyroid carcinomas or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasias (MEN1/MEN2) * History of bariatric surgery * Known hypersensitivity to any contents of Semaglutide® * Other severe/uncontrolled mental or physical disease

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intracranial pressure8 weeksChange in lumbar opening pressure in cm cerebrospinal fluid measured by manometry
Weight8 weeksWeight change (%)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intracranial Pressure10 monthsChange in lumbar opening pressure in cm cerebrospinal fluid measured by manometry
Quality of Life8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in total score of Quality of Life (psychological, social, physical, environmental) assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version Questionnaire (0-100; 0 worst, 100 best)
Headache burden measured by HURT questionnaire8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in summation of scores in the questionnaire "Headache Under Response to Treatment Questionnaire" (HURT); 0-24 points were higher numbers are worse outcome
Change in Papilledema8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in Frisén Grade (0-5, 0 minimal, 5 worst)
Visual fields8 weeks + 10 monthsPerimetric mean deviation (decibel) by Humphrey automated perimetry
EDI-OCT8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in Papillary thickness (um) measured by Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography (EDI-OCT)
Optic disc elevationBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsOptic disc elevation (mm) measured by transorbital ultrasonography, (average of 3 scans of each eye with papilledema)
Remission8 weeks + 10 monthsProportion of patients with abscence of papilledema with or without intracranial pressure \<25 cm cerebrospinal fluid
Change in fat mass8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in body fat percentage measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry compared to baseline
Total fat massBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsBody fat percentage measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
Feasibility8 weeks + 10 monthsDrop-out rate (proportion of patients withdrawing from participation)
Need of intracranial pressure-lowering medication_18 weeks + 10 monthsDose (mg) of intracranial pressure-lowering medication needed (Acetazolamide, Topiramate, diuretics)
Fatty liver prevalenceBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsPrevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease evaluated by ultrasonography (subjectively assessed density of liver parenchyma compared to hepatic perivascular density and renal density), assessed by an experienced radiologist with specialization in ultrasonography
Monthly headache daysBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsNumber of days with headache for the past 30 days preceding visit
Headche severityBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsNumber of days with mild, moderate, and severy headache, respectively, in the past 30 days preceding visit
Headache medication - Acute analgesic useBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsNumber of days with need of acute analgesic treatment for headache
Headache medication - preventive medicationBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsNeed of preventive medical treatment for headache
Optic nerve sheath diameterBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsOptic nerve sheath diameter (mm) measured by transorbital ultrasonography (average of 3 scans of each eye with papilledema)
Peripapillary capillary densityBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in peripapillary capillary density (ratio of pixels of perpapillary vessels and pixels in the foveal area evaluated by Optic Coherence Tomography Angiography
Peripapillary artery-to-venule ratioBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in peripapillary artery-to-venule diameter ratio measured by confocal Scanning Laser Ophtalmoscopy
Truncal fatBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in percentage of truncal adiposity measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
Android-gynoid-ratioBaseline + 8 weeks and 10 monthsChange in ratio of Android versus gynoid fat percentage using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
Adverse events8 weeks + 10 monthsNumber of adverse events overall, and sub-categorized into adverse events (AE) (any event happening during attachment to the project) and severe adverse events (SAE) in case of the following conditions: Hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, death, life-threatening or significant disability/incapacity
Need of intracranial pressure-lowering medication_2Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsNumber of patients in need of any intracranial pressure-lowering drug (Acetazolamide, Topiramate, diuretics)
Insulin like-Growth-Factor-1BaselineLevel of Insulin like-Growth-Factor-1 in serum (ug/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Insulinlike Growth Factor Binding Protein-3BaselineLevel of Insulinlike Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 in serum (ug/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Growth hormoneBaselineLevel of growth hormone in serum ug(L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
LutropinBaselineLevel of Lutropin in serum (IU/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
FollitropinBaselineLevel of Follitropin in serum (IU/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
TestosteronBaselineLevel of testosteron in serum (nmol/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Sex-Hormone Binding GlobulinBaselineLevel of Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin in serum (nmol/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Anti-Müllerian HormoneBaselineLevel of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (pmol/L) in serum in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
DehydroepiandrosteroneBaselineLevel of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) in serum (umol/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
AndrostenedionBaselineLevel of androstenedion (nmol/L) in serum in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
17-hydroxyprogesterone (mg/d)BaselineLevel of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (mg/d) in serum in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Cortisol 0 minBaselineLevel of cortisol (nmol/L) in serum in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Cortisol 30 minBaselineLevel of cortisol (nmol/L) in serum 30 minutes after stimulation with 0,25 mg SynACHTen in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptideBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsLevel (picograms per milliliter in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid) of Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP)
Calcitonin Gene Related PeptideBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsCalcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) level pg/mL (picograms per milliliter in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid)
Change in bone marker (CTX)Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) level (nanograms per liter)
Change in bone marker (PiNP)baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in procollagen type I N-propeptide (PiNP) level (micrograms per liter) compared to baseline
Regional bone densityBaseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in regional bone density in grams/square cm (g/cm2) and T- and Z-scores of hip and spine measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry compared to baseline
Androgen metabolism_1Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsRatio between Etiocholanolone and Androsterone (ng/mg) in 24-hour urine
Androgen metabolism_2Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsRatio between 5-alpha-tetrahydrocortisol (5a-THF) and tetrahydrocortisol (THF) in 24-hour urine
Androgen metabolism_3Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsLevel of testosterone in 24-hour urine (ng/L)
Androgen metabolism_4Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsLevel of 3-alpha-androstanediol in 24-hour urine (nmol/L)
Androgen metabolism_5Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsLevel of 11-oxygenated androgens (11-OHA4) (pg/L) in 24-hour urine
Intrathecal Semaglutide10 monthsLevel of semaglutide in cerebrospinal fluid (picomol/L)
Ammoniaemia_1Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsLevels of plasma ammonium (umol/L)
Ammoniaemia_2Baseline + 8 weeks + 10 monthsCorrelation between plasma ammonium (umol/L) and presence of fatty liver disease as indicated by liver ultrasonography
Ketosis8 weeks + 10 monthsProportion of patients in ketosis measured by urine stix
EstradiolBaselineLevel of estradiol in serum (nmol/L) in women not taking estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Change in metabolic parameters8 weeks + 10 monthsChange in Homeostatic Model for Insulin Resistance (HOMA2IR) compared to baseline
Weight10 monthsWeight change (%)

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORRigmor H Jensen, Professor

Danish Headache Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 28, 2026