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A randomised double blind controlled trial of oral ephedrine/etilefrine in the prevention of recurrent (stuttering) attacks of priapism in sickle cell disease: a multicentre international study in older children and adults
ISRCTN ISRCTN54312363
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
Public title A randomised double blind controlled trial of oral ephedrine/etilefrine in the prevention of recurrent (stuttering) attacks of priapism in sickle cell disease: a multicentre international study in older children and adults
Scientific title
Acronym PISCES
Serial number at source 09/04
Study hypothesis Stuttering attacks of priapism is a harbinger of a major acute attack with its poor sequelae. Penile detumesence depends on alpha adrenergic stimulation such as etilefrine, ephedrine anecdotally. We therefore want:
1. To assess if oral ephedrine or etilefrine taken by patients with sickle cell disease is tolerable and if it reduces the rates of stuttering priapism, and or major acute attacks of priapism
2. To see if oral ephedrine is comparable to etilefrine in efficacy
3. If it is so, to establish the minimum effective dose of ephedrine
Lay summary
Ethics approval Ethics approval received from the West Midland Multicentre Research Ethics Committee.
Study design Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Countries of recruitment Nigeria, United Kingdom
Disease/condition/study domain Sickle cell disease
Participants - inclusion criteria 1. Male patients with a documented history of sickle cell disease (SCD) irrespective of genotype (alpha thalassemia status will not be determined)
2. Patients should be 12 years or over
3. Patients with a known history of stuttering priapism (a short self limiting episode lasting up to 4 hours which tends to be recurrent) attributable to SCD
4. Patients in active attendance at a designated care centre i.e. one visit in the last six months
5. Patients on a stable dose of hydroxyurea for over six months before trial entry, provided a baseline event rate (on treatment) is established before randomisation and no dose change occurs during trial period
6. Patients who received a one-off or isolated top up transfusion greater than three months before recruitment date can be entered into study
Participants - exclusion criteria 1. Patients with sickle cell trait (haemoglobin A greater than haemoglobin S on alkaline gel electrophoresis or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will not be eligible for randomisation
2. Patients known to have elevated blood pressure or a history of cardiac disease
3. Patients with SCD and a documented history of stroke in the past
4. Patients with a history of acquired vessel aneurysm in the past
5. Patients known to be on MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) drugs or other drugs with significant interactions with study drugs
6. Patients known to be intolerant of adrenergic drugs
7. Patients with hyperthyroidism
8. Patients on a long-term blood transfusion programme to prevent or treat the complications of SCD
Anticipated start date 01/10/2005
Anticipated end date 01/10/2007
Status of trial Completed
Patient information material Patient information can be found at: http://www.anaemiaweb.org/Documents/Pisces/Adult%20Patient%20information.pdf
Target number of participants 320
Interventions Oral ephedrine and oral etilefrine versus placebo
Primary outcome measure(s) 1. A change in the frequency of attacks of stuttering priapism from baseline data
2. A change in the incidence of an acute (major) attacks of priapism
Secondary outcome measure(s) Tolerability of oral etilefrine (50 mg) or ephedrine at 15 mg or 30 mg with respect to side effect profile.
Sources of funding 1. British Society of Haematology (UK)
2. Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK) - small research grant
3. North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust (UK) - Haematology Research and Development grant
Trial website http://www.anaemiaweb.org/pisces.htm
Publications 1. 2010 results in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21127308
Contact name Dr  Adebayo  Olujohungbe
  Address Department of Haematology
Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Longmoor Lane
  City/town Liverpool
  Zip/Postcode L9 7AL
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0)151 529 3375
  Fax +44 (0)151 529 3310
  Email ade.olujohungbe@aht.nwest.nhs.uk
Sponsor Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
  Address Longmoor Lane
Liverpool
  City/town Liverpool
  Zip/Postcode L9 7AL
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0)151 529 3375
  Fax +44 (0)151 529 3310
  Email ade.olujohungbe@aht.nwest.nhs.uk
  Sponsor website: http://www.anaemiaweb.org/pisces.htm
Date applied 27/10/2005
Last edited 25/01/2011
Date ISRCTN assigned 02/02/2006
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