Sildenafil for Microvasculopathy in Chronic TBI (NCT05782244)
Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial of Sildenafil Citrate for Treatment of Cerebrovascular Dysfunction in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury
๐ฉบ Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Traumatic Cerebral Vascular Injury (TCVI) is a common consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), including mild TBI (mTBI). TCVI is associated with poor recovery after TBI in animal models. TCVI can be measured non-invasively in humans, and therapies targeting TCVI are attractive candidates to ameliorate the consequences of TBI. Sildenafil potentiates nitric oxide (NO) dependent vasodilatation and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and primary pulmonary hypertension. In pre-clinical models of stroke, sildenafil improves cerebral blood flow (CBF), promotes, angiogenesis, neurogenesis and improves recovery. In an initial Phase 2a trial (NCT01762475) of sildenafil in patients with chronic moderate to severe TBI, the investigators found that low dose sildenafil (25 mg BID) therapy is safe and well tolerated, that a single dose of sildenafil 50 mg potentiates CVR in areas of the brain with dysfunctional endothelium, and that CVR is a reliable diagnostic marker of TCVI and has potential as a pharmacodynamic and predictive biomarker. In this proposal, the investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial to determine the optimal PDE5 inhibitor dose to improve or normalize microvascular function (as measured by the change in CVR measurements before and after a single dose of sildenafil, or ฮCVR) using a range of sildenafil citrate doses: 20, 40, 80 mg) in chronic TBI patients. The investigators will also test the safety and tolerability of the same dose ranges of chronic (4-week) thrice daily sildenafil or placebo administration in chronic TBI patients and explore its effects on chronic symptoms and clinical outcomes.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: University of Pennsylvania โ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age range: 18 Years to 70 Years
๐งช Interventions in This Study
๐ "Do I Qualify?" โ 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria โ
๐ All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- University of Pennsylvania โ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
๐ Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (267) 271-4951
Email: tbiresearch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
๐ฐ Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA ยง 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Traumatic Brain Injury
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- Improving Time-Based Prospective Memory in TBI โ East Hanover, New Jersey
- Re-entry Continuum for Brain Injury โ Greencastle, Indiana
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) as an Intervention for Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury โ Minneapolis, Minnesota
- TRACK-TBI Longitudinal Biomarker Study โ San Francisco, California
- Narrative Discourse Treatment Development โ West Haven, Connecticut
Explore by condition: All Traumatic Brain Injury clinical trials
๐ก How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.