Could a tiny dose of naltrexone ease vasculitis symptoms?
NCT ID NCT03482479
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a low dose (4.5 mg) of naltrexone, a drug already used for alcoholism, can improve physical health and quality of life in people with vasculitis. Sixty participants took either the drug or a placebo daily for six weeks. The goal was to see if the drug led to better self-reported physical health compared to placebo.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- low dose naltrexone (4.5 mg daily)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a safe, low-cost option to improve physical health and quality of life for people with vasculitis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 60 participants. The main outcome is self-reported, and the placebo effect can be strong. It may not show a clear benefit.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Feb 2019
- Finished
-
Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Patients must meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible for enrollment: 1\. Criteria for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, Wegener's), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, Churg-Strauss), as used for the VCRC longitudinal studies a. Giant cell arteritis: According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of GCA, meeting at least 2 of the following 5 remaining criteria at the time of diagnosis of GCA: Age of disease onset \>50 years (required) i. New onset or new type of localized pain in the head ii. Temporal artery abnormality (i.e. temporal artery tenderness to palpation or decreased pulsation, unrelated to arteriosclerosis of cervical arteries) iii. ESR of \>40 mm in the first hour by Westergren method iv. Temporal artery biopsy showing vasculitis characterized by a predominance of mononuclear cell infiltration or granulomatous inflammation, usually with multinucleated giant cells v. Large Vessel Vasculitis (LVV) by angiogram or biopsy not explained by something else b. Takayasu's arteritis: According to an adaption of the American College of Rheumatology criteria, meeting at least 2 of the following 5 remaining criteria at the time of inclusion of TAK: Arteriogram abnormalities compatible with TAK (includes conventional dye angiography or MR angiography or CT angiography) (required) i. Age at disease onset ≤50 years ii. Claudication of extremities iii. Decreased brachial artery pulse (one or both arteries) iv. Blood pressure difference of \>10mm Hg between the arms v. Bruit over subclavian arteritis or aorta c. Polyarteritis nodosa: An adaption of the America College of Rheumatology criteria will be used for the diagnosis of PAN. At the time of inclusion, one major and one minor criteria or two major criteria or isolated cutaneous PAN must be met. i. Major criteria (not explained by other causes): 1. Arteriographic abnormality 2. Presence of granulocyte or mixed leukocyte infiltrate in an arterial wall on biopsy 3. Mononeuropathy or polyneuropathy ii. Minor criteria (not explained by other causes) 1\. Weight loss \> 4 kg 2. Livedo reticularis, cutaneous ulcerations, or skin nodules 3. Testicular pain or tenderness 4. Myalgias 5. Diastolic blood pressure \>90mm Hg 6. Elevated BUN or serum creatinine levels 7. Ischemic abdominal pain iii. Isolated cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa 1. Biopsy-proven cutaneous PAN d. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Participants can be enrolled if two of the five modified American College of Rheumatology criteria are met: i. Nasal or oral inflammation: painful or painless oral ulcers or purulent or blood nasal discharge ii. Abnormal chest radiograph: nodules, fixed infiltrates, or cavities iii. Urinary sediment: microhematuria or red cell casts iv. Granulomatous inflammation on biopsy: granulomatous inflammation within the wall of an artery or in the perivascular area v. ANCA positivity by enzyme immunoassay for either PR3- or MPO-ANCA e. Microscopic polyangiitis: The following Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Definitions for MPA need to be met: i. Necrotizing vasculitis with few or no immune deposits affects small vessel (i.e., capillaries, venules, or arterioles) ii. Necrotizing arteritis involving small and medium-sized arteritis may be present iii. Necrotizing glomerulonephritis is very common iv. Pulmonary capillaritis often occurs f. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: An adaptation of the American College of Rheumatology criteria will be used for the diagnosis of EGPA. At the time of inclusion, four of the six items must have documented evidence: i. Asthma ii. Peak peripheral blood eosinophilia of \>10% of total WBC iii. Peripheral neuropathy attributable to vasculitis iv. Transient pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging studies v. Paranasal sinus abnormalities or nasal polyposis vi. Eosinophilic inflammation on tissue biopsy If patients have 4 of the above 6 criteria but lack clear-cut documentation of small vessel vasculitis, they are also eligible for enrollment. 2. Baseline normalized score on PROMIS Global Physical Health of 40 or lower. 3. Vasculitis in remission or very low disease activity, as defined by Physician Global Assessment 0-1 for at least 12 weeks 4. Stable immunosuppressive therapy (including prednisone) related to vasculitis for at least 12 weeks 5. No change in medications in the past 12 weeks made with the expectation of improving pain, fatigue, or mood 6. No plan to change medication or a non-pharmacologic treatment regimen likely to affect pain, fatigue, mood, or vasculitis activity during the next 12 weeks 7. Age of 18 years or older 8. Willingness and ability to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures, including receipt of weekly phone calls from the study coordinator 9. Willingness and ability to provide informed consent - Exclusion Criteria: 1. Change in any medication related to control of vasculitis, pain, fatigue, or mood within the past 12 weeks (medications taken as needed must be in a stable pattern per the patient's estimation) 2. Use of another investigational agent as part of a clinical trial within 30 days of enrollment 3. Current use of any opioid agonist including tramadol or suboxone 4. Change in vasculitis activity in the past 12 weeks, as defined by a change in Physician Global Assessment greater than 1 5. Baseline normalized score more than 40 on PROMIS Global Physical Health 6. New major medical problem or surgery in past 12 weeks 7. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 8. Inability to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures 9. Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder 10. Poorly controlled depression or anxiety, as defined by a score of ≥ 20 on PHQ-9 11. Liver cirrhosis 12. Significant kidney disease, defined as glomerular filtration rate \<30ml/min
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
-
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
-
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
-
St. Joseph's Healthcare
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
-
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a biologic drug tame a rare vasculitis and cut steroid use?
- Immune clues in the blood may foretell heart trouble
- Rare artery disease linked to higher heart attack and stroke risk
- Could a diabetes drug shield kidneys from autoimmune attack?
- New tool could predict who will suffer from steroid side effects
- New study aims to spot eye damage early in rare vasculitis patients