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Behr J, Demedts M, Buhl R, Costabel U, Dekhuijzen RPN, Jansen HM, MacNee W, Thomeer M, Wallaert B, Laurent F, Nicholson AG, Verbeken EK, Verschakelen J, Flower CDR, Petruzzelli S, De Vuyst P, Bosch JMMVD, Rodriguez-Becerra E, Lankhorst I, Sardina M, Boissard G. Lung function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis--extended analyses of the IFIGENIA trial. Respir Res 2009; 10:101. [PMID: 19860915 PMCID: PMC2774307 DOI: 10.1186/1465-9921-10-101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Accepted: 10/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The randomized placebo-controlled IFIGENIA-trial demonstrated that therapy with high-dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) given for one year, added to prednisone and azathioprine, significantly ameliorates (i.e. slows down) disease progression in terms of vital capacity (VC) (+9%) and diffusing capacity (DLco) (+24%) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). To better understand the clinical implications of these findings we performed additional, explorative analyses of the IFGENIA data set. METHODS We analysed effects of NAC on VC, DLco, a composite physiologic index (CPI), and mortality in the 155 study-patients. RESULTS In trial completers the functional indices did not change significantly with NAC, whereas most indices deteriorated with placebo; in non-completers the majority of indices worsened but decline was generally less pronounced in most indices with NAC than with placebo. Most categorical analyses of VC, DLco and CPI also showed favourable changes with NAC. The effects of NAC on VC, DLco and CPI were significantly better if the baseline CPI was 50 points or lower. CONCLUSION This descriptive analysis confirms and extends the favourable effects of NAC on lung function in IPF and emphasizes the usefulness of VC, DLco, and the CPI for the evaluation of a therapeutic effect. Most importantly, less progressed disease as indicated by a CPI of 50 points or lower at baseline was more responsive to therapy in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Behr
- Medizinische Klinik I, Klinikum Grosshadern der Ludwig Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
| | - Maurits Demedts
- University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roland Buhl
- III Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ulrich Costabel
- Medical Faculty University of Duisburg-Essen and Ruhrlandklinik, Essen-Heidhausen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Michiel Thomeer
- University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Eric K Verbeken
- University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Paul De Vuyst
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Erasmus Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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Thomeer M, Demedts M, Behr J, Buhl R, Costabel U, Flower CDR, Verschakelen J, Laurent F, Nicholson AG, Verbeken EK, Capron F, Sardina M, Corvasce G, Lankhorst I. Multidisciplinary interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J 2007; 31:585-91. [PMID: 18057059 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00063706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by respiratory physicians in six European countries, and to calculate the interobserver agreement between high-resolution computed tomography reviewers and histology reviewers in IPF diagnosis. The diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) was assessed by a local investigator, following the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society consensus statement, and confirmed when a minimum of two out of three expert reviewers from each expert panel agreed with the diagnosis. The level of agreement between readers within each expert panel was calculated by weighted kappa. The diagnosis of UIP was confirmed by the expert panels in 87.2% of cases. A total of 179 thoracic high-resolution computed tomography scans were independently reviewed, and an interobserver agreement of 0.40 was found. Open or thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed in 97 patients, 82 of whom could be reviewed by the expert committee. The weighted kappa between histology readers was 0.30. It is concluded that, although the level of agreement between the readers within each panel was only fair to moderate, the overall accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in expert centres is good (87.2%).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thomeer
- UZ Leuven, Afdeling Longziekten, Herestraat 49, B - 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Pellegrino R, Decramer M, van Schayck CPO, Dekhuijzen PNR, Troosters T, van Herwaarden C, Olivieri D, Del Donno M, De Backer W, Lankhorst I, Ardia A. Quality control of spirometry: a lesson from the BRONCUS trial. Eur Respir J 2005; 26:1104-9. [PMID: 16319343 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.05.00026705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
This report describes the quality control programme used within the Bronchitis Randomized on N-acetylcysteine (NAC) Cost-Utility Study, a trial designed to assess the decline in lung function, exacerbation rate, health status, and cost-effectiveness with NAC or a placebo in 523 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease over a 3-yr period. Spirometry was scored from 0 (worst quality) to 6 (best quality). The mean score of 314 spirometries from 243 patients evaluated during the trial was 5.63+/-0.83. Linear regression analysis of the scores of 47 participating centres plotted against the time at which spirometries were performed yielded an intercept of 5.7+/-0.5 and a slope of -0.0001+/-0.001, which suggests that the initial high quality was maintained over time. Retrospective examination of a further 345 postbronchodilator spirometries from 208 patients with a forced expiratory volume at one second exceeding the mean individual value recorded over the study in excess of 20% revealed a slightly lower quality of the start-of-test manoeuvre compared with the 314 spirometries. In conclusion, these findings would suggest that the quality control programme is likely to have helped achieve and maintain long-term spirometry performance in the Bronchitis Randomized on N-acetylcysteine (NAC) Cost-Utility Study trial. Special care should be paid to the spirometries whose forced expiratory volume in one second values exceed the mean value.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pellegrino
- Centro di Fisiopatologia Respiratoria e di Studio della Dispnea, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, Italy.
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Demedts M, Behr J, Buhl R, Costabel U, Dekhuijzen R, Jansen HM, MacNee W, Thomeer M, Wallaert B, Laurent F, Nicholson AG, Verbeken EK, Verschakelen J, Flower CDR, Capron F, Petruzzelli S, De Vuyst P, van den Bosch JMM, Rodriguez-Becerra E, Corvasce G, Lankhorst I, Sardina M, Montanari M. High-dose acetylcysteine in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med 2005; 353:2229-42. [PMID: 16306520 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa042976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 613] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive disorder with a poor prognosis. METHODS We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter study that assessed the effectiveness over one year of a high oral dose of acetylcysteine (600 mg three times daily) added to standard therapy with prednisone plus azathioprine. The primary end points were changes between baseline and month 12 in vital capacity and in single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DL(CO)). RESULTS A total of 182 patients were randomly assigned to treatment (92 to acetylcysteine and 90 to placebo). Of these patients, 155 (80 assigned to acetylcysteine and 75 to placebo) had usual interstitial pneumonia, as confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography and histologic findings reviewed by expert committees, and did not withdraw consent before the start of treatment. Fifty-seven of the 80 patients taking acetylcysteine (71 percent) and 51 of the 75 patients taking placebo (68 percent) completed one year of treatment. Acetylcysteine slowed the deterioration of vital capacity and DL(CO): at 12 months, the absolute differences in the change from baseline between patients taking acetylcysteine and those taking placebo were 0.18 liter (95 percent confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.32), or a relative difference of 9 percent, for vital capacity (P=0.02), and 0.75 mmol per minute per kilopascal (95 percent confidence interval, 0.27 to 1.23), or 24 percent, for DL(CO) (P=0.003). Mortality during the study was 9 percent among patients taking acetylcysteine and 11 percent among those taking placebo (P=0.69). There were no significant differences in the type or severity of adverse events between patients taking acetylcysteine and those taking placebo, except for a significantly lower rate of myelotoxic effects in the group taking acetylcysteine (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Therapy with acetylcysteine at a dose of 600 mg three times daily, added to prednisone and azathioprine, preserves vital capacity and DL(CO) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis better than does standard therapy alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurits Demedts
- University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Decramer M, Rutten-van Mölken M, Dekhuijzen PNR, Troosters T, van Herwaarden C, Pellegrino R, van Schayck CPO, Olivieri D, Del Donno M, De Backer W, Lankhorst I, Ardia A. Effects of N-acetylcysteine on outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Bronchitis Randomized on NAC Cost-Utility Study, BRONCUS): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 365:1552-60. [PMID: 15866309 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)66456-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 406] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased oxidative stress is important in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We postulated that treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine would reduce the rate of lung-function decline, reduce yearly exacerbation rate, and improve outcomes. METHODS In a randomised placebo-controlled study in 50 centres, 523 patients with COPD were randomly assigned to 600 mg daily N-acetylcysteine or placebo. Patients were followed for 3 years. Primary outcomes were yearly reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the number of exacerbations per year. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS The yearly rate of decline in FEV1 did not differ between patients assigned N-acetylcysteine and those assigned placebo (54 mL [SE 6] vs 47 mL [6]; difference in slope between groups 8 mL [9]; 95% CI -25 to 10). The number of exacerbations per year did not differ between groups (1.25 [SD 1.35] vs 1.29 [SD 1.46]; hazard ratio 0.99 [95% CI 0.89-1.10, p=0.85]). Subgroup analysis suggested that the exacerbation rate might be reduced with N acetylcysteine in patients not treated with inhaled corticosteroids and secondary analysis was suggestive of an effect on hyperinflation. INTERPRETATION N-acetylcysteine is ineffective at prevention of deterioration in lung function and prevention of exacerbations in patients with COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Decramer
- Respiratory Division, University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
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Decramer M, Dekhuijzen PN, Troosters T, van Herwaarden C, Rutten-van Mölken M, van Schayck CP, Olivieri D, Lankhorst I, Ardia A. The Bronchitis Randomized On NAC Cost-Utility Study (BRONCUS): hypothesis and design. BRONCUS-trial Committee. Eur Respir J 2001; 17:329-36. [PMID: 11405507 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.01.17303290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible disorder characterized by airflow obstruction and a progressive decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). At present, no treatment except quitting smoking appears to affect the progression of the disease. Oxidative stress has been implicated in its pathogenesis. The Bronchitis Randomized on NAC Cost-Utility Study (BRONCUS) is a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicentre study designed to assess the effectiveness of the antioxidant agent N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in altering the decline in FEV1, exacerbation rate, and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe COPD. In addition, cost-utility of the treatment will be estimated. Patients will be followed for 3 yrs and evaluated every 3 months. The necessary sample size to demonstrate an effect on the decline in FEV1 of 20 mL x yr(-1) was estimated to be 478 patients. Five hundred and twenty-three patients with moderate to severe COPD were recruited from 10 European countries from June 1, 1997-December 31, 1999. They were 63+/-8 yrs old and consisted of 243 (46%) current smokers and 280 (54%) exsmokers. Patients had on the average 4.9+/-1.6 exacerbations during the last 2 yrs. Postbronchodilator FEVI averaged 57+/-9% and the reversibility after 400 microg of Salbutamol averaged 4+/-4% predicted. The final results of the trial will be available in about 2 yrs. The study will provide objective data on the effects of N-acetylcysteine on outcome variables in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Decramer
- Respiratory Division, University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Repine
- University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA
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