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CompletedNCT00000596Updated Nov 26, 2013

Diffuse Fibrotic Lung Disease

A Phase 2 interventional study of prednisone and cyclophosphamide in Lung Diseases, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Sarcoidosis, sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Completed. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-11-26.

Sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To determine the effects of cyclophosphamide compared with prednisone, dapsone, or high-dose intermittent 'pulse' therapy with methylprednisolone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Also, to evaluate the use of intermittent, short-term, high-dose intravenous corticosteroids in patients with sarcoidosis. There were actually four separate clinical trials.

Read the detailed description

BACKGROUND:

The fibrotic lung diseases represent 15 to 20 percent of the non-infectious disorders of the lung. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, one of the 10 general groups of fibrotic lung disorders, is a chronic and devastating illness resulting in death within an average of 4 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. Although 5 to 10 percent of these patients respond to corticosteroids, there is no known treatment for the remainder.

Sarcoidosis, a generalized disorder characterized by epithelioid cell granuloma formation in affected organs, especially the lung and lymphoid tissue, has a clinical course that varies considerably from patient to patient and, in some cases, resolves spontaneously. In other cases, intermittent pneumonitis develops, which may result in a permanent loss of lung function. Large intermittent doses of corticosteroids might be superior to conventional high-dose corticosteroids in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis which has not resolved spontaneously.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

In the randomized, non-blind cyclophosphamide versus prednisone trial, 25 to 50 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were assigned to treatment with prednisone or cyclophosphamide. At the end of 52 weeks of drug therapy, both groups were treated using conventional medical therapies. In the non-randomized dapsone trial, 10 fibrotic patients were treated with dapsone and prednisone for one year. In the double-blind, randomized methylprednisolone trial, 25 to 50 patients were given low-dose methylprednisolone, and, in addition, all patients were randomized to either high-dose methylprednisolone treatment or to placebo at weekly intervals for one year. In the randomized, double-blind, high-dose corticosteroid trial, 25 to 50 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were given a short intense course of high-dose methylprednisolone or a placebo for 6 weeks.

The study completion date listed in this record was inferred from the last publication listed in the Citations section of this study record.

02

Conditions studied

  • Lung Diseases
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Sarcoidosis
03

In context

Lung Diseases

3,303 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Diseases; 355 are open to participants now.

Browse Lung Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the lead sponsor of 1,117 studies on the registry; 71 are open to participants now.

Of its 57 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 49 (86%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

No eligibility criteria

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized

Interventions

  • Drugprednisone
  • Drugcyclophosphamide
  • Drugdapsone
06

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

07

References and documents

Publications

  • Keogh BA, Bernardo J, Hunninghake GW, Line BR, Price DL, Crystal RG. Effect of intermittent high dose parenteral corticosteroids on the alveolitis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Jan;127(1):18-22. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.127.1.18. PubMed 6849542 ↗
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 26, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00000596
Lead sponsor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
First posted
Oct 28, 1999
Start date
Jun 1978
Completion
Jan 1983
Last update
Nov 26, 2013
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2002. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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