CClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07634120Updated Jun 8, 2026

Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia Treatment With Sirolimus

A Phase 2 interventional study of Sirolimus in Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia, sponsored by Huashan Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-08.

Sponsored by Huashan Hospital · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
12
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of this pilot trial is to assess the efficacy of sirolimus in reducing wall enhancement in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia(VBD) on 5 T high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging(HR-VWI) via anti-inflammatory mechanisms, clarify the efficacy of sirolimus in delaying the progression of VBD, evaluate the safety of sirolimus in the treatment of VBD.

02

Conditions studied

  • Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia
03

In context

Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

20 studies on the registry are indexed under Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency; 8 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 12 is below the median of 90 across 14 interventional studies indexed under Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency.

Browse Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency studies →

Lead sponsor

Huashan Hospital is the lead sponsor of 239 studies on the registry; 102 are open to participants now.

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

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age≥18 years, any gender;
  2. Patients with VBD confirmed by DSA/CTA/MRA;
  3. No history of VBD rupture and no surgical treatment for VBD;
  4. mRS\<4;
  5. Positive plasma SGK1;
  6. History of posterior circulation infarction or accompanied by VBD-related symptoms/signs;
  7. Currently and in the future, need to take antiplatelet and statin drugs simultaneously, or currently and in the future, do not need to take antiplatelet and statin drugs;
  8. Capable of signing an informed consent form with the accompaniment and understanding of a guardian.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of malignant tumors;
  2. Pregnancy or lactation;
  3. Sirolimus allergy;
  4. Hydrocephalus requiring urgent surgical intervention or respiratory failure requiring life support treatment;
  5. Abnormal hepatic and/or renal function (serum transaminase > 40 U/L; serum creatinine > 110 μmol/L); and/or abnormal white blood cells/platelets (white blood cells count \< 3.5 × 10⁹/L or > 9.5 × 10⁹/L; platelets count \< 100 × 10⁹/L or > 300 × 10⁹/L);
  6. History of immunosuppressive therapy;
  7. Acute cerebral infarction within the last month or definite high signal on DWI indicating acute or subacute cerebral infarction;
  8. Acute stage of intracranial hemorrhage as indicated by CT;
  9. History of VBD rupture or surgery;
  10. Presence of acute active infection (such as severe bacterial, viral or fungal infection);
  11. Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c≥7%);
  12. History of liver or lung transplantation;
  13. Presence of organic heart disease;
  14. History of arteriovenous thrombosis;
  15. Patients taking only antiplatelet drugs or only statin drugs;
  16. Patients taking or needing to take CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin, ritonavir, atazanavir, diltiazem, verapamil, cyclosporine, amiodarone, sildenafil, grapefruit juice, etc.) or CYP3A4 inducers (rifampicin, rifabutin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, dexamethasone, St. John's wort, etc.);
  17. Currently participating in other clinical studies;
  18. Presence of contraindications for MRI examination;
  19. Other situations not suitable for inclusion.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
12 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    sirolimus group

    Participants will receive oral sirolimus 2mg/d continuously for 6 months.

    Drug: Sirolimus

  • No intervention
    control group

Interventions

  • DrugSirolimus

    Sirolimus is an mTORC1/ mTORC2 inhibitor that has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has recently been successfully used to treat lymphatic malformations and venous/lymphatic malformations associated with the same PIK3CA GOF mutations. Participants of sirolimus group will receive oral sirolimus 2mg/d continuously for 6 months.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Longitudinal changes of CAWE on 5T HR-VWI in VBD following 3 and 6 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular CAWE (3D circumferential arterial wall enhancement: mean signal intensity in T1+Gd images) at 3 and 6 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 3 and 6 months

  2. Longitudinal changes of SAWE on 5T HR-VWI VBD following 3 and 6 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular SAWE (specific contrast uptake arterial wall enhancement: the difference in mean signal intensity between T1 and T1+Gd) at 3 and 6 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 3 and 6 months

  3. Longitudinal changes of FAWE in VBD on 5T HR-VWI 3 and 6 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular FAWE (focal arterial wall enhancement: areas of the diseased artery with increased AWE) at 3 and 6 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 3 and 6 months

  4. Longitudinal changes of WEVR on 5T HR-VWI in VBD following 3 and 6 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular WEVR (3D arterial wall enhancement volume rate) at 3 and 6 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 3 and 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Longitudinal changes of CAWE on 5T HR-VWI in VBD following 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular CAWE (3D circumferential arterial wall enhancement: mean signal intensity in T1+Gd images) at 12 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Longitudinal changes of SAWE on 5T HR-VWI VBD following 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular SAWE (specific contrast uptake arterial wall enhancement: the difference in mean signal intensity between T1 and T1+Gd) at 12 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 12 months

  3. Longitudinal changes of FAWE on 5T HR-VWI VBD 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular FAWE (focal arterial wall enhancement: areas of the diseased artery with increased AWE) at 12 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 12 months

  4. Longitudinal changes of WEVR on 5T HR-VWI in VBD following 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of vascular WEVR (3D arterial wall enhancement volume rate) at 12 months following initiation of sirolimus therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sirolimus exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased vertebrobasilar arterial wall in patients with VBD.

    Time frame: 12 months

  5. Longitudinal changes of vascular dilation on 5T MRA in VBD following 3, 6, and 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T MRA, we quantify longitudinal changes of dilation(maximum diameter of the intracranial segment of the vertebral artery and basilar artery) of diseased vessel in VBD at 3, 6, and 12 months following sirolimus treatment.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  6. Longitudinal changes of vascular tortuosity on 5T MRA in VBD following 3, 6, and 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T MRA, we quantify longitudinal changes of tortuosity(displacement distance of the intracranial segment of the vertebral artery and basilar artery) of diseased vessel in VBD at 3, 6, and 12 months following sirolimus treatment.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  7. Longitudinal changes of vascular elongation on 5T MRA in VBD following 3, 6, and 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T MRA, we quantify longitudinal changes of elongation(length of the basilar artery) of diseased vessel in VBD at 3, 6, and 12 months following sirolimus treatment.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  8. Longitudinal changes of thrombus volume in VBD following 3, 6, and 12 months of sirolimus treatment.

    Using 5T HR-VWI, we quantify longitudinal changes of thrombus volume in VBD at 3, 6, and 12 months following sirolimus treatment.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  9. Longitudinal changes in plasma SGK1 levels following 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of sirolimus treatment in VBD patients.

    Longitudinal changes in plasma SGK1 levels (quantitative analysis of plasma SGK1 was performed via western blot) following 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of sirolimus treatment in VBD patients.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, and 12 months

  10. Incidence of ischemic stroke in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Incidence of ischemic stroke(newly developed infarct lesion confirmed by CT/MRI after onset of relevant symptoms/signs or newly developed infarct lesion confirmed by follow-up MRI at 3, 6, or 12 months) in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  11. Incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with VBD rupture in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with VBD rupture(newly developed subarachnoid hemorrhage confirmed by CT/MRI after onset of relevant symptoms/signs or newly developed subarachnoid hemorrhage confirmed by follow-up MRI at 3, 6, or 12 months) at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  12. modified Rankin Scale in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a 7-level, clinician-reported, measure of global disability is measured in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  13. Five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire(EQ-5D-5L), a 5-level, measure of quality of life, is performed in VBD patients at 3, 6, and 12 months.

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

  14. The safety of sirolimus in VDB patients.

    A serious adverse event (SAE) is any untoward medical occurrence that meets one or more of the following criteria, regardless of suspected causal relationship to the study intervention: (1) results in death; (2) is life-threatening; (3) requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization; (4) results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or substantially disrupts normal life functions; or (5) constitutes an important medical event that, based on appropriate medical judgment, may jeopardize the patient's health or require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one or more of the outcomes listed in (1)-(4). SAEs will be actively monitored and systematically assessed at all scheduled follow-up visits (at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-baseline). In addition, participants are instructed to report any suspected SAE immediately to the study team via a dedicated 24/7 telephone hotline. To ensure timely detection and documentation.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, and 12 months

  15. The tolerability of sirolimus in VDB patients.

    Based on prior clinical experience and sirolimus trial reports, adverse events (AEs) include oral ulcers, upper respiratory tract infections, headaches, respiratory diseases, stomatitis, seizures, and fever. Other commonly reported AEs also encompass nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, and mild allergic reactions such as rash or pruritus. In addition, mild infections, mild gastrointestinal disturbances, and fluctuations in blood pressure or heart rate have been observed. Unanticipated Adverse Device Effect (UADE): Any serious adverse effect on health or safety, life-threatening event, or death caused by or associated with sirolimus, where the nature, severity, or incidence of such effect, event, or death was not previously identified in the investigational plan; or any other unanticipated serious problem related to sirolimus that concerns the rights, safety, or welfare of subjects.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, and 12 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality 200040, China
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 8, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07634120
Lead sponsor
Huashan Hospital
Responsible party
Wei Zhu (Principal Investigator, Huashan Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 8, 2026
Start date
Jun 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jun 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 8, 2026

Study contacts

Liuxun Hu
Contact
19111220090@fudan.edu.cn
+8615868058299
Wei Zhu
Contact
drzhuwei@fudan.edu.cn
+8615868058299

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion