A Phase 1 interventional study of Ketoconazole in Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion, sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-31.
Sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · Phase 1, Interventional, and Basic science
Background:
Cortisol is a hormone in the blood. Cortisol levels normally go down at night and up in the morning. Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is a disease in which the body makes too much cortisol. MACS can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or weight gain. Researchers think these problems may be caused by higher cortisol levels at night.
Objective:
To compare daily cortisol levels in people with MACS with those in healthy people. Also, to test a drug (ketoconazole) that may help lower cortisol levels in people with MACS.
Eligibility:
People aged 18 years and older with MACS. Healthy volunteers are also needed.
Design:
Participants with MACS will have a 2-night stay in the hospital.
Day 1: A thin tube called a catheter will be inserted into a vein in the arm. Blood will be collected through the catheter every 2 hours starting at 8 PM. Participants will begin a 24-hour urine collection. Saliva will be collected every 6 hours for 24 hours.
Day 2: Participants will take 2 tablets of the study drug ketoconazole with their evening meal. Blood will be collected via the catheter at regular intervals throughout the night.
Day 3: Participants will leave the hospital in the morning.
Healthy volunteers will be screened with a physical exam and blood tests. They will be tested to make sure they do not have MACS. To do this, they will take a drug (dexamethasone) at 11 PM on a day they choose; then they will return the next morning for a blood test.
Healthy volunteers will have a 1-night stay in the hospital. They will have blood, urine, and saliva collected for 24 hours.
Study Description:
This study will compare the circadian rhythm of serum cortisol in subjects with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS) and healthy volunteers (HVs). At the end of 24-hour baseline sampling, participants with MACS will receive a single dose of ketoconazole (KTZ) and undergo continued serial sampling to assess its effect on cortisol production. We hypothesize that subjects with MACS have decreased diurnal variability of serum cortisol, leading to relative excess in the evening and early overnight hours. We also hypothesize that a single dose of KTZ lowers cortisol enough to restore a near-normal diurnal pattern.
Objectives:
Primary Objective:
To assess the circadian rhythm of serum cortisol in participants with MACS compared to that in matched HVs.
Secondary Objective:
To determine the degree of serum cortisol reduction induced by a single dose of 400 mg KTZ in participants with MACS.
Exploratory Objectives:
Endpoints:
Primary Endpoints:
Difference in serum cortisol between MACS and HV at timepoints 1600h, 1800h, 2000h, 2200h, 0000h and 0200h during 24-hour sampling.
Secondary Endpoints:
Absolute and relative reduction of serum cortisol from pre-dose baseline to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours after KTZ.
Exploratory Endpoints:
Time to maximum cortisol reduction after KTZ compared to baseline sampling; serum cortisol precursors during serial sampling before (MACS and HV) and after (MACS only) KTZ dosing; absolute and relative difference in serum cortisol from nadir to peak; urine free cortisol values while awake and asleep; salivary cortisol/cortisone and serum cortisol levels at timepoints 0000h, 0600h, 1200h and 1800h.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is the lead sponsor of 529 studies on the registry; 54 are open to participants now.
Of its 79 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 50 (63%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
To be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
A. Subjects with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS):
B. Healthy volunteers:
Matching a participant with MACS who has completed testing in regard to:
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
A. Subjects with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS):
Use of medications in the 2 weeks before inpatient admission that can:
Prolong QT when combined with ketoconazole (KTZ):
-- dofetilide, quinidine, pimozide, cisapride, methadone, disopyramide, dronedarone, ranolazine.
Cause toxicity from increased concentration due to KTZ-induced CYP3A4 inhibition:
--methadone, disopyramide, dronedarone, ergot alkaloids such as dihydroergotamine, ergometrine, ergotamine, methylergometrine, irinotecan, lurasidone, oral midazolam, alprazolam, triazolam, felodipine, nisoldipine, ranolazine, tolvaptan, eplerenone, lovastatin, simvastatin and colchicine.
Inhibit CYP3A4 and increase KTZ bioavailability:
-- ritonavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir.
Induce CYP3A4 and decrease KTZ bioavailability:
Inability to pause, for 3 hours, use of short-acting acid neutralizers that reduce KTZ absorption, e.g. aluminum hydroxide (acceptable if taken >=1 hour before or >=2 hours after KTZ).
Healthy volunteers, matched to MACS participants by age, sex, BMI and (women only) menopausal status. Will undergo 24-hour sampling to obtain healthy diurnal serum cortisol curves for comparison.
Patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) who will undergo baseline sampling of diurnal cortisol , followed by sampling after a single dose of ketoconazole 400 mg.
Drug: Ketoconazole
Antifungal medication that blocks adrenal steroidogenesis, including cortisol production, at higher doses
To assess the circadian rhythm of serum cortisol in participants with MACS compared to that in matched healthy volunteers (HV).
Difference in serum cortisol between MACS and HV at timepoints 1600h, 1800h, 2000h, 2200h, 0000h and 0200h during 24-hour sampling.
Time frame: Baseline sampling obtained during 24 hours in each participant.
To determine the degree of serum cortisol reduction induced by a single dose of 400 mg ketoconazole (KTZ) in participants with MACS.
Difference in serum cortisol after KTZ compared to baseline sampling during the same timepoints the day prior.
Time frame: Baseline sampling for 24 hours followed by post-KTZ sampling for 12 hours in participants with MACS.
Plan to share: Yes — All IPD that underlie results in a publication will be uploaded to a controlled access data repository.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Csr
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)