Nebulized or Inhaled Albuterol for Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Purpose

Background: - Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare type of lung disease that occurs almost exclusively in women. In LAM, muscle tissue grows in the lungs and starts to block the flow of air. It is a progressive disease, and in severe cases may require a lung transplant. One possible treatment to improve breathing in people with LAM is inhaled albuterol. Albuterol can be given in a metered dose inhaler (MDI) or with a nebulizer. Researchers want to compare these methods to see which method best improves lung function in women with LAM. Objectives: - To see whether a nebulizer or MDI can better improve lung function in women with LAM. Eligibility: - Women at least 18 years of age who have impaired lung function because of LAM. Design: - Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. No lab tests will be needed for this study. - Participants will have a 3-day overnight stay at the National Institutes of Health. Those who are using long-acting inhalers will have to stop taking these drugs 1 week before the study. - Participants will receive either the nebulizer or two or four puffs of the inhaler. Four puffs of albuterol is a higher dose than is normally prescribed, and is being tested on this study. - Participants will have each treatment around the same time of day on each of the 3 days. Before and after taking the albuterol, participants will have lung function tests.

Condition

  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 100 Years
Eligible Sex
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis of LAM either by tissue biopsy, evidence of lung and other organ involvement (renal angiomyolipomas, chylous effusions, lymphangioleiomyomas), high serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VGEF-D)(1) or a diagnosis of TSC associated with cystic lung lesions. - Age 18 years or over - Evidence of airflow obstruction: FEV1/VC ratio < fifth percentile of predicted normal and an FEV(1) <80% predicted of the normal values.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects will be excluded from the study if they meet one or more of the following criteria: - History of hypersensitivity to albuterol or any of its components. - Moderate or large pleural effusions (chest x-ray and or CT scan procedure completed under Protocol 95-H-0186) - History of seizures other than during infancy - Inability to withhold bronchodilators for 24 hours - Cognitive Impairment - Age less than 18 years - Male sex - Status-post lung or kidney transplantation - Pregnant or breast feeding (women of childbearing potential will undergo a blood or urine pregnancy test under Protocol 95-H-0186). - Treatment with monoaminoxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or Beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists or long acting anticholinergic bronchodilators who are unable to be discontinued for at least seven days before enrollment. - Patients with URI, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism or severe gastro-esophageal reflux. Major systemic diseases (i.e., malignancy; myocardial infarction or unstable angina; type 1 diabetes, severe hypertension; liver cirrhosis).

Study Design

Phase
Phase 1/Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
1
Nebullizer
  • Drug: albuterol nebulizer
    Albuterol administered by nebulization will produce a greater increase in FEV1
  • Procedure: PFT
    Breathing Test
Active Comparator
2
Inhaler
  • Drug: albuterol inhaler
    2 puffs of Metered Dose inhaler for Bronchodilation
  • Procedure: PFT
    Breathing Test

Recruiting Locations

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Study Contact

Tatyana A Worthy, R.N.
(301) 827-1376
worthyt@mail.nih.gov

Detailed Description

We have reported that approximately one third of patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) who have airflow obstruction respond to bronchodilators such as albuterol, a Beta2-adenergic receptor agonist, with an increase in forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV1) of 12% and 200 ml above baseline values. Others however, have questioned these findings, reporting instead, a low rate of response of only six percent. Contrasting with our study, in this study albuterol was administered with a metered dose inhaler whereas in ours it was given by nebulizer. We propose to measure changes in lung function after administration of albuterol, respectively by metered inhaler and nebulizer, for 3 consecutive days in 100 LAM subjects. Our hypothesis is that albuterol administered by nebulization will produce a greater increase in FEV1 than two puffs of inhaled albuterol. If this hypothesis is confirmed, then we may recommend that patients with LAM and airflow obstruction use as a method of drug administration a nebulizer, rather than a metered dose inhaler.