Actively Recruiting
Sputum Cytometry Guided Management for the Elimination of Chronic Cough in Patients With ILD
Led by McMaster University · Updated on 2025-09-29
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
92 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
McMaster University
Lead Sponsor
S
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
In Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) there is thickening of lung tissue, which makes it difficult for patients to breathe and get enough oxygen into their bodies. In addition to shortness of breath, daily cough is very common, with 4 out of 5 patients experiencing this symptom. Cough in particular has a major impact on the ability to exercise, be active, and to simply enjoy life. There are many reasons for cough in ILD, and very often there are multiple overlapping causes. It is hard to improve cough in these patients, with available medicines providing limited relief. One explanation for this gap is an incomplete understanding of cough in ILD. To improve patients' cough there is a need to better understand its cause. In other lung diseases, such as asthma, doctors and scientists have used phlegm tests to measure inflammation in the lung, which helps them choose the right medicine for the right patient. This has not been done for ILD, even though it has recently been found that many patients with ILD and everyday cough have abnormal phlegm tests. Using this strategy in ILD could improve patients' cough and quality of life, and possibly even slow progression of the disease.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Sputum Cytometry Guided Management for the Elimination of Chronic Cough in Patients With ILD
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Signed informed consent before any study procedures
- Age over 18 years
- Clinical diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated ILD, connective tissue disease associated ILD, or pneumoconiosis
- Daily cough lasting at least 8 weeks
- Ability to produce an adequate sputum sample through sputum induction
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of systemic sclerosis associated ILD or sarcoidosis
- Cough caused by known reasons such as ACE-inhibitor use, uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux, upper airway cough syndrome, or acute viral illness
- Current use of inhaled corticosteroids
- Current use of systemic corticosteroids (prednisone equivalent over 20mg/day)
- Current use of chronic antibiotics
- Airflow obstruction with pre-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio below 0.7
- History of physician-diagnosed asthma or emphysema
- History of cholestatic jaundice or liver dysfunction linked to previous azithromycin use
- Moderate to severe liver dysfunction with Child Pugh score over 10
- Known allergy or sensitivity to inhaled corticosteroids or macrolide antibiotics
- Corrected QT interval on ECG over 450ms
- Untreated atypical mycobacterial infection
- History of hearing problems, tinnitus, or vertigo
- Use of medications likely to suppress cough such as morphine, gabapentin, or amitriptyline
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 4A6
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Ciaran Scallan, MB
CONTACT
T
Terence Ho, MB, MSc
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here