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Efficacy of Bumetanide to Improve Cognitive Functions in Down Syndrome
Sponsor: Stefano Vicari
Summary
The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a known diuretic drug, Bumetanide, in terms of improvement of memory and psychological functioning in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS), in order to develop therapeutic strategies for cognitive and psychopathology aspects associated with the syndrome. The study also aims to identify possible predictors and biological and genetic markers related to the efficacy of the treatment. Recently, preliminary studies conducted on the animal model of Down syndrome have proven the efficacy of the drug Bumetanide in counteracting some brain anomalies related to communication between nerve cells (synaptic transmission) typical of the syndrome, with the effect of improving memory skills. Behaviour-enhancing effects have also been found in preliminary studies in humans with other neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorders). The drug Bumetanide could therefore be useful in counteracting the biological mechanisms that cause some cognitive deficits associated with Down syndrome. The potential of this therapeutic approach will be tested through a clinical trial in a population of children and adolescent patients with DS, in a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a three-month treatment with Bumetanide. Participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental group that will receive the treatment (Bumetanide) vs the control/comparison group that will receive the placebo. Bumetanide is a diuretic drug that has been widely used in humans in the past with few side effects, is orally active, and is very inexpensive. 64 participants will be recruited.
Official title: A Phase 2 Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study on the Efficacy of Bumetanide for Cognitive Improvement in Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
10 Years - 17 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
64
Start Date
2023-01-11
Completion Date
2026-09-30
Last Updated
2024-06-20
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Bumetanide
Patients in the Bumetanide group will be treated for 3 months with a dose of 0.02 mg/kg twice a day, oral administration. It will be labeled (pre-printed and indistinguishable) with the randomization number and site number and will be delivered in separate blocks during the first, second and fourth appointment. The patients will start the treatment with half of the full target dose during the first week: * If the target dose is 0.5mg BID, only the morning dose will be administrated. * If the target dose is 1.0 mg BID the dose will be 0.5 mg BID. * If the target dose is 1.5mg BID, the morning dose will be 1.0 mg, the evening dose will be 0.5 mg. * If the target dose is 2.0 mg BID the dose will be 1.0 mg BID The patient will continue with the full dose starting from Visit 2 after 1 week of dosing.
Placebo
Patients in the control (placebo) group will be given placebo for 3 months twice a day, oral administration. The Placebo tablets will be visually indistinguishable from Bumetanide and packaged as Bumetanide. The placebo will be labeled (pre-printed and indistinguishable) with the randomisation number and site number and will be delivered in separate blocks during the first, second and fourth visits.
Locations (1)
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital
Rome, Italy