Low-Back Pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Even though LBP relates to different underlying pathologies, there are a substantial number of patients with chronic complaints that have vertebral bone marrow lesions visualized as Modic changes (MC) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite the clinical evidence that MC is painful, the etiology is unknown and there is currently no established treatment. It has been suggested that MCs are secondary to a biomechanically induced degradation with a subsequent autoimmune response, supported by evidence showing that Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plays a critical role in intervertebral disc degeneration and MCs. Clinical trials suppressing inflammation with TNF-alfa blockers in patients with acute low back pain and sciatica provide evidence to support the initiation of a clinical trial assessing the effect of TNF-alfa blockers in patients with chronic low-back pain and MCs. Since TNF-alfa blockers is an established treatment for immune-mediated disorders like spondyloarthritis by reducing pain as well as bone marrow lesions, the researchers aim to assess whether this treatment is effective for chronic LBP with MCs. In addition refine diagnostic assessment and explore potential biomarkers, which will provide an increased understanding of underlying factors causing LBP, and ultimately result in better management and treatment for one of the most costly and challenging patient populations.
The following information will be collected at baseline, in addition to pre-specified efficacy assessments: age, gender, BMI (measured at site), ethnicity, marital status, children, educational level, work status, physical work load, leisure time activity, smoking habits, expectations about treatment effect and characteristics of pain (duration, agrevating factors, morning stiffness, morning pain, relief by NSAIDs, night time pain and former treatment). Emotional distress will be measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 at baseline. The researchers will measure fear-avoidance beliefs about physical activity and work with Fear-avoidance beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) at baseline. Subjective health complaints (SHC) will be measured using a formal inventory which consists of 29 questions concerning severity and duration of subjective somatic and psychological complaints and will be measured at baseline. In addition, routine clinical investigations (pain provocation tests (springing test, active flexion / extension of the lumbar spine) and neurological tests (strength, toe-/heel walking, sensibility, reflexes, straight leg raising test, reverse Lasegue test)) will be structured and registered in the CRF at baseline.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
128
Intravenous infusion(5 mg/kg). Each participant will be given 4 infusions, at day 0, day 14, day 42 and day 98, unless unacceptable toxicity is encountered.
Intravenous infusion. Each participant will be given 4 infusions, at day 0, day 14, day 42 and day 98,
Haukeland University Hospital
Bergen, Norway
Vestre Viken Hospital Trust Drammen
Drammen, Norway
Østfold Hospital Trust
Moss, Norway
Oslo University Hospital Ullevål
Oslo, Norway
University Hospital of North Norway
Tromsø, Norway
St. Olavs Hospital
Trondheim, Norway
Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) from baseline to 5 months
ODI is a disease-specific disability score. Scale is measured 0-100, better to worse respectively.
Time frame: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 months
Change in Short tau inversion recovery (STIR) signal (intensity and extent) of Modic Changes from baseline to 5 months.
Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). STIR result from evaluations of fat-water separation and T1 weighted fat-saturated post-contrast images, MC signal intensity standardized against the intensity of normal vertebral body marrow and cerebrospinal fluid, MC high signal craniocaudal size and volume.
Time frame: 0 and 5-6 months
Change in low back pain intensity from baseline to 5 months
Measured on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS: 0-10); mean of three NRS scales; current LBP, the worst LBP within the last 2 weeks, and usual/mean LBP within the last 2 weeks (at baseline, post-treatment and at one year after start of treatment). Will also be monitored weekly during the intervention period, and the the wording "last 2 weeks" will then be replaced by "the last week". Better (0) to worse (10) respectively.
Time frame: 0 + weekly during intervention period, 3, 5 and 9 months
Change in Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) from baseline to 5 months
RMDQ is a Self-reported disease-specific disability score, scale 0-24, better to worse respectively.
Time frame: 0, 3, 5 and 9 months
Change in Health-related quality of life from baseline to 5 months
EuroQoL-5D-5L (version 2.0), range -0.59 to 1.0, worse to better respectively.
Time frame: 0, 3, 5 and 9 months
Number and type of co-interventions (other pharmacological treatment (ATC-coded) and non-pharmacological treatment)
Will be reported by patients monthly during the study period for health-economical calculations
Time frame: Will be registered every month up to 5 months and at 9 months
Days with sick leave
Self-reported by patients; how many days patients were on sick-leave last month (if patients are sick listed; degree / % sick listed will also be registered).
Time frame: Will be registered at baseline and monthly until last follow-up
Incidence of adverse events (AEs) and serious AE (SAEs) during the study period
Adverse events frequency. The nature of the event(s) will be described by the investigator in precise standard medical terminology, duration and intensity will also be registered. In the evaluation, we will also consider serum infliximab concentration and vital signs.
Time frame: 2, 6, 14, 22 and 40 weeks after start of treatment
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