Study Results
Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.
View full resultsBasic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
COMPLETED
PHASE2
51 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2021-03-15
2021-12-30
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Currently, up to 80% of patients report subjective olfactory dysfunction (OD), and prevalence using objective olfactory testing could be even higher.
We propose a phase II single-site, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of intranasal theophylline, a known phosphodiesterase inhibitor in the treatment of asthma, as a possible treatment for COVID-19 related OD. Theophylline has shown benefit in similar clinical trials for post-viral OD.
Related Clinical Trials
Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.
Smell in COVID-19 and Efficacy of Nasal Theophylline (SCENT 3)
NCT05947643
Smell Changes & Efficacy of Nasal Theophylline
NCT03990766
Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Local Budesonide Therapy in the Management of Hyposmia in COVID-19 Patients Without Signs of Severity
NCT04361474
Stellate Ganglion Block for COVID-19-Induced Olfactory Dysfunction
NCT05445921
Simvastatin Nasal Rinses for the Treatment of COVID-19 Mediated Dysomsia
NCT05542095
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
Intranasal and oral corticosteroids as well as olfactory training are currently used to treat post-viral OD; however they have demonstrated limited efficacy and there is no current gold standard of care. There is no current consensus on the pathogenesis of COVID-related anosmia; however evidence for post-viral olfactory dysfunction suggests sensory axonal regeneration and olfactory signaling may rely on elevated levels of secondary messengers cAMP and cGMP, a known effect of theophylline. In this phase II treatment trial, patients will be allocated 1:1 to receive either intranasal theophylline irrigation or placebo for six weeks. Various smell surveys and scratch-and-sniff tests will be utilized to capture changes in smell ability.
Due to COVID-19, this study will be conducted virtually, except for the first ten enrolled patients who will undergo one serum theophylline test. This study is limited to patients living in Missouri or Illinois.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
DOUBLE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Theophylline
400mg theophylline capsule diluted in 240 mL isotonic nasal saline lavage twice daily for six weeks.
Theophylline Powder
Twice daily nasal irrigation with 400 mg theophylline capsules and USP Grade Sodium Chloride \& Sodium Bicarbonate Mixture (pH balanced, Isotonic \& Preservative \& Iodine Free) commercially prepared packets dissolved in 240 ml of distilled water.
Placebo
500mg lactose capsule diluted in 240 mL isotonic nasal saline lavage twice daily for six weeks.
Placebo Comparator
Twice daily nasal irrigation with 500 mg lactose powder capsules and USP Grade Sodium Chloride \& Sodium Bicarbonate Mixture (pH balanced, Isotonic \& Preservative \& Iodine Free) commercially prepared packets dissolved in 240 ml of distilled water.
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Theophylline Powder
Twice daily nasal irrigation with 400 mg theophylline capsules and USP Grade Sodium Chloride \& Sodium Bicarbonate Mixture (pH balanced, Isotonic \& Preservative \& Iodine Free) commercially prepared packets dissolved in 240 ml of distilled water.
Placebo Comparator
Twice daily nasal irrigation with 500 mg lactose powder capsules and USP Grade Sodium Chloride \& Sodium Bicarbonate Mixture (pH balanced, Isotonic \& Preservative \& Iodine Free) commercially prepared packets dissolved in 240 ml of distilled water.
Other Intervention Names
Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* Residing within the states of Missouri or Illinois.
* Can read, write, and understand English.
Exclusion Criteria
* Use of concomitant therapies specifically for the treatment of olfactory dysfunction
* History of olfactory dysfunction longer than 12 months
* Known existence of nasal polyps, prior sinonasal, or anterior skull-based surgery
* Dependence on theophylline for comorbid conditions such as asthma and COPD
* History of an allergic reaction to theophylline or other methylxanthines
* History of neurodegenerative disease (ie. Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
* Current use of medications with significant interactions with theophylline, which include cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, disulfiram, enoxacin, fluvoxamine, interferon-alpha, lithium, mexiletine, phenytoin, propafenone, propranolol, tacrine, thiabendazole, ticlopidine, and troleandomycin.
* Pre-existing arrhythmias or seizures
18 Years
70 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
Washington University School of Medicine
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Jay F Piccirillo, M.D., FACS
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Washington University School of Medicine
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
References
Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.
Khan AM, Kallogjeri D, Piccirillo JF. Growing Public Health Concern of COVID-19 Chronic Olfactory Dysfunction. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Jan 1;148(1):81-82. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2021.3379.
Hoffman HJ, Rawal S, Li CM, Duffy VB. New chemosensory component in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): first-year results for measured olfactory dysfunction. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2016 Jun;17(2):221-40. doi: 10.1007/s11154-016-9364-1.
Whitcroft KL, Hummel T. Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID-19: Diagnosis and Management. JAMA. 2020 Jun 23;323(24):2512-2514. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.8391. No abstract available.
Speth MM, Singer-Cornelius T, Oberle M, Gengler I, Brockmeier SJ, Sedaghat AR. Mood, Anxiety and Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID-19: Evidence of Central Nervous System Involvement? Laryngoscope. 2020 Nov;130(11):2520-2525. doi: 10.1002/lary.28964. Epub 2020 Aug 12.
Burges Watson DL, Campbell M, Hopkins C, Smith B, Kelly C, Deary V. Altered smell and taste: Anosmia, parosmia and the impact of long Covid-19. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 24;16(9):e0256998. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256998. eCollection 2021.
Schiffman SS, Warwick ZS. Flavor enhancement of foods for the elderly can reverse anorexia. Neurobiol Aging. 1988 Jan-Feb;9(1):24-6. doi: 10.1016/s0197-4580(88)80009-5.
Murphy C, Schubert CR, Cruickshanks KJ, Klein BE, Klein R, Nondahl DM. Prevalence of olfactory impairment in older adults. JAMA. 2002 Nov 13;288(18):2307-12. doi: 10.1001/jama.288.18.2307.
Bitter T, Gudziol H, Burmeister HP, Mentzel HJ, Guntinas-Lichius O, Gaser C. Anosmia leads to a loss of gray matter in cortical brain areas. Chem Senses. 2010 Jun;35(5):407-15. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjq028. Epub 2010 Mar 15.
Pinto JM, Wroblewski KE, Kern DW, Schumm LP, McClintock MK. Olfactory dysfunction predicts 5-year mortality in older adults. PLoS One. 2014 Oct 1;9(10):e107541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107541. eCollection 2014.
Liu B, Luo Z, Pinto JM, Shiroma EJ, Tranah GJ, Wirdefeldt K, Fang F, Harris TB, Chen H. Relationship Between Poor Olfaction and Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019 May 21;170(10):673-681. doi: 10.7326/M18-0775. Epub 2019 Apr 30.
Van Regemorter V, Hummel T, Rosenzweig F, Mouraux A, Rombaux P, Huart C. Mechanisms Linking Olfactory Impairment and Risk of Mortality. Front Neurosci. 2020 Feb 21;14:140. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00140. eCollection 2020.
Schambeck SE, Crowell CS, Wagner KI, D'Ippolito E, Burrell T, Mijocevic H, Protzer U, Busch DH, Gerhard M, Poppert H, Beyer H. Phantosmia, Parosmia, and Dysgeusia Are Prolonged and Late-Onset Symptoms of COVID-19. J Clin Med. 2021 Nov 12;10(22):5266. doi: 10.3390/jcm10225266.
Baig AM, Khaleeq A, Ali U, Syeda H. Evidence of the COVID-19 Virus Targeting the CNS: Tissue Distribution, Host-Virus Interaction, and Proposed Neurotropic Mechanisms. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Apr 1;11(7):995-998. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00122. Epub 2020 Mar 13.
Meng X, Deng Y, Dai Z, Meng Z. COVID-19 and anosmia: A review based on up-to-date knowledge. Am J Otolaryngol. 2020 Sep-Oct;41(5):102581. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102581. Epub 2020 Jun 2.
Politi LS, Salsano E, Grimaldi M. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Alteration of the Brain in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Anosmia. JAMA Neurol. 2020 Aug 1;77(8):1028-1029. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2125. No abstract available.
Morbini P, Benazzo M, Verga L, Pagella FG, Mojoli F, Bruno R, Marena C. Ultrastructural Evidence of Direct Viral Damage to the Olfactory Complex in Patients Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Oct 1;146(10):972-973. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2020.2366. No abstract available.
Hawkes C. Parosmia: treatment, mechanism, and types. BMJ. 2020 Dec 8;371:m4739. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m4739. No abstract available.
Brann DH, Tsukahara T, Weinreb C, Lipovsek M, Van den Berge K, Gong B, Chance R, Macaulay IC, Chou HJ, Fletcher RB, Das D, Street K, de Bezieux HR, Choi YG, Risso D, Dudoit S, Purdom E, Mill J, Hachem RA, Matsunami H, Logan DW, Goldstein BJ, Grubb MS, Ngai J, Datta SR. Non-neuronal expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes in the olfactory system suggests mechanisms underlying COVID-19-associated anosmia. Sci Adv. 2020 Jul 31;6(31):eabc5801. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abc5801. Epub 2020 Jul 24.
Pace U, Hanski E, Salomon Y, Lancet D. Odorant-sensitive adenylate cyclase may mediate olfactory reception. Nature. 1985 Jul 18-24;316(6025):255-8. doi: 10.1038/316255a0.
Anholt RR. Molecular neurobiology of olfaction. Crit Rev Neurobiol. 1993;7(1):1-22.
Levy LM, Henkin RI, Lin CS, Hutter A, Schellinger D. Increased brain activation in response to odors in patients with hyposmia after theophylline treatment demonstrated by fMRI. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1998 Sep-Oct;22(5):760-70. doi: 10.1097/00004728-199809000-00019.
Neumann S, Bradke F, Tessier-Lavigne M, Basbaum AI. Regeneration of sensory axons within the injured spinal cord induced by intraganglionic cAMP elevation. Neuron. 2002 Jun 13;34(6):885-93. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00702-x.
Moon C, Simpson PJ, Tu Y, Cho H, Ronnett GV. Regulation of intracellular cyclic GMP levels in olfactory sensory neurons. J Neurochem. 2005 Oct;95(1):200-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03356.x.
Henkin RI, Velicu I. cAMP and cGMP in nasal mucus: relationships to taste and smell dysfunction, gender and age. Clin Invest Med. 2008;31(2):E71-7. doi: 10.25011/cim.v31i2.3366.
Henkin RI, Velicu I. cAMP and cGMP in nasal mucus related to severity of smell loss in patients with smell dysfunction. Clin Invest Med. 2008;31(2):E78-84. doi: 10.25011/cim.v31i2.3367.
Henkin RI, Velicu I, Schmidt L. An open-label controlled trial of theophylline for treatment of patients with hyposmia. Am J Med Sci. 2009 Jun;337(6):396-406. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181914a97.
Barnes PJ. Theophylline. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010 Mar 18;3(3):725-747. doi: 10.3390/ph3030725.
Henkin RI, Schultz M, Minnick-Poppe L. Intranasal theophylline treatment of hyposmia and hypogeusia: a pilot study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Nov;138(11):1064-70. doi: 10.1001/2013.jamaoto.342.
Goldstein, M.F.; Hilditch, G.J.; Frankel, I.; Chambers, L.; Dvorin, D.J.; Belecanech, G. Intra-nasal theophylline for the treatment of chronic anosmia and hyposmia. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 2017;139(2):AB252.
Nigwekar SU, Weiser JM, Kalim S, Xu D, Wibecan JL, Dougherty SM, Mercier-Lafond L, Corapi KM, Eneanya ND, Holbrook EH, Brown D, Thadhani RI, Paunescu TG. Characterization and Correction of Olfactory Deficits in Kidney Disease. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017 Nov;28(11):3395-3403. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2016121308. Epub 2017 Aug 3.
Lee JJ, Peterson AM, Kallogjeri D, Jiramongkolchai P, Kukuljan S, Schneider JS, Klatt-Cromwell CN, Drescher AJ, Brunworth JD, Piccirillo JF. Smell Changes and Efficacy of Nasal Theophylline (SCENT) irrigation: A randomized controlled trial for treatment of post-viral olfactory dysfunction. Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 Mar-Apr;43(2):103299. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103299. Epub 2021 Dec 3.
Lee JJ, Gupta S, Kallogjeri D, Piccirillo JF. Safety of High-Dose Nasal Theophylline Irrigation in the Treatment of Postviral Olfactory Dysfunction: A Dose-Escalation Study. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Sep 1;148(9):885-886. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2022.1574.
Doty RL, Shaman P, Dann M. Development of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test: a standardized microencapsulated test of olfactory function. Physiol Behav. 1984 Mar;32(3):489-502. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(84)90269-5.
Ware JE Jr, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care. 1992 Jun;30(6):473-83.
Busner J, Targum SD. The clinical global impressions scale: applying a research tool in clinical practice. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2007 Jul;4(7):28-37.
Dunlop BW, Gray J, Rapaport MH. Transdiagnostic Clinical Global Impression Scoring for Routine Clinical Settings. Behav Sci (Basel). 2017 Jun 27;7(3):40. doi: 10.3390/bs7030040.
Mattos JL, Schlosser RJ, Mace JC, Smith TL, Soler ZM. Establishing the minimal clinically important difference for the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Sep;8(9):1041-1046. doi: 10.1002/alr.22135. Epub 2018 May 2.
Moscucci M, Byrne L, Weintraub M, Cox C. Blinding, unblinding, and the placebo effect: an analysis of patients' guesses of treatment assignment in a double-blind clinical trial. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1987 Mar;41(3):259-65. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1987.26.
O'Byrne L, Webster KE, MacKeith S, Philpott C, Hopkins C, Burton MJ. Interventions for the treatment of persistent post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Jul 22;7(7):CD013876. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013876.pub2.
Sorokowska A, Drechsler E, Karwowski M, Hummel T. Effects of olfactory training: a meta-analysis. Rhinology. 2017 Mar 1;55(1):17-26. doi: 10.4193/Rhino16.195.
Whitcroft KL, Hummel T. Clinical Diagnosis and Current Management Strategies for Olfactory Dysfunction: A Review. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019 Sep 1;145(9):846-853. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2019.1728.
Nguyen TP, Patel ZM. Budesonide irrigation with olfactory training improves outcomes compared with olfactory training alone in patients with olfactory loss. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Sep;8(9):977-981. doi: 10.1002/alr.22140. Epub 2018 Jun 14.
Tait S, Kallogjeri D, Suko J, Kukuljan S, Schneider J, Piccirillo JF. Effect of Budesonide Added to Large-Volume, Low-pressure Saline Sinus Irrigation for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Jul 1;144(7):605-612. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2018.0667.
Menorca RM, Fussell TS, Elfar JC. Nerve physiology: mechanisms of injury and recovery. Hand Clin. 2013 Aug;29(3):317-30. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2013.04.002.
Wei G, Gu J, Gu Z, Du C, Huang X, Xing H, Li L, Zhang A, Hu X, Huo J. Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Review. Front Neurol. 2022 Jan 18;12:783249. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.783249. eCollection 2021.
Jafar A, Lasso A, Shorr R, Hutton B, Kilty S. Olfactory recovery following infection with COVID-19: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2021 Nov 9;16(11):e0259321. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259321. eCollection 2021.
Gupta S, Lee JJ, Perrin A, Khan A, Smith HJ, Farrell N, Kallogjeri D, Piccirillo JF. Efficacy and Safety of Saline Nasal Irrigation Plus Theophylline for Treatment of COVID-19-Related Olfactory Dysfunction: The SCENT2 Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Sep 1;148(9):830-837. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2022.1573.
Provided Documents
Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.
Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
202101190
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
More Related Trials
Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.