CompletedPhase 2

An Innovative Chinese Herbal Formula for the Treatment of Gout

Hong Kong80 participantsStarted 2022-10-11

Plain-language summary

Gout is a chronic disease of deposition of monosodium urate crystals, which form in the presence of increased urate concentrations. Gout is closely related to hyperuricaemia. Urate deposits in the joint, causing joint swelling, pain, movement disorders, affecting a significant portion of the population worldwide annually. The underlying pathophysiology of gout is multifactorial, complex, and poorly understood. Thus, gout remains one of the major therapeutic challenges. Currently, western medicine treatment of gout flare includes colchicine, NSAIDs and glucocorticoids. These drugs act as analgesics, anti-inflammatory and uric acid lowering drugs. Besides, management of gout and prevention of acute flares of gout make a crucial part in gout management. To obtain uricemia target, urate lowering treatment (ULT) has been widely used in conventional management of gout. Allopurinol, probenecid and febuxostat are some of the examples of ULT. Although researchers have carried out various studies on this disease, there are severe side effects for patients with gout. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new treatments for gout with good efficacy and less side effects. Chinese medicine (CM) is nowadays widely used for managing gout in China and other East Asian countries. Our principal Investigator (Prof. Zhi-xiu Lin), a highly experienced Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner working at the School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, has been using a herbal formula (HKIIM-KU formula) to treat patients with gout in Hong Kong for many years. This formula has been observed to be effective in relieving and preventing gout and its related clinical manifestations. Hence, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial will be employed in this study, and it would be able to provide robust clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of HKIIM-KU formula for gout.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patient meeting the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2015 gout classification criteria (met sufficient criterion\* or total score ≥8) ;
. History of \>=1 self-reported flare of gouty arthritis within 12 months prior to randomization;
. Agree to undergo blood test and willing to complete questionnaires and take medications as scheduled; and
. Agree to participate in the study and provide written informed consent. (for those illiterate subjects, their family member can sign the consent form upon subject's agreement) Note: \* Sufficient criterion = Presence of MSU crystals in a symptomatic joint or bursa (i.e., in synovial fluid) or tophus

Exclusion criteria

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Serum uric acid

Timeframe: week 4

Serum uric acid

Timeframe: week 8

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05499312

SponsorChinese University of Hong Kong

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-08-27

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Gout trials