Injection treatment for chronic cough relief
Office-Based Superior Laryngeal Nerve (SLN) Block for Treatment of Neurogenic Cough
This study is testing a new injection treatment for people with chronic cough caused by nerve irritation to see if it can help reduce their cough and improve their symptoms.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Alabama at Birmingham Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | immunotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Trial ID | NCT04642352 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effectiveness of an office-based injection of a local anesthetic and steroid combination targeting the superior laryngeal nerve to reduce cough frequency and alleviate symptoms in patients with neurogenic cough. Neurogenic cough is a chronic condition often resulting from nerve irritation, typically following a viral upper respiratory infection. Current treatments involve medications that can be sedating and poorly tolerated, making this nerve block approach a potential alternative. The study aims to assess the impact of this intervention on a larger patient population, building on previous findings that indicated symptom improvement in a smaller cohort.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a chronic cough lasting at least 8 weeks, suspected to be of sensory neuropathic origin, and who have not responded to standard treatments.
Not a fit: Patients with cough not related to sensory neuropathy or those who have not undergone standard evaluations for chronic cough may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce cough frequency and improve quality of life for patients suffering from neurogenic cough.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise with similar nerve block approaches for chronic cough, indicating potential for success in this larger evaluation.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Ability of patients to speak and understand English * Ability for patients to consent for themselves * Cough for 8 weeks or greater, with suspected sensory neuropathic etiology of the cough. Inclusion based on history of preceding upper respiratory infection or other symptoms suggestive of irritable larynx such as cough in response to temperature changes, odors, scents/perfumes, tickle, irritation in the throat/paralaryngeal region, or talking. * Persistent cough despite treatment of ALL the major contributors of cough (items listed below would be done as part of a standard clinical workup for chronic cough and are not done specific to this study): * Reflux disease treatment with one of the following: failure of two months of PPIs OR negative pH study * Asthma: lack of response to at least one month of steroid inhaler/bronchodilator OR normal PFTs/negative methacholine challenge + negative CXR/CT * Upper airway cough syndrome/Allergic disease: lack of response to at least one month of antihistamines/decongestants/nasal steroids OR negative allergy testing (skin or serum) OR lack of response to at least one year of immunotherapy/allergy shots Exclusion Criteria: * Age less than 18 years * Patients unable or unwilling to provide informed consent * Known etiology to cough other than sensory neuropathy (e.g., reflux disease, asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) * Addition of new neuromodulators at the time of the injection. Patients who were already being treated with neuromodulators for their cough (e.g., gabapentin, amitriptyline) will not be excluded provided their dose remains constant. * Nissen fundoplication within the last year * Smoking history within last 5 years * Allergy to bupivacaine or Kenalog-40
Where this trial is running
Birmingham, Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, Alabama, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Blake Simpson, MD — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Blake Simpson, MD
- Email: blakesimpson@uabmc.edu
- Phone: (205) 801-7863
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.