A Randomised Controlled Trial to Study the Efficacy and Safety of Nintedanib in Fibrotic Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is generally managed with outdoor immune modulatory drugs, most commonly oral steroids and at times drugs like methotrexate or azathioprine as a steroid sparing agent. Around 15-20% of sarcoidosis patient develop fibrosis of the lung parenchyma. The effect of antifibrotics in such patients needs more studies. Nintedanib has been used with good results in patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease like IPF, SSC- ILD, and other progressive fibrosing ILD. By using nintedanib in fibrotic sarcoidosis it may be possible to limit the functional disability in these patients by slowing the rate of fibrosis and loss of lung function. The use of nintedanib if results in decrease in fibrosis and consequent decline in loss of lung function then it may be a safe and viable option for such patients. The hypothesis of this study is that in patients with fibrotic sarcoidosis on standard of care anti-inflammatory therapy, nintedanib may help in reducing the rate of decline in lung function and progressive fibrosis. The aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nintedanib in subjects with fibrotic sarcoidosis
• Age more than 18 years
• Diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis (clinico-radiologic presentation consistent with pulmonary sarcoidosis (with or without extrapulmonary involvement) along with presence of non-necrotising granulomatous inflammation in any of the involved organ/tissue and exclusion of a known cause for the granulomatous inflammation OR in the absence of demonstration of granulomatous inflammation in tissues, a diagnosis of fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis on a multidisciplinary discussion (enrolment of subjects meeting the latter criteria will be capped at 20% of the planned sample size)
• Presence of signs of fibrosis on a computed tomography scan such as coarse reticulation, irregular lines, traction bronchiectasis, fibrotic masses, or honeycombing involving ≥20% of the lung fields on visual examination
• Having symptoms of breathlessness grade 1 or more on the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale or persistent cough for more than 3 months
• Forced vital capacity (FVC) \<80% predicted value for the age and sex of the subject using the reference equations for our subjects OR an exertional desaturation of 4% or more on a six-minute walk test (6MWT)
• Receiving stable immunomodulatory treatment which includes standard of care drugs such as glucocorticoids alone or in combination with methotrexate, azathioprine, or mycophenolate mofetil for more than 3 months in a stable dose