ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT04723862

Does Spironolactone Normalize Sleep-wake Luteinizing Hormone Pulse Frequency in Pubertal Girls With Hyperandrogenism?

Record copied from ClinicalTrials.gov: Oct 10, 2026AI summaries generated: Sep 17, 2026

Does Spironolactone Normalize Sleep-wake Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Pulse Frequency in Pubertal Girls With Hyperandrogenism? (CBS010)

StatusRecruitingThe study is currently enrolling participants. Only the study team can say whether a particular person can join.
Study typeInterventionalA study in which researchers assign participants to one or more interventions, such as a drug, procedure, device, behavioural programme or other approach, to measure their effects.
PhaseEarly phase 1A very early study, usually in a small number of people, to learn how the body handles a treatment. It is not designed to show whether the treatment works.
Healthy volunteersAcceptedPeople who do not have the condition being studied who are allowed to take part. Some studies include both people with the condition and healthy volunteers; others may enrol only healthy volunteers.
Age10 years old to 17 years old
SexFemale
LocationUnited States
AI summaryWhat this study is about, in plain languageShow ▾Hide ▴

AI-written from the registry record, not the study's own wording. May contain errors or omissions. Check the registry text on this page and the original record ↗ before acting on it.

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, quadruple-masked crossover study in mid- to late pubertal girls with hyperandrogenism (including PCOS). Each participant receives two 2-week pretreatments (spironolactone 50 mg twice daily and matching placebo) in random order, with overnight clinical research unit admissions for frequent blood sampling and formal sleep studies. The main measure is sleep-associated luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency.

What it is studying. The study tests whether short-term androgen-receptor blockade with spironolactone (50 mg twice daily for two weeks) changes sleep-associated luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency compared with placebo in mid- to late pubertal girls with hyperandrogenism. It also examines wake-associated LH pulse frequency, overall LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion patterns, and the relationship between sleep stages (including REM sleep) and the timing of LH pulses.

What the researchers hope to learn. To determine whether spironolactone alters sleep-associated LH pulse frequency and overall LH/FSH secretion in mid- to late pubertal girls with hyperandrogenism. To investigate whether spironolactone changes the relationship between REM sleep and the initiation of LH pulses.

What this study is about

The study's own summary, as published on ClinicalTrials.gov. Underlined terms have a short explanation.

The purpose of this study is to determine if, in mid- to late pubertal girls with hyperandrogenism (HA), androgen-receptor blockade (spironolactone) alone normalizes sleep-wake luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency (primary endpoint) and overall LH and follicle-stimulating hormone secretion (secondary endpoints).

Interventions being studied

Being studied in this trial does not mean the treatment or procedure is approved or available for this condition.

Drug
  • Spironolactone
  • Placebo

Eligibility

The criteria exactly as listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. Only the study team can say whether they apply to you.

Inclusion criteria

  • Mid- to late pubertal adolescent girls as signified by either (a) post-menarcheal status (Tanner breast stages 2-5) or (b) Tanner breast stage of 4 or 5 (whether pre-menarcheal or post-menarcheal) ages 10-17 years.
  • Hyperandrogenism, defined as a serum (calculated) free testosterone concentration greater than the Tanner stage-specific reference range and/or clinical hirsutism
  • General good health (excepting obesity, hyperandrogenism, PCOS, and adequately-treated hypothyroidism)
  • Willing to strictly avoid pregnancy with use of reliable non-hormonal methods during the study period.

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability/incapacity to provide informed consent
  • Males will be excluded (hyperandrogenism is unique to females)
  • Age < 10 or > 17 years (this study is designed to elucidate mechanisms underlying emerging PCOS in mid- to late pubertal adolescent girls
  • Post-menarcheal by > 4 years
  • Obesity resulting from a well-defined endocrinopathy, or genetic syndrome
  • To ensure that blood withdrawal is within safe limits, weight < 21.5 kg is an exclusion criterion.
  • Since underweight can alter pulsatile LH secretion, BMI-for-age percentile < 5 is an exclusion criterion.
  • Positive pregnancy test or current lactation. Subjects with a positive pregnancy test will be informed of the result by the screening physician. Under Virginia law, parental notification is not required for minors. However, the screening physician will encourage the subject to tell her parent(s). We will counsel the adolescent about the importance of appropriate prenatal care/counseling. We will offer appropriate follow-up at the Teen Health Clinic at UVA and/or encourage the adolescent to secure prompt care via their primary care physician's office.
  • Evidence for non-physiologic or non-PCOS causes of hyperandrogenism and/or anovulation
  • Evidence of virilization (e.g., rapidly progressive hirsutism, deepening of the voice, clitoromegaly)
  • Total testosterone > 150 ng/dl, which suggests the possibility of virilizing ovarian or adrenal tumor.
  • DHEA-S elevation > 1.5 times the upper reference range limit. Mild elevations may be seen in adolescent HA and in PCOS, and will be accepted in these groups.
  • Early morning 17-hydroxyprogesterone > 300 ng/dl measured in the follicular phase, which suggests the possibility of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (if elevated during the luteal phase, the 17-hydroxyprogesterone will be repeated during the follicular phase). NOTE: if a 17-hydorxyprogesterone > 300 ng/dl is confirmed on repeat testing, an ACTH stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone < 1000 ng/dl performed by the subject's personal physician will be required for study participation.
  • Any abnormal TSH concentration will trigger repeat testing. In many cases when TSH is initially abnormal, a repeat TSH will be normal. These subjects will be permitted to continue study. If TSH remains abnormal on repeat testing, the subject will be referred to her primary medical provider. In some cases, a participant's primary medical provider will elect to simply observe a mildly low (> 0.1) or mildly elevated (< 10) if stable. In such cases, we will accept a TSH between 0.3 and 7 (inclusive) if it has remained stable for at least 6 months-such TSH values are exceedingly unlikely to influence the central reproductive axis or to influence the risks of the study. Notably, subjects with reasonably-treated primary hypothyroidism-reflected by TSH values between 0.3 and 7-on a stable dose of thyroid hormone (i.e., same dose for at least 2 months) will not be excluded.
  • Prolactin concentration > 30 ng/mL (confirmed on repeat). Mild prolactin elevations may be seen in adolescents and women with HA/PCOS or obesity.
  • History and/or physical exam findings suggestive of Cushing's syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, or acromegaly.
  • History and/or physical exam findings suggestive of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (e.g., symptoms of estrogen deficiency) including functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (which may be suggested by a constellation of symptoms including restrictive eating patterns, excessive exercise, psychological stress, etc.)
  • Persistent hemoglobin < 11.5 g/dL for non-African American subjects; hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL for African American subjects (confirmed on repeat). Importantly, documentation of a hemoglobin ≥ 11.0 g/dL for African American subjects or ≥ 11.5 g/dL for non-African American subjects in the month prior to the CRU admission is required for frequent sampling protocol in the CRU.
  • Severe thrombocytopenia (platelets < 50,000 cells/microliter) or leukopenia (total white blood count < 4,000 cells/microliter)
  • Previous diagnosis of diabetes, fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl, or a hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%
  • Persistently abnormal sodium or potassium concentration. Bicarbonate concentrations < 20 or > 30.
  • Liver test abnormalities, with two exceptions: (1) mild bilirubin elevations will be accepted in the setting of known Gilbert's syndrome or when the subject's primary care provider provides a presumptive diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome and has no plans for further work-up; (2) mild transaminase (ALT, AST) elevations may be seen in obese/HA/PCOS girls, so stable elevations < 1.5 times the upper limit of normal will be accepted in this group.
  • Absolute contraindications to spironolactone use include history of allergy to spironolactone, anuria, acute renal insufficiency, significant impairment of renal excretory function, hyperkalemia, primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), and concomitant use of eplerenone
  • Significant history of cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction (e.g., known or suspected congestive heart failure, asthma requiring intermittent systemic corticosteroids, etc.)
  • Decreased renal function evidenced by GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2
  • History of cancer diagnosis and/or treatment (with the exception of basal cell or squamous cell skin carcinoma) unless they have remained clinically disease free (based on appropriate surveillance) for five years.

Study description and what participation involves

The study's detailed description, as published on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Show the detailed description from the registry

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover study to test the following hypothesis: In mid- to late pubertal girls with hyperandrogenism, spironolactone (50 mg twice daily) for 2 weeks will reduce sleep-associated luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency compared to placebo treatment. To test this hypothesis, 16 late pubertal girls (signified by either [a] post-menarcheal status [Tanner breast stages 2-5] or [b] Tanner breast stage of 4 or 5 [whether pre-menarcheal or post-menarcheal], but no more than 4 years post-menarcheal) with hyperandrogenism (serum [calculated] free testosterone concentration greater than the Tanner stage-specific reference range and/or clinical hirsutism) will undergo two clinical research unit (CRU) admissions separated by at least 4 weeks. During each admission, blood will be obtained every 10 minutes through an indwelling IV catheter from 1600 to 0700 h. This will allow full characterization of pulsatile LH secretion in addition to other hormone measurements. Formal polysomnography will be performed during CRU admissions. Subjects will be randomized to be pretreated for 2 weeks with either spironolactone (an androgen receptor blocker commonly used for hyperandrogenism) or placebo prior to the first admission; subjects will be pretreated with the other medication (placebo or spironolactone) for 2 weeks before the second admission in accordance with a cross-over design. The primary endpoint is LH pulse frequency while asleep. (LH pulse frequency while awake is an important secondary endpoint). The sleep-associated LH pulse frequency data from the spironolactone and placebo admissions will be analyzed via a hierarchical linear mixed model (HLMM). Secondary endpoints will include the relationships between sleep stages and LH pulse initiation (analyzed as per Lu et al., Neuroendocrinology 2018 [Epub ahead of print - doi: 10.1159/000488110]), and we will test the following hypothesis: In mid- to late pubertal girls with hyperandrogenism, spironolactone will enhance the ability of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep to inhibit LH pulse initiation.

AI summaryWhat participation may involve, in plain languageShow ▾Hide ▴

AI-written from the registry record, not the study's own wording. May contain errors or omissions. Check the registry text on this page and the original record ↗ before acting on it.

After screening blood tests and safety checks, participants will take study medication (spironolactone 50 mg twice daily) or matching placebo for two weeks before each of two overnight research admissions. During each admission they stay in a Clinical Research Unit overnight, have an indwelling IV catheter placed, and have blood drawn every 10 minutes from about 16:00 to 07:00 to measure pulsatile hormone secretion; a formal sleep study (polysomnography) is also done. The two admissions are separated by at least four weeks and the participant will receive the alternate study pill before the second admission. Participants must agree to pregnancy avoidance and may need repeat blood tests for eligibility or safety as described by the study team.

How the study is structured. A randomized, quadruple-masked (participant, care providers, investigators, and outcome assessors blinded), placebo-controlled crossover trial. Each participant takes spironolactone for two weeks before one overnight admission and placebo for two weeks before a second overnight admission; admissions are separated by at least four weeks. During each admission blood is drawn every 10 minutes from late afternoon through the following morning and formal polysomnography is done to document sleep stages.

Questions you could ask

These questions are suggestions for a conversation with the study team or your own clinician, not advice.

  • The registry lists this study under Hyperandrogenism; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Puberty. Does it apply to my diagnosis?
  • Some participants receive a placebo. How is that decided, and what happens for placebo-group participants when the study ends?
  • This is an early-phase study, mainly about safety and dose. What is already known about this treatment?
  • The listed sites are in United States. Is any of them reachable for me, and does the study help with travel?
  • Which of the eligibility criteria would need to be checked with tests before I could join?

More on congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Important dates

Study start
Nov 12, 2021
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2025 (estimated)
Study completion
Dec 1, 2025 (estimated)
Target enrollment
32 participants (estimated)
Last updated on registry
Aug 5, 2025
Data verified
Oct 10, 2026

Sponsor and research team

The lead sponsor funds and oversees the trial. A pharmaceutical or biotech company sponsor typically means the study is testing that company's drug or device; a hospital, university, or government agency usually indicates investigator-initiated or publicly funded research.

Lead sponsor
University of Virginia
Principal investigator
Christine Burt Solorzano, Assistant Professor in Pediatrics
University of Virginia
Collaborators
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Central study contact

If you're interested in participating, the central contact can answer general questions about the study — including eligibility requirements and how to find a recruiting site near you. Actual eligibility is determined by the site's medical team.

Participating sites (1)

  • Center for Research in Reproduction, University of VirginiaRecruiting

    Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908 · United States

Terms used on this page · explanations by MedicalUpdates.ai

primary endpoint
The main result the study is designed to measure and report on. Other results, called secondary outcomes, are also collected.
endpoints
Something the study measures to judge its results, such as a symptom score, a blood test or survival. Outcomes are grouped as primary, secondary and sometimes exploratory.
informed consent
The process of explaining a study, including its risks and what participation involves, so that a person can decide freely whether to take part. Consent is usually documented in writing, and a participant can choose to leave the study later.
follow-up
The period after treatment or enrolment during which participants are observed or contacted, for example to record side effects or outcomes.
stable dose
A dose that has not changed for a defined period before the study starts. Studies may require this so that background treatment is relatively stable when study measurements begin.
upper limit of normal
The highest value of a blood test that a laboratory considers normal. Criteria such as '≤ 3 × ULN' mean the result must be no more than three times that value.
contraindications
A reason a particular test or treatment should not be used for a person, for example a metal implant that rules out an MRI scan.
corticosteroids
Steroid medicines, such as prednisone, that reduce inflammation. Studies often require a stable dose at entry or measure whether the study treatment allows the dose to be reduced.
GFR
A blood-test estimate of how well the kidneys are filtering. Lower numbers mean reduced kidney function; many studies set a minimum value.
Inclusion Criteria
The conditions a person must meet to be considered for the study, for example a confirmed diagnosis, an age range or a test result.
Exclusion Criteria
The conditions that rule a person out even if they meet the inclusion criteria, for example other illnesses, certain medicines or pregnancy.
randomized
Participants are assigned to the study groups by chance, like a coin toss, rather than chosen by the doctor or the participant. This is done so the groups are comparable.
placebo-controlled
A study design in which one group receives a placebo so that the study treatment's effects can be compared with no active treatment.
blinded
Who does not know which intervention a participant is receiving. It can apply to participants, the people giving the treatment, those assessing results, or those analysing the data.
crossover
Each participant receives more than one intervention, one after the other, usually with a gap (a washout) in between. Participants act as their own comparison.
placebo
A treatment that looks like the study treatment but contains no active ingredient. Some participants receive it instead of the study treatment, usually without knowing which they got.
secondary endpoint
An additional result the study measures alongside the primary outcome, for example quality of life or a laboratory value.

The study record on this page is reproduced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, where it was submitted by the study sponsor. MedicalUpdates.ai does not own this content, is not affiliated with or endorsed by ClinicalTrials.gov, NIH, or the U.S. Government, and does not verify the record. Plain-language notes, the glossary and the questions above are added by this site; text in the boxes marked "AI summary" was written by an AI model and may contain errors. Registry records change over time. Check the original record for the current version and discuss eligibility or participation with a qualified healthcare professional.

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