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Lookup NU author(s): Rob Pickard
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Background: Urinary stone disease is common, with an estimated prevalence among the general population of 2% to 3%. Ureteric stones can cause severe pain and have a significant impact on quality of life, accounting for over 15,000 hospital admissions in England annually. Uncomplicated cases of smaller stones in the lower ureter are traditionally treated expectantly. Those who fail standard care or develop complications undergo active treatment, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy with stone retrieval. Such interventions are expensive, require urological expertise and carry a risk of complications. Growing understanding of ureteric function and pathophysiology has led to the hypothesis that drugs causing relaxation of ureteric smooth muscle, such as the selective a-blocker tamsulosin and the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine, can enhance the spontaneous passage of ureteric stones. The use of drugs in augmenting stone passage, reducing the morbidity and costs associated with ureteric stone disease, is promising. However, the majority of clinical trials conducted to date have been small, poor to moderate quality and lacking in comprehensive economic evaluation. This trial aims to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of tamsulosin and nifedipine in the management of symptomatic urinary stones.Methods/design: The SUSPEND (Spontaneous Urinary Stone Passage ENabled by Drugs) trial is a multicentre, double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluating two medical expulsive therapy strategies (nifedipine or tamsulosin) versus placebo.Patients aged 18 to 65 with a ureteric stone confirmed by non-contrast computed tomography of the kidney, ureter and bladder will be randomized to receive nifedipine, tamsulosin or placebo (400 participants per arm) for a maximum of 28 days. The primary clinical outcome is spontaneous passage of ureteric stones at 4 weeks (defined as no further (Continued on next page)
Author(s): McClinton S, Starr K, Thomas R, McLennan G, McPherson G, McDonald A, Lam T, N'Dow J, Kilonzo M, Pickard R, Anson K, Burr J, SUSPEND Study Grp
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Trials
Year: 2014
Volume: 15
Pages: 1-12
Online publication date: 20/06/2014
Acceptance date: 22/05/2014
Date deposited: 15/08/2014
ISSN (electronic): 1745-6215
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-238
DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-238
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