Abstract
Objectives: Subjects in a Phase 2b study of MK-7264, a P2X3 antagonist, were evaluated to characterize the baseline profile and potential cough triggers of patients with refractory chronic cough (1).
Methods: In a double-blind, parallel group study (NCT02612610) conducted in the US and UK, subjects with refractory or unexplained chronic cough (duration ≥1 year) were randomized to placebo or MK-7264. Randomized subjects completed a medical history questionnaire at baseline in which they reported their frequency of triggers eliciting cough (i.e., ‘Always,’ ‘Most of the Time,’ ‘A Lot of the Time,’ ‘Some of the Time,’ ‘Little of the Time,’ or ‘Never’).
Results: In the 253 subjects who were randomized, mean age was 60 years, 76% of subjects were female, mean BMI was 27.7 kg/m2, and median duration of cough was 11 years. Of 252 subjects who completed the questionnaire, items/triggers eliciting ‘Always’ to ‘A Lot of the Time’ responses included: ‘My cough is unpredictable’ (79%), ‘A tickle in my throat’ (73%), and ‘An irritation in my throat’ (73%), followed by external triggers of ‘Poor air quality’ (50%) and ‘A change in air temperature’ (43%). Only 4-5% of subjects reported ‘Never’ for throat tickle or irritation.
Conclusions: Refractory chronic cough subjects in this trial were mostly female, on average middle/older age, and slightly overweight. Overall, cough triggers were characterized as unpredictable, although a high proportion of patients reported triggers consistent with a neuronal hypersensitivity.
Reference: (1) Smith JA et al. American Thoracic Society 2017.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2018 52: Suppl. 62, PA820.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2018