Far Red Light to Improve Functioning in PAD

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Dec 2, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The LIGHT PAD Trial is a study designed to explore whether using far red light therapy on the legs can help improve walking ability and blood flow in people with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). This condition makes it hard for blood to flow to the legs, often causing pain and difficulty walking. In this trial, participants will use a special light treatment for 10 minutes, twice a day, for four months. Some participants will receive the real light treatment, while others will receive a sham light that doesn’t provide any actual treatment, to see if there’s a difference in results.

To qualify for this study, participants need to be at least 50 years old and have been diagnosed with PAD. They will undergo tests to confirm their condition. However, those with certain medical issues, like severe limb problems or recent major surgeries, cannot participate. If you join the trial, you’ll be asked to stick to the light treatment schedule, and your walking ability will be evaluated after four months to see if the treatment made a positive difference. This study is currently recruiting participants of all genders.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria.
• First, all participants will be age 50 and older. Second, all participants will have PAD. PAD will be defined as:
• • 1. An ABI \<= 0.90 at baseline.
• • 2. Vascular lab evidence of PAD (such as a toe brachial pressure \< 0.70 or an ankle brachial index less than or equal to 0.90), or angiographic evidence of PAD defined as at least 70% stenosis of an artery supplying the lower extremities.
• • 3. An ABI of \>0.90 and \<= 1.00 who experience a 20% or greater drop in ABI in either leg after the heel-rise test.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Above- or below-knee amputation
• • 2. Critical limb ischemia defined as an ABI \<0.30 or \<0.40 with symptoms of rest pain
• • 3. Wheelchair confinement or requiring a walker to ambulate
• • 4. Walking is limited by a symptom other than PAD
• • 5. Current foot ulcer on bottom of foot
• • 6. Failure to successfully complete the study run-in
• • 7. Planned major surgery, coronary or leg revascularization during the next four months
• • 8. Major surgery, coronary or leg revascularization or major cardiovascular event in the previous three months
• • 9. Major medical illness including lung disease requiring oxygen, Parkinson's disease, a life-threatening illness with life expectancy less than six months, or cancer requiring treatment in the previous two years. \[NOTE: potential participants may still qualify if they have had treatment for an early stage cancer in the past two years and the prognosis is excellent, unless the cancer is located in the lower extremities. Participants who require oxygen only at night may still qualify.\]
• • 10. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score \< 23
• • 11. Non-English speaking
• • 12. Participation in or completion of a clinical trial in the previous three months. \[NOTE: after completing a stem cell or gene therapy intervention, participants will become eligible after the final study follow-up visit of the stem cell or gene therapy study so long as at least six months have passed since the final intervention administration. After completing a supplement or drug therapy (other than stem cell or gene therapy), participants will be eligible after the final study follow-up visit as long as at least three months have passed since the final intervention of the trial.\]
• • 13. Visual impairment that limits walking ability.
• • 14. Six-minute walk distance of \<400 feet or \>1700 feet.
• • 15. Participation in a supervised treadmill exercise program or a cardiac rehabilitation program in previous three months or planning to begin a supervised treadmill exercise program or a cardiac rehabilitation program in the next five months.
• • 16. Unwilling to avoid red light therapy outside of study participation.
• • 17. Baseline blood pressure \<100/45.
• • 18. In addition to the above criteria, investigator discretion will be used to determine if the trial is unsafe or not a good fit for the potential participant.