title: The idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment trial: design considerations and methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objectives of this study were to present the rationale for the main aspects of the study design and describe the trial methodology for the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible candidates with mild visual field loss (automated perimetric mean deviation [PMD] -2 to -7 dB) were randomized to receive either acetazolamide or matching placebo tablets. Randomized participants were offered participation in a supervised dietary program. The primary outcome variable, PMD, was measured at 6 months. Additionally, cerebrospinal fluid from subjects and serum from study participants and matched controls were collected for genetic analysis and vitamin A studies. An ancillary optical coherence substudy was added to investigate the changes of papilledema in the optic nerve head and retina that correlate with Frisén grading, visual field deficits, and low-contrast visual acuity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The randomized trial entered 165 participants from March 17, 2010, through November 27, 2012, from the United States and Canada. The primary outcome (month 6) visits were successfully completed by June 15, 2013. Blood specimens were obtained from 165 controls without IIH to investigate vitamin A metabolism and genetic markers of potential risk factors for IIH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IIHTT is the first randomized, double-masked placebo-controlled trial to study the effectiveness of medical treatment for patients with IIH.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology & Neurotherapeutics and Ophthalmology (DIF), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Visual Science (SEF), Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics (KK, AS), Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology and Department of Neurology (MM), University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York; Neurology (MW), University of Iowa College of Medicine and Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa; National Eye Institute (ES), Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (JK), University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (MK), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Deborah I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kieburtz
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kupersmith
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoutenburg
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keltner
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Feldon
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schron
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000086:Acetazolamide