---
title: Effect of Acetazolamide on Postural Control in Patients With Respiratory Disease at Altitude
nct_id: NCT03177811
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: PHASE4
sponsor: University of Zurich
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
countries: Kyrgyzstan
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03177811.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03177811"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2021-10-12
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:33:45.285Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Effect of Acetazolamide on Postural Control in Patients With Respiratory Disease at Altitude

**Official Title:** Effect of Acetazolamide on Postural Control in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at Altitude: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Parallel Trial

**NCT ID:** [NCT03177811](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03177811)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** PHASE4
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 127
- **Lead Sponsor:** University of Zurich
- **Collaborators:** National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine named after academician M.Mirrakhimov
- **Conditions:** Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- **Start Date:** 2017-05-24
- **Completion Date:** 2018-08-02
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2021-10-12

## Brief Summary

In this trial, the investigators will evaluate the effect of acetazolamide (375 mg per day) vs. placebo on postural control at acute altitude exposure in patients with COPD.

## Detailed Description

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel trial evaluating the effect of acetazolamide (375 mg per day) vs. placebo on postural control at altitude (Tuja Ashu, 3200 m). Participants living in the Bishkek area, Kyrgyzstan (760m), will be transferred by car within 4h to the Tuja Ashu high altitude clinic (3200 m), and stay there for 2 days. Acetazolamide 375mg/day (or placebo) will be administered 24 hours before departure at 760 m and during the stay at altitude. Outcomes will be assessed during the stay at 3200 m. Randomization to acetazolamide or placebo will be carried out after baseline measurements in Bishkek (760 m).

Postural control will be assessed by a rectangular, stable balance platform (Wii Balance Board) measuring the body's center of gravity. The movement of the body's center of gravity will be recorded in a two-dimensional coordinate system and indicated as path length.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 75 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and female patients, age 18-75 yrs.
* COPD diagnosed according to GOLD, FEV1 40-80% predicted, SpO2 ≥92% at 750 m.
* Born, raised and currently living at low altitude (\<800m).
* Written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* COPD exacerbation, very severe COPD with hypoxemia at low altitude (FEV1/FVC \<0.7, FEV1 \<40% predicted, oxygen saturation on room air \<92% at 750 m).
* Comorbidities such as uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, i.e., unstable systemic arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease; previous stroke; OSA; pneumothorax in the last 2 months.
* Internal, neurologic, rheumatologic or psychiatric disease including current heavy smoking (\>20 cigarettes per day)
* Known renal failure or allergy to acetazolamide and other sulfonamides
```

## Arms

- **ACETAZOLAMIDE oral capsule** (ACTIVE_COMPARATOR) — Acetazolamide 375mg/day (capsule @125 mg: 1 in the morning, 2 in the evening), orally. Medication starts 24 hours before ascent to 3200m until the morning after the second night at 3200m
- **PLACEBO oral capsule** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR) — Placebo (capsules identically looking as acetazolamide capsules: 1 in the morning, 2 in the evening), orally. Medication starts 24 hours before ascent to 3200m until the morning after the second night at 3200m.

## Interventions

- **ACETAZOLAMIDE oral capsule** (DRUG) — Administration of 125mg acetazolamide in the morning, 250mg in the evening, starting 24 hours before departure to 3200m
- **Placebo oral capsule** (DRUG) — Administration of equally looking placebo capsules in the morning and evening, starting 24 hours before departure to 3200m

## Primary Outcomes

- **Change in postural control** _(time frame: Day 2 at 760m and 3200m)_ — Difference in altitude-induced change (between day 2 at 760 meters a.s.l. vs. day 2 at 3200 meters a.s.l.) of center of gravity displacement between acetazolamide and placebo group, measured by a balance platform

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Change in arterial oxygen saturation** _(time frame: Day 2 at 760m and 3200m)_
- **acute mountain sickness** _(time frame: Day 2 at 3200m)_

## Locations (1)

- National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.national center of cardiology and internal medicine|bishkek||kyrgyzstan` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03177811.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03177811*  
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