Restasis for Treatment of Brittle Nails
Condition: Brittle Nails
Intervention: Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05%; Refresh® Dry Eye therapy
Intervention description: cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05%; Emulsion contains glycerin 1% and polysorbate 80
Intervention MeSH terms: Cyclosporine; Cyclosporins
Phase: Phase 2
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Enrollment: 24.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 18 Years
Maximum age: 75 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Summary:

      This purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of Restasis® ophthalmic
      emulsion versus emulsion alone( Refresh Dry Eye therapy) both for the treatment of brittle
      nails and for the enhancement of normal nail growth and texture. The investigators think that
      daily application of Restasis® to nails and nail beds in patients with brittle nails will
      enhance nail growth and improve nail texture in both affected and unaffected nails.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  must have IRB approved written informed consent prior to participating in any study
             related procedures

          -  Must be a male or female patient 18 to 75 years of age

          -  must have a diagnosis of brittle or meet the criteria for a diagnosis of brittle nails
             at the screening visit based on at least two of the following signs and symptoms of
             brittle nails in each of the selected nail plates or severe signs (one or more) on
             each target nail

          -  trachyonychia (surface roughness)

          -  lamellar onychoschizia (horizontal layering/peeling

          -  longitudinal cracking or splitting of the distal edge (raggedness)

          -  must have two fingernails with brittle nail signs and symptoms identified at baseline

          -  must have two normal or near-normal nails on the same hand

          -  female patients of childbearing potential (not surgically sterile or at least 2 years
             postmenopausal) must have a negative pregnancy at baseline/day 1 and may not be
             lactating

          -  sexually active female subjects who are not surgically sterile or 2 years post
             menopausal must agree to use contraception/birth control measure while on study (e.g.,
             oral contraceptive, diaphragms with spermicide, condoms with spermicide, intrauterine
             devices, Norplant System, Depo-Provera, tubal ligation). Monthly urine pregnancy tests
             will be administered to women of childbearing potential

          -  must agree to self administer topical study medication, and must agree to complete all
             study procedures

          -  must be judged to be in good health by medical history and physical examination

          -  must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements,
             including avoiding the use of nail polish, adhesive nails, and manicures for the
             duration of the study

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  have a history of surgery of the affected fingernails

          -  are chronic nail biters

          -  are pregnant, nursing, or planning pregnancy prior to study enrollment

          -  have a disturbance of the shape of the affected fingernails (e.g., due to malformation
             of the underlying bone) that would interfere with the investigator's ability to
             evaluate photographs or nail changes

          -  have onycholysis (lifting of the nail plate off the nail bed) of the affected
             fingernails

          -  have signs of a fungal or bacterial infection of the affected fingernails

          -  have a history of psoriasis or lichen planus involving any nail, or active contact
             dermatitis involving the affected fingernails

          -  have used any topical cosmetics or medicated products on the affected nails within 2
             weeks of baseline visit

          -  have received oral antifungal treatment within 3 months of baseline visit

          -  have a known or suspected history of a genetic condition affecting the nails (e.g.,
             Darier's disease, nail-patella syndrome, tuberous sclerosis)

          -  have used any investigational drug within the previous 1 month or 5 half-lives of the
             investigational agent, whichever is longer, or 3 months for any biologic of unknown
             half-life

          -  are known or suspected to have had a substance abuse (drug or alcohol) problem within
             the previous 3 years

          -  is unlikely to comply with the study protocol and prescribed treatment or is
             unsuitable for any other reason in the opinion of the investigator

          -  chronic liver, heart, kidney, or (untreated) thyroid disease

          -  have current signs or symptoms of severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic,
             hematologic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurologic, or cerebral
             disease

          -  currently have any known malignancy or have a history of malignancy other than
             non-melanoma skin cancer

          -  have signs of bacterial, fungal or viral skin lesions that may interfere with
             evaluation of the target nails

          -  known sensitivity to any active or inactive ingredient in Restasis(R) or Refresh(R)
             Dry Eye Therapy