Anti-inflammatory effects of Metformin in adults with moderate to major burns (20-60 percentage TBSA): A Randomised Control Trial

This study explores a novel use of a well-known drug to address a serious unmet need in burn care, with the potential to transform treatment protocols and improve survival.

 1. High Burden of Burn-Related Inflammation

 Burn injuries involving 20–60 percent of the TBSA induce a strong systemic inflammatory response. This excessive inflammation often leads to life-threatening complications such as sepsis, acute organ failure, and death. Current treatments primarily focus on supportive care, with limited options to directly modulate the inflammatory response.

 2. Need for Adjunctive Therapies

 Despite advances in critical care, mortality and morbidity rates in moderate to severe burn patients remain high. Introducing safe, accessible, and cost-effective therapies that can reduce inflammation could significantly improve patient outcomes.

   3. Metformin’s Unique Therapeutic Potential

 Metformin is widely used, well-tolerated, and inexpensive. Its anti-inflammatory properties, mediated via AMPK activation and NF-kappa B inhibition, provide a strong biological rationale for investigating its use beyond diabetes—especially in conditions characterized by excessive cytokine release, such as burns.

 4. Lack of Prior Research in Burn Populations

 While metformin’s anti-inflammatory effects have been studied in other diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer), there is limited research specifically evaluating its role in burn-induced inflammation. This study would help fill that critical knowledge gap.

 5. Potential to Improve Clinical Outcomes

 If metformin is shown to effectively reduce biomarkers like CRP, IL-6, Serum Ferritin and PCT in burn patients, it may lead to reduced sepsis rates, faster recovery, shorter ICU stays and lower healthcare costs, ultimately enhancing quality of care.