Role of Anabolic Steroids on Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness

Phase 2

• Conditions: Critical Illness Polyneuropathies
• Interventions: Drug: Testosterone cypionate; Other: Standard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU

• Registration Number: NCT03038919
• Lead Sponsor: Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Brief Summary

The researchers intend to investigate possible anabolic effects of bi-weekly exogenous testosterone administration during intensive care unit (ICU) stay for up to 8 weeks. Control group will receive standard ICU management and will also be followed during ICU stay.

Detailed Description

For the study chronic critical patients will be included according to criterion of mechanical ventilation by orotracheal tube\> 14 consecutive days or mechanical ventilation by tracheostomy\> 8 consecutive days and that do not present exclusion criteria.

Patients will be randomized into two follow-up groups: Intervention group with anabolic steroid and control group.

The anabolic steroid intervention group will receive a bi-weekly dose of 200mg intramuscular testosterone cypionate and receive the standard treatment of nutritional therapy and physical therapy. While patients in the control group will receive only the standard treatment of nutrition and physical therapy, without addition of the anabolic drug.

At the beginning of the study and weekly the patients will be evaluated in relation to the muscular profile with diaphragm ultrasound and Medical Research Council (MRC) application. In addition to the collection of serum homograms, leukogram, lipid profile and renal function tests.

Weight and nutritional therapy-related data will be identified in the patient's chart regarding caloric and protein requirement and supply adequacy.

In the inclusion and biweekly will be collected serum levels of free testosterone, blood count, leukogram, blood gas, renal function and liver function. Nitrogen balance of patients from urinary urea will be performed.

The evaluations of the groups and the intervention with the anabolic steroid will be of 8 weeks or during the period of dependence of the mechanical ventilation. After this period the patients will be monitored for the outcome: length of stay in the intensive care unit, hospital stay until discharge and clinical outcome: death or discharge.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-10
• Status Verified: 2017-01
• Study First Submitted: 2017-01-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-01-31
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-01-31
• Study First Posted: 2017-02-01
• Last Update Posted: 2017-02-01
• Primary Completion: 2017-10
• Study Completion: 2018-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Individuals older than 18 years
• Mechanical ventilation by orotracheal tube for more than 14 consecutive days
• Mechanical ventilation by tracheostomy for more than 8 consecutive days

Exclusion Criteria

• End of life care
• Known hypersensitivity to formula
• Venous or arterial thrombosis within last 6 months: ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, acute peripheral arterial occlusion, acute mesenteric ischemia, deep venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism
• Decompensated congestive heart failure
• Acute liver failure or acute on chronic liver failure
• Refractory shock (norepinephrine dose >0.3 mcg/kg/min or equivalent doses of any vasoactive agent)
• Platelets below <20,000 / mm3 without transfusion plan
• Personal history of prostate cancer
• Primary neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Duchenne Muscular dystrophy
• Current or prior spinal cord injury

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Anabolic patients	Standard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU	Intramuscular injection of testosterone cypionate 200mg every 15 days in addition to standard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU.
Control	Standard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU	Standard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU without administration of testosterone cypionate
Anabolic patients	Testosterone cypionate	Intramuscular injection of testosterone cypionate 200mg every 15 days in addition to standard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mechanical ventilation dependence	8 weeks	Days of any positive pressure ventilation described in the patient record from the start of the study

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hospital length of stay	9 months	Period of stay of the patient in the hospital after discharge from the intensive care unit described in the patient record
ICU length of stay	9 months	Patient's length of stay in the intensive care unit after the start of the study as described in the patient record
Muscle weakness	8 weeks	The muscle weakness measured weekly by the study team through the Medical Research Council (MRC)
Ultrasound diaphragm	8 weeks	Weekly the study team will perform diaphragm ultrasound to monitor the respiratory muscles, observing measures of inspiration and expiration.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre; 🇧🇷 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil