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L-carnitine vs Placebo for the Treatment of Muscle Cramps After Imatinib in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT03426722
Lead Sponsor
Asan Medical Center
Brief Summary

we aim to evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine for the treatment of muscle cramps after imatinib in patients with GIST and apply in the future.

Detailed Description

One of the most common side effects of imatinib treatment, muscle cramps occur in about 30% of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) receiving treatment with imatinib.

It affects the quality of life (QoL) of patients and could also be a factor that affects compliance with treatment. Some studies suggest that L-carnitine may improve muscle cramps associated with cirrhosis or hemodialysis. However, the efficacy of L-carnitine for muscle cramps occurring after imatinib treatment has yet to be reported. Thus, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine for the treatment of muscle cramps after imatinib in patients with GIST and apply in the future.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
4
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Histologically confirmed GIST patients who are taking imatinib
  2. Age 18years or older
  3. Patients experienced muscle cramps for more than 8 times (pain of NRS > 4) or 4 times (pain of NRS >7) within last 4 weeks
  4. Life expectancy > 6 months
  5. ECOG performance status of 0-3
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Patients with renal disease receiving hemodialysis
  2. Liver Cirrhosis patients with Child-Pugh class B or C
  3. Patients with history of hypersensitivity to drugs including L-carnitine or nutritional supplements
  4. Patients with history of spinal cord injury, peripheral vascular disease, or > Grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy
  5. Patients with clinically significant electrolyte imbalances such as hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesaemia

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
L-carnitineL-carnitineL-carnitine 500mg three times daily (per oral)
PlaceboPlaceboPlacebo 500mg three times daily (per oral)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of patients who have occurrence of muscle cramps ( numeric rating scale score > 4)4 weeks

Proportion of patients who have occurrence of muscle cramps ( numeric rating scale score \> 4) decreased by less than 50% in 4 weeks excluding the first 4 weeks of drug administration

\*numeric rating scale scores(range, 0-10) -\> higher score is worse outcome

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
questionnaire(Quality of Life)4 weeks

Evaluation of the change in the Quality of Life in 4 weeks

plasma concentration level1 year

Concentration evaluation of L-carnitine

Change in average numeric rating scale scores of muscle cramps4 weeks

Change in average numeric rating scale scores(range, 0-10) of muscle cramps in 4 weeks excluding the first 4 weeks of drug administration

\*numeric rating scale scores(range, 0-10) -\> higher score is worse outcome

Rate of patients who have duration of muscle cramps (numeric rating scale score > 4)4 weeks

Rate of patients who have duration of muscle cramps (numeric rating scale score \> 4)

that was decreased by more than 50% in next 4 weeks excluding the first 4 weeks of drug administration

\*numeric rating scale scores(range, 0-10) -\> higher score is worse outcome

recurrence rate1 year

Recurrence is defined as 1) frequency of muscle cramps (NRS \> 4) becomes more than 50% of baseline and 2) frequency of muscle cramps (NRS \> 4) get twice worse than most improved time (when evaluated every 4 weeks)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

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