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Pilot Study to Determine Effects of Salsalate in Type 1 Diabetes and Painful Peripheral Neuropathy

A Pilot Study to Determine the Effects of 12 Weeks of Treatment With Salsalate on Measures of Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 1 Diabetes

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01480297
Acronym
SALP
Enrollment
8
Registered
2011-11-28
Start date
2011-11-30
Completion date
2014-09-30
Last updated
2015-04-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Peripheral Neuropathy, Type 1 Diabetes

Keywords

Pain, Neuropathy, Diabetes type 1

Brief summary

This 12 week study will examine the effects of daily Salsalate treatment on markers of neuropathic pain and intra-epidermal nerve fiber density. the study is being done in people with type 1 diabetes with signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

Detailed description

This project will be used to establish preliminary data for a planned NIH-sponsored multicenter study of the effects of salsalate on diabetic neuropathy (DN) in people with type 1 diabetes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DN) ultimately affects one-half of the patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and is a major cause of disability, high mortality, and poor quality of life. Although intensive glucose control has proven efficacy in delaying or preventing DN in T1DM and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), most people with diabetes do not reach and maintain glycemic levels needed to achieve these benefits. In addition, many patients with diabetes still develop diabetic complications, including DN, despite good glucose control. For DN, no disease modifying treatment other than glycemic control is available. Therefore, it is essential to identify new drug targets and to treat DN as early as possible in its course. The investigators planned, multi-center study will be the first to determine the effect of an anti-inflammatory agent, salsalate, on DN development and progression, and on DN pain in type 1 diabetes. This proof-of-concept pilot study will measure the effects of short term (12 week) treatment with Salsalate on novel and on established measures of peripheral neuropathy. Ultimately, this may permit measurement of treatment effects over a shorter period of time than by using established measures such as nerve conduction studies. Salsalate, a prodrug form of salicylate, is used to treat osteoarthritis and other rheumatologic conditions. It is highly effective in modulating the IKKβ/NF-κB pathway, with a large margin of safety, and has a glucose lowering effect in patients with type 2 diabetes. The IKKβ/NF-κB pathway is unique in that it is implicated in both the pathogenesis of nerve fiber loss as well as pain in DN. The proposed study design employs a quantifiable early measure of DN, IENFD of the thigh, allowing for accurate assessment of actual nerve fiber density over time. In the pilot study, biomarkers of pain found in IENF's as well as IENFD will be measured pre and post 3 months of treatment with Salsalate, 3 grams daily.

Interventions

DRUGSalsalate

Salsalate 3 grams daily (1 gram TID with meals)

Sponsors

University of Michigan
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Type 1 diabetes (T1D) * Peripheral neuropathy with symptoms of pain, or with other uncomfortable symptoms (e.g., burning, prickling). * 18 to 70 years old * Stable insulin treatment program for at least the past 3 months. * Abnormal nerve conduction studies (based on study screening examination) * Willing and able to take an oral (by mouth) medication 3 times per day for 3 months. * WOMEN using an appropriate method of contraception during the course of the study (hormonal, IUD, or diaphragm. * Willing and able to provide written informed consent for study participation.

Exclusion criteria

* Neuropathy from a cause other than diabetes. * Allergy to salsalate or similar medications (aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen). * Currently on blood thinning agents such as Coumadin, Heparin, Plavix, Pradaxa, high-dose aspirin (more than 325 mg daily). * Any severe low blood sugar episodes in the past 6 months (needed assistance to treat). * Diabetic ketoacidosis in the past 6 months. * Severe neuropathy, or have had an ulcer or amputation on either foot or either leg. * Creatinine level (a measure of kidney function is greater than 1.4 mg/dl (for women) or greater than 1.5 mg/dl (for men) or your estimated GFR is under 60. * Albumin in your urine or other signs of reduced kidney function. * Liver enzymes (including ALT, AST and Bilirubin) levels are more than 2 and ½ times the upper limit of normal. * Blood platelets are less than 100,000 at the time of screening. * Organ transplant (lung, kidney, heart, pancreas, liver). * Chronic immunosuppressive therapy, for example, daily prednisone or other steroids, methotrexate, Imuran, CellCept. This includes daily, or recurrent use of oral steroids used to treat asthma. * Regular NSAID medications (e.g., Naproxen, Ibuprofen) use. If used occasionally, you will be asked to not use them during the study. * History of drug or alcohol abuse, or if you take more than 10 alcoholic drinks per week. * History of stomach ulcers or bleeding from your bowel. * Heart attack, heart bypass surgery, heart failure or a stroke EVER. * Current treatment for any cancer (other than basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer). * Treatment with lithium. * Ever had Reyes' syndrome. * Pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the time of the study. * Allergic to lidocaine or epinephrine (used for numbing skin prior to biopsies). * Keloid scarring in the past. * Receiving other experimental treatments.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) Fibers Per mmBaseline and 12 weeksIntra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) was measured at two anatomic locations (thigh and ankle) at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with Salsalate. IENFD is expressed as fibers per mm. Means and standard deviations are shown.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Recruitment was completed in 3 months time.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Salsalate
All subjects will take Salsalate, 3 grams daily (as 3 divided doses of 1 gram with breakfast, lunch and dinner). Salsalate: Salsalate 3 grams daily (1 gram TID with meals)
8
Total8

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicSalsalate
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
7 Participants
Age, Continuous57.0 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.7
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
8 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
8 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
6 / 8
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 8

Outcome results

Primary

Intra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) Fibers Per mm

Intra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) was measured at two anatomic locations (thigh and ankle) at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with Salsalate. IENFD is expressed as fibers per mm. Means and standard deviations are shown.

Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Population: Type 1 diabetes with painful neuropathy

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
SalsalateIntra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) Fibers Per mmBaseline Thigh IENFD(fibers per mm)6.3 fibers per mmStandard Deviation 5.4
SalsalateIntra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) Fibers Per mmBaseline Ankle IENFD(fibers per mm)3.0 fibers per mmStandard Deviation 3.3
SalsalateIntra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) Fibers Per mm12 Week Thigh IENFD(fibers per mm)5.2 fibers per mmStandard Deviation 4.4
SalsalateIntra-epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (IENFD) Fibers Per mm12 Week Ankle IENFD(fibers per mm)3.0 fibers per mmStandard Deviation 3.5

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026