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Mechanisms of Improved Wound Healing and Protein Synthesis of Insulin and Metformin

Mechanisms of Improved Wound Healing and Protein Synthesis of Insulin and Metformin

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01666665
Enrollment
36
Registered
2012-08-16
Start date
2012-11-30
Completion date
2019-04-23
Last updated
2019-11-29

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

Conditions

Hyperglycemia, Hypermetabolism, Insulin Resistance

Keywords

Burn

Brief summary

Massive pediatric burns are associated with a persistent and sustained hypermetabolic response characterized by elevated levels of circulating catecholamine's, cortisol, and glucagon's, which can cause extreme muscle wasting, immunodeficiency, and delay in wound healing. Insulin and metformin have demonstrated anabolic activity with minimal associated side effects. However, it is unknown whether the beneficial effects arise from tight euglycemic control or direct effect of insulin action. We hypothesize that during acute hospitalization, administration of metformin at a dose titrated to maintain blood glucose between 80-180 mg/dl will accelerate wound healing and recovery in children with severe thermal injury and will have beneficial long-term effects on muscle strength, immune function, and wound healing.

Detailed description

Metformin treated patients will be compared to control patients. Both groups will receive insulin therapy for blood glucose \>180mg/dl. Insulin will be titrated according to hospital sliding scale. The use of insulin or metformin will benefit burned children by improving muscle protein build-up, speeding wound healing and reversing growth arrest, improving the immune response, and positively affecting long-term rehabilitation. The results of this study may initiate a change in standard of care as it is found that simply the reduction of blood glucose by metformin, improves patient outcomes as metformin can be administered without the added complication of hypoglycemia.

Interventions

DRUGMetformin

Metformin up to 1000mg/m2 body surface area by mouth of feeding tube up to 3 times each day for 12 months

DRUGSugar pill

Sugar pill up to 3 times per day for 12 months

Sponsors

Shriners Hospitals for Children
CollaboratorOTHER
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
10 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient age 10-19 * Primary diagnosis of ≥ 20 Total Burn Surface Area Burn (TBSAB )

Exclusion criteria

* Decision not to treat due to burn injury severity * Known history of AIDS, ARC, HIV * Pregnancy * Previous diagnosis (pre -burn) of renal failure, liver disease or hepatic dysfunction- Serum Creatinine \>1.5mg/dL for males and \>1.4mg/dL for females, after fluid resuscitation (Clinical definition of kidney damage) * Pre-existing type 1 diabetes mellitus * Pre Existing type 2 diabetes mellitus and receiving treatment * Allergies to Metformin * Acute or chronic acidosis (lactic or any other metabolic type) and renal failure

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Insulin resistanceMeasure changes between admission and 2 years post burnAs measured by OGTT

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Protein synthesisMeasure changes between admission and 1 years post burnAs measured by stable isotope infusion study
MorbidityMeasure changes between admission and 2 years post burnAs measured by Organ Failure assessments

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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