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Role of Anabolic Steroids on Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness

Pilot Randomized, Controlled Trial of Testosterone Therapy in Chronic Critically Ill Patients and Its Potential Effects on Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation and Intensive Care Unit-acquired Weakness

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03038919
Acronym
RAS-ICU
Enrollment
30
Registered
2017-02-01
Start date
2016-10-31
Completion date
2018-01-31
Last updated
2017-02-01

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

Conditions

Critical Illness Polyneuropathies

Keywords

prolonged mechanical ventilation, critically ill patients, anabolic steroid

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.

Interventions

DRUGTestosterone cypionate

Bi-weekly intramuscular injection of testosterone cypionate 200mg.

OTHERStandard nutrition and physical therapy at ICU

follow-up of the patient without use of testosterone cypionate

Sponsors

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mechanical ventilation dependence8 weeksDays of any positive pressure ventilation described in the patient record from the start of the study

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Muscle weakness8 weeksThe muscle weakness measured weekly by the study team through the Medical Research Council (MRC)
Ultrasound diaphragm8 weeksWeekly the study team will perform diaphragm ultrasound to monitor the respiratory muscles, observing measures of inspiration and expiration.
ICU length of stay9 monthsPatient's length of stay in the intensive care unit after the start of the study as described in the patient record
Hospital length of stay9 monthsPeriod of stay of the patient in the hospital after discharge from the intensive care unit described in the patient record

Countries

Brazil

Contacts

Primary ContactSara C Rosa
sararosa92@gmail.com+5551997381047
Backup ContactAna Carolina P Antonio, PhD
ana.carolina.antonio@gmail.com+5551984428820

Outcome results

None listed

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