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The Effects of Topical Corticosteroid Use on Insulin Sensitivity and Bone Turnover

The Effects of Topical Corticosteroid Use on Insulin Sensitivity and Bone Turnover

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04114097
Enrollment
36
Registered
2019-10-03
Start date
2019-08-22
Completion date
2021-03-15
Last updated
2021-04-28

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

Conditions

Atopic Dermatitis, Atopic Eczema

Keywords

topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors

Brief summary

The investigators believe that the emerging epidemiological evidence connecting topical use of corticosteroids to the development of type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis point to potentially massive, yet clinically unacknowledged problems associated with topical corticosteroid treatment. Using state-of-the-art methodology, the present study will delineate the impact of topical corticosteroid use on insulin sensitivity and bone turnover markers in patients with atopic dermatitis and, thus, provide important data that may have implications for millions of people using topical corticosteroids.

Interventions

DRUGBetnovate, betamethasone dipropionate ointment 0.1% and placebo

Explore the systemic effects of Betnovate

DRUGProtopic, tacrolimus ointment 0.1%

Compare the systemic effects of Betnovate to Protopic

Sponsors

LEO Pharma
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Jacob Thyssen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

randomised, two-arm, active comparator, double-dummy, double-blinded trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-75 years * AD according to the Hanifin and Rajka Criteria24 * AD for at least 3 years * BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2 * Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤ 42 mmol/mol (6.0%) * Normal haemoglobin (men: 8.3-10.5 mmol/L and women 7.3-9.5 mmol/L. A 5% deviation will be allowed if the patient besides this is healthy) * Informed consent * In general patients should not be diagnosed with diseases that may affect or be affected by the study/treatment (evaluated by a doctor) (such as untreated skin infections, acne vulgaris (beside face region), a skin barrier defect, such as Netherton's syndrome, lamellar ichthyosis, generalized erythroderma or cutaneous Graft Versus Host Disease, congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies or in patients on therapy that cause immunosuppression, and Protopic ointment should not be applied to lesions that are considered to be potentially malignant or pre-malignant. Further patients should not suffer from kidney or liver disease/insufficiency. See the SPC for Protopic and Betnovate.)

Exclusion criteria

* Diagnosed diabetes mellitus * Other chronic inflammatory diseases (including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease etc) beside AD and non-treatment demanding rhinitis or asthma (treated within the last 4 weeks) * Pregnancy (a urine test will be done at every visit and birth control is required, see below\*) * Breast feeding * Treatment with drugs that might affect the glucose metabolism beside TCS within a month prior to the project * Daily smoker, alcoholic, or drug abuser * Hypersensitivity to Protopic or Betnovate

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in whole-body insulin sensitivityBaseline, after 14 days daily treatment, and after 4 weeks of twice daily treatment twice weeklyChange in whole-body insulin sensitivity during treatment with topical corticosteroid use compared to the control group treated with topical calcineurin inhibitors. Insulin sensitivity will be assessed by the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp method with glucose and glycerol tracer and indirect calorimetry (rate of disappearance (Rd)).

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 15, 2026