Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

NCT number NCT05355272
Other study ID # H-49490
Secondary ID
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
First received
Last updated
Start date February 12, 2024
Est. completion date September 2025

Study information

Verified date February 2024
Source Baylor College of Medicine
Contact Dakota Broadway, MS
Phone (281) 896-0787
Email dakota.broadway@bcm.edu
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of the GWIT Study is to assess whether growth hormone replacement therapy is a safe and effective treatment for veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) and adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD). The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Is growth hormone effective at reducing fat in the trunk of the body and symptoms of GWI among veterans with GWI and growth hormone deficiency? 2. Do the results of the study suggest there is merit in pursuing a larger trial to examine the efficacy of growth hormone as a treatment for growth hormone deficiency among veterans with Gulf War Illness? To determine eligibility for the study, veterans will be asked to complete several assessments including questionnaires, blood tests, and a scan of the brain. Participants who qualify for the study will receive recombinant human growth hormone for 6-months. A body composition scan will be performed at Day1, Day 90, and Day 180 of the intervention. Questionnaires and cognitive tests will also be collected before and after the trial.


Description:

Veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) often experience a range of debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction. The factors contributing to these symptoms remain poorly understood, but adults with adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) experience similar symptoms. Growth hormone replacement therapy has been shown to improve fatigue, chronic pain, mood, cognitive function, and quality of life. Approximately 1 in 3 Veterans diagnosed with GWI also tests positive for AGHD, raising the question of whether growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) could be a potential avenue for improving their quality of life. The objective of this research is to conduct a clinical trial to determine whether GHRT can improve body composition, cognitive function, sleep quality, fatigue, and mood in Veterans with GWI and AGHD. Data from this study will also provide important information on the safety of the intervention. This research has the potential to reshape our understanding of GWI and its therapeutic management. If GHRT proves efficacious, it could prompt widespread screening and treatment for growth hormone deficiency among Gulf War Veterans, potentially ameliorating their symptoms and enhancing their functional recovery. Furthermore, the findings of this study may influence clinical practice guidelines, facilitating more effective communication and collaboration among Veterans, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare providers.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Recruiting
Enrollment 20
Est. completion date September 2025
Est. primary completion date May 2025
Accepts healthy volunteers No
Gender All
Age group 18 Years to 64 Years
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria: 1. veteran of the Gulf War conflict with a history of deployment to Operation Desert Storm or Desert Shield between 1990-91 2. age less than or equal to 64 years old 3. have a diagnosis of Gulf War Illness assessed by study investigators 4. have adult growth hormone deficiency diagnosed by glucagon stimulation test (cut point 3.0 mcg/L if BMI is less than or equal to 25 or 1.0 mcg/L if BMI is greater than 25) 5. 4-week stability on any psychotropic medications 6. 3-month stability on all hormone treatments 7. able and willing to provide informed consent to participant in the study and complete study protocol Exclusion Criteria: 1. history of a psychiatric disorder with substantial impact on functional status or quality of life (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar, or other psychotic disorder) 2. history of neurologic disorder other than traumatic brain injury with substantial impact on the quality of life 3. other known cause for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) including history of childhood onset GHD, hypothalamic/pituitary disease, history of brain radiation, or genetic mutations known to lead to GHD 4. active suicidal ideation as determined by a score of 2 points or higher on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale 5. suicidal behavior in the past 6 months 6. contraindication to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) such as hypersensitivity to rhGH or any of the components of the supplied product 7. acute medical illness, active infection, cancer, or decompensated chronic medical illness (e.g., decompensated diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 8. evidence of substance use disorder in the past 6 months other than mild alcohol or cannabis use disorder diagnosed by clinician at time of screening. 9. urine toxicology evidence of illicit drug use (excluding cannabis) within the past 90 days prior to screening 10. BMI > 35 or body weight > 350 lbs 11. abnormal pituitary anatomy documented by an MRI using a Sella protocol 12. women who are pregnant or of child-bearing potential who are unable/unwilling to use one of the following barrier contraceptives: condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, or intrauterine device 13. current use of the following: growth hormone, estrogen or estrogen-like dietary supplements, hormonal contraceptives, progestin, insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), or chronic glucocorticoid use in supraphysiologic doses 15) currently enrolled in any other interventional drug trials unless prior approval is provided by the study chairs and the study sponsor

Study Design


Intervention

Drug:
Recombinant human growth hormone
recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH)

Locations

Country Name City State
United States Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Houston Texas
United States VA Puget Sound Healthcare System Seattle Washington

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
Baylor College of Medicine United States Department of Defense

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary Change in truncal fat mass from baseline to six months The primary outcome measure is the difference of truncal fat mass percentage from baseline to six months. Truncal fat mass will be assessed at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months using calibrated dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). A large mean difference corresponds with greater changes in truncal fat mass. Decreased truncal fat mass is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. 6 months
Secondary Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Change in cardiometabolic risk factors from baseline to 6 months measured by fasting low density lipoproteins (LDL) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels. A decrease in lipoprotein corresponds with increased lipoprotein metabolism, and lower C-reactive protein levels corresponds with less inflammation. A reduction in both suggests lower risk of cardiometabolic disease. 6 months
Secondary Lean body mass The change in appendicular lean body mass between baseline and 6 months will be assessed using calibrated dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The difference will capture changes in body composition (fat and muscle) with a higher difference corresponding with greater body composition changes. 6 months
Secondary Assessment of quality of life Change in the quality of life from baseline to 6 months will be measured by the Quality of Life questionnaire for Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency. The score ranges from 0 to 25, with a score of 25 representing highest symptomatic burden and lower quality of life. A change in score is positively correlated with the patient's perception of treatment benefit, and a score change of 3.5 points is considered clinically meaningful. 6 months
Secondary Fatigue Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale. The questionnaire minimum score is a 9 and maximum score is 63. Higher scores represent greater fatigue severity. 6 months
Secondary Depression, Anxiety, and Stress The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), a 21-item questionnaire, will be used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. The score range is 0 - 126 with a higher score representing greater severity or frequency of negative emotional symptoms. 6 months
Secondary Pain Intensity and Interference Pain intensity and interference will be assessed using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale. The questionnaire contains two sections, one assessing current level of pain and the other evaluating the extent to which pain interferes with biopsychosocial factors such as daily activity, sleep, mood, and stress. The minimum score for each section is 0 and maximum score is 10 where higher scores correspond with more intense pain and greater interference. 6 months
See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT02229851 - Trial to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of NNC0195-0092 (Somapacitan) With Placebo and Norditropin® FlexPro® (Somatropin) in Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency. Phase 3
Completed NCT01562834 - Effect of Somatropin on Left Ventricular Mass in Growth Hormone Deficient Adult Patients Phase 4
Completed NCT01822340 - Safety and Efficacy Study of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency Patients Phase 2
Completed NCT01109017 - Observational Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Norditropin® in Adult Patients With Growth Hormone Deficiency N/A
Completed NCT01706783 - A Trial Investigating the Safety, Tolerability, Availability and Distribution in the Body of Once-weekly Long-acting Growth Hormone (Somapacitan) Compared to Once Daily Norditropin NordiFlex® in Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency Phase 1
Completed NCT00184730 - Long-term Trial on Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults (GHDA) Phase 3
Completed NCT00519558 - Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults (GHDA) Phase 3
Terminated NCT01698944 - Cardiovascular Effects on Growth Hormone Therapy in Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency Phase 4
Completed NCT03075644 - A Trial to Evaluate the Safety of Once Weekly Dosing of Somapacitan (NNC0195-0092) and Daily Norditropin® FlexPro® for 52 Weeks in Previously Human Growth Hormone Treated Japanese Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency Phase 3
Completed NCT02005198 - Assessing the Minimal Important Difference (MID) of the Treatment Related Impact Measure-Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (TRIM-AGHD) N/A
Terminated NCT01909479 - A Phase 3, Multicenter Study To Evaluate The Efficacy And Safety Of MOD-4023 In Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency Phase 3
Completed NCT01806298 - An Open-label Phase 4 Study to Explore Immunogenicity of the Liquid Formulation of Saizen® in Subjects With Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD) Phase 4
Completed NCT03186495 - Investigation of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Safety and Tolerability of Multiple Doses of Somapacitan in Subjects With Various Degrees of Impaired Renal Function Compared to Subjects With Normal Renal Function Phase 1
Recruiting NCT05979480 - The Effects of Growth Hormone Treatment Discontinuation in Adults on Metabolic Profile, Body Composition and Quality Of Life (GAMBOL Study)
Completed NCT02526420 - Versartis International Trial in Adults With Long-Acting Growth Hormone Phase 2
Completed NCT00934063 - An Observational Study Validating a Score That Quantifies the Therapeutic Response to Treatment With Norditropin® N/A
Completed NCT00715689 - Dose Study in Growth Hormone Deficient Adults Investigating Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of NNC126-0083 Phase 2
Completed NCT00297713 - Study of an Extended-Release, Crystalline Formulation of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (ALTU-238) in Growth Hormone Deficient Adults to Determine Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Safety Phase 2
Completed NCT01543880 - Safety and Efficacy of Long-term Somatropin Treatment in Adults N/A
Completed NCT01580605 - French National Registry of Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency Treated With Somatropin