Pegvisomant With Glucagon Test to Assess for Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency

Status unconfirmed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Adults Growth Hormone Deficiency.

In brief

Hypothesis: Pegvisomant combined with the glucagon stimulation test (GST) can improve the accuracy of this test when used to diagnose adult GH and cortisol (steroid hormone)insufficiency. Study aims: Diagnosing GH and cortisol deficiency in adults requires a special test. At present, the insulin tolerance test (ITT) is considered the test of choice. However, this test is difficult to perform as it involves giving insulin through the veins to decrease blood sugars to very low levels, and this can be unpleasant, and cannot be performed in elderly adults and in those with a history of heart disease, seizure disorders or stroke. For this reason there is an urgent need for an alternative reliable test. At present, the GST is considered the alternative test to the ITT but its accuracy in obese patients and in those with diabetes remains unclear. Pegvisomant is a medication that can increase GH production in the body. The purpose of this study is to find out if combining pegvisomant with the GST can help improve the accuracy of this test so that it is comparable with the ITT in diagnosing adult GH and cortisol insufficiency. Study design: Subjects will be recruited from the Oregon Health \& Science University Dynamic Endocrine Testing Unit. A written informed consent will be obtained and a screening interview will be carried out. During the screening interview, the study will be explained to the subject in detail. For women of child-bearing age, a pregnancy test will be performed. The subjects will then take part in three studies on separate days: (1) GST; (2) pegvisomant (1 mg/kg) injection into the abdomen 3 days before the glucagon stimulation test (ii) insulin tolerance test. For the GST, glucagon will be injected into the muscle and blood draws will be performed every 30 mins for 240 mins. For the insulin tolerance test, a blood draw will be performed and insulin will be given into the vein followed by blood draws every 15 mins for 120 mins. The data from all three studies will be analyzed in the study where the peak growth hormone and cortisol levels for all three tests will be compared. A questionnaire will be used at the end of the study for the subjects to rank the level of preference of the three tests. The data of the study will be analyzed using a computer statistical program where the identity of the subjects will be coded to maintain confidentiality.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01804413

Run by

Oregon Health and Science University

People needed

10

Starts

2011-03-01

Expected to finish

2013-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2013-10-24

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ability to provide written informed consent and comply with study assessments for the full duration of the study.
• Age 21 to 55 years
• Body weight 60 to 120 kg inclusive
• Stable weight and diet for at least 3 months prior to study entry

You may not qualify if…

• Poor IV access
• Known hypersensitivity to glucagon
• Inability or unwillingness to comply with study procedures
• Clinically significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease
• Current active malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer
• Active acromegaly or Cushing's disease
• Pheochromocytoma
• Pregnancy
• Renal failure (serum creatinine > 2 mg/dl)
• Severe acute illness
• Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 160/100 mmHg)
• Emotional/social instability likely to prejudice study completion
• Recurrent or severe unexplained hypoglycemia
• Known or suspected drug/alcohol abuse
• Patients with history of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and seizure disorder that would be excluded from the ITT arm regardless of age
• Participation in another simultaneous medical investigation or trial

Where it is running

• Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, Oregon, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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