Combining testosterone therapy with walking training to improve health after spinal cord injury

Locomotor Training With Testosterone to Promote Bone and Muscle Health

This study is testing if combining testosterone therapy with walking training can help men with spinal cord injuries who have low testosterone and trouble walking improve their health and mobility.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 21 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: Male
• Sponsor: North Florida Foundation for Research and Education (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: prednisone
• Locations: 2 sites (Gainesville, Florida and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04460872 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a combined rehabilitation approach using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and locomotor training (LT) in men with spinal cord injuries who have low testosterone levels and walking difficulties. Participants will receive TRT injections weekly and engage in 35 sessions of assisted treadmill and overground walking over a six-month period. The study will assess improvements in muscle size, bone mineral density, and walking function through various tests, including MRI scans and DEXA scans. The goal is to determine if this combination can enhance recovery and overall health in affected individuals.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men over 18 with incomplete spinal cord injuries at specific spinal levels and low testosterone levels.

Not a fit: Patients with complete spinal cord injuries not meeting the study criteria or those with normal testosterone levels may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve muscle and bone health, as well as walking ability in men with spinal cord injuries and low testosterone.

How similar studies have performed: While locomotor training has shown promise in improving function after spinal cord injuries, the combination with testosterone therapy is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Men \>18 years of age
* Diagnosis of an incomplete SCI involving spinal segments L1 or above or a clinically complete SCI involving spinal segments T2-L1, with upper motor neuron injury signs (i.e., spasticity, hypertonicity) for \>60-days
* Low serum total testosterone (\<300 ng/dL), bioavailable testosterone (\<110 ng/dL), or free testosterone (\<46 pg/mL or \<4.6 ng/dL)
* Presence of one or more sign or symptom that may be related to low testosterone, including: loss of body hair or reduced shaving, very small testes (\<6 mL), reduced sexual desire (libido) and activity, decreased spontaneous erections (e.g., morning erections) or erectile dysfunction, breast discomfort or gynecomastia, height loss, low-trauma fracture, or low BMD, hot flushes or sweats, decreased energy, motivation, initiative, or self-confidence, fatigue or irritability, feeling sad or blue, having a depressed mood, or having a persistent low-grade depressive disorder, poor concentration or memory, sleep disturbances or increased sleepiness, mild unexplained anemia (normochromic or normocytic), reduced muscle bulk, strength, or physical performance, Increased body fat or body mass index, any other sign or symptom commonly associated with low testosterone
* Locomotor dysfunction, definted as self-selected walking pace ≤1.0 m/s on a 10mWT, either with or without gait devices or braces and with or without assistance, or as self-selected walking pace \>1.0 m/s with reliance on a gait device or brace or with highly compensated movement impairments, as identified by a trained observer.
* Diagnosis of first time SCI including etiology from trauma, vascular, or orthopedic pathology
* Medically-stable condition that is asymptomatic for conditions that will interfere with the study participation
* Willingness to administer TRT as instructed by the study staff and to abide by study protocol
* Documented approval from the study physician verifying medical status

Exclusion Criteria:

* Currently participating in another research protocol that may influence study outcomes.
* Mental state that precludes understanding the study protocol.
* Life expectancy \<12-months.
* History of or current congenital SCI (e.g., Chiari malformation, myelomeningocele, intraspinal neoplasm, Frederich's ataxis) or other degenerative spinal disorder (e.g., spinocerebellar degeneration) that may complicate study procedures
* Multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or other neurologic impairment or injury
* Current prostate, breast, or other organ cancer or a history of prostate or breast cancer
* Any other diagnosed or treated cancer within the past 24-months, with the exceptions of basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has been successfully treated
* Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) \>3.0 ng/mL \[men treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride or dutasteride) are eligible to participate if PSA values are ≤1.5 ng/mL\]
* Prostate nodule or induration noted on digital rectal exam (DRE) during screening that tests positive for prostate cancer
* Currently seeking fertility or expected during the duration of the study
* Gynecomastia
* Hematocrit (HCT) \>49%
* Any major cardiovascular (CV) event within the last 12-months (defined as a history of acute myocardial infarction, any cardiac revascularization procedure including angioplasty, stenting, or coronary artery bypass grafting, revascularization of the carotid or middle cerebral artery or procedures to treat critical limb ischemia, or hospitalization due to unstable angina, transient ischemic attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease)
* Angina that is not controlled on a current medical regimen (Canadian class II, III, or IV)
* Poorly compensated congestive heart failure (NYHA class III or IV)
* Poorly controlled hypertension (consistently measured systolic BP ≥160 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥100 mmHg), while on medications
* Poorly controlled arrhythmia of any type
* Severe valvular heart disease
* Baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) findings such as left bundle branch block or marked ECG abnormalities that would preclude serial screening evaluations for occult ischemic events
* History of unprovoked deep venous thrombosis (DVT), unprovoked pulmonary embolism, history of recurrent DVT or known thrombophilia
* LDL cholesterol \>160 mg/dL with history of any major CV event, defined above, within the last 12-months
* Major non-CV surgery (e.g., major abdominal or thoracic procedure) within 90-days prior to screening and/or a major surgery scheduled at the time of screening
* Liver enzymes (AST or ALT) \>1.5 times the normal upper limit
* Severe or end-stage chronic kidney disease documented by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<30 mL/min
* Diagnosed, but untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea
* Lower extremity fracture in the last 12-months (exclusion criterion for participation in LT+TRT group only)
* Femoral neck, total hip, or lumbar spine t-score below -2.5 or distal femur BMD \<0.70 g/cm2, assessed via DEXA at screening (exclusion criterion for participation in LT+TRT group only)
* Current anticoagulant therapy (contraindication for i.m. injections)
* Use of any of the following pharmacologic agents in the previous 90-days: any TRT formulation, any compounded or over-the-counter androgenic hormones or androgen precursors, clomiphene, aromatase inhibitors, anti-estrogen or estrogen treatment, or growth hormone
* Use of anti-resorptive or bone anabolic drug therapy in the previous 180-days
* Acute use (\>5-days) of any opioids (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc) or systemic glucocorticoids \>7.5 mg/d prednisone equivalent (e.g., hydrocortisone 30 mg, methylprednisolone 6 mg, or dexamethasone 1.2 mg) within 1-week before screening visit, except men who are taking these medications for a chronic condition and are anticipated to continue treatment for the study duration
* Known allergy to any component of the TRT formulation (e.g., sesame oil or cottonseed oil)
* Any other condition, therapy, lab abnormality, medical or psychiatric conditions, or reason that might pose a risk to the participant, make participation not in the person's best interest, confound the study results (e.g., inability to comply with study requirements), make the participant unsuitable to receive study intervention, or interfere with the person's ability to participate for the entire study duration

Where this trial is running

Gainesville, Florida and 1 other locations

• North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System — Gainesville, Florida, United States (Recruiting)
• Brooks Rehabilitation — Jacksonville, Florida, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Dana M Otzel, Phd — North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
• Study coordinator: Joshua F Yarrow, PhD

Conditions Spinal Cord Injury; Spinal Cord Injuries; Trauma, Nervous System; Wounds and Injury; Central Nervous System Diseases; Spinal Cord Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Endocrine System Diseases