Can Teriparatide prevent the onset of hypocalcemia after surgical thyroid removal?

ISRCTN ISRCTN74486450
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN74486450
EudraCT/CTIS number 2016-000481-32
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
09/04/2016
Registration date
12/04/2016
Last edited
08/05/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Hypoparathyroidism is a hormonal disorder in which the parathyroid glands in the neck do not produce enough parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is responsible for regulating the amount of calcium in the blood, by acting on the bones, kidneys and intestines. If the body does not produce enough PTH then blood calcium levels fall (hypocalcaemia), leading to unusual muscle movements (such as jerking or twitching), a tingling sensation in the fingers and toes, muscle cramps, mental problems such as confusion and irritability, and even heart problems. The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is unintentional or unavoidable damage to or removal of the parathyroid glands during surgery. Predicting the risk of a surgical patient developing hypoparathyroidism is an important part of care. It has been found that measuring intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) during or shortly after surgery is a good method of predicting risk. Teriparatide (PTH 1-34) is drug containing a man-made form of parathyroid hormone. A recent study has shown that it able to correct blood calcium levels in patients with hypocalcemia following surgery. The aim of this study is to find out whether teriparatide is able to prevent post-surgical hypocalcemia in patients who have a high risk of developing hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery.

Who can participate?
Adults who have low iPTH levels after having part or all of the thyroid gland removed (thyroidectomy).

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Participants in the first group receive 20 micrograms of teriparatide from a trained nurse using an injection pen after surgery. This is then repeated every 12 hours until they are discharged from hospital. Participants in the second group do not receive any treatment and are observed throughout their hospital stay. Every day they are in hospital after their surgery (at least two days), participants in both groups have a sample of blood taken so that their iPTH levels can be measured. The length of time participants from each group spend in hospital is also compared.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants who receive treatment may benefit from improved PTH levels, avoiding hypocalcemia. There are no notable risks of participating, although blood testing may cause pain and bruising to some participants.

Where is the study run from?
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Surgical Ward (Italy)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2016 to May 2016

Who is funding the study?
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (Italy)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Andrea Palermo
a.palermo@unicampus.it

Contact information

Dr Andrea Palermo
Scientific

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
via Alvaro del Portillo 5
Rome
00128
Italy

Study information

Study designProspective phase II single-centre open label randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet ISRCTN74486450_PIS_Italian.docx
Scientific titlePTH(1-34) for the primary prevention of post-surgical hypocalcemia: the THYPOS trial
Study acronymTHYPOS
Study objectivesThe aim of this study is to evaluate whether teriparatide is able to prevent post-surgical hypocalcemia in subjects with high risk of hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery.
Ethics approval(s)Ethic Commitee Università Campus-Biomedico (Rome), 01/02/2016, ref: 16.16
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedHypocalcemia due to Post-surgical hypoparathyroidism
InterventionSubjects with iPTH levels at 4 hours after thyroidectomy < 10 pg/ml will be enrolled. After surgery, they will be randomized (1:1) to receive treatment with teriparatide or following the standard clinical care.

Treatment group: A nurse administers 20 mcg of teriparatide using an injection pen (Forsteo® Eli Lilly Nederland B.V.) to patients immediately after randomisation. Following this, administrations will be done every 12 hours until discharge.

Control group: Participants will receive no treatment and they will be accurately observed until the discharge as suggested by national and international guidelines.

At 8.00 AM on the first and second postoperative, in fasting state, a blood sample will be drawn and calcium, phosphate, albumin, magnesium, will be measured. A clinical evaluation and ECG will be performed to exclude signs or symptoms of hypocalcemia.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase II
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Teriparatide (Forsteo®)
Primary outcome measure1. Serum calcium is measured using hematological testing at baseline (4 hours after thyroidectomy), in the morning (from 8:00 to 8:30 AM) of postoperative day 1 and 2, and daily until the discharge (if hospitalisation lasts more than two days)
2. Signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia are determined through physical examinations at baseline (4 hours after thyroidectomy) and daily until discharge.
Secondary outcome measuresDuration of hospitalization is measured counting the days from the thyroidectomy until the discharge.
Overall study start date04/01/2016
Completion date10/05/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants11 patients for each group ( total number: 22). Estimating a dropout rate of 20%: total number: 26)
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged 18 and over
2. Patients with a formal surgical indication for thyroidectomy.
Key exclusion criteria1. Aged under 18 years
2. Pregnancy
3. Renal failure (glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min)
4. Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients
5. Any prior parathyroid pathology
6. Preexisting hypercalcemia
7. Metabolic bone disease other than osteoporosis
8. Ongoing therapy for osteoporosis
9. In the last 6 months administration of calcitonin
10. Systemic corticosteroids, estrogens, raloxifene, fluoride, lithium, loop or thiazide diuretics, aromatase inhibitors or other drugs that could interfere with calcium metabolism
11. History of skeletal malignancies (primary or metastatic)
12. Active or recent urolithiasis
13. Unexplained elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase levels
14. Prior radiation therapy involving the skeleton, serum magnesium levels below the lower limits or above the upper limits of normal
Date of first enrolment01/02/2016
Date of final enrolment30/04/2016

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Italy

Study participating centre

University Campus Biomedico of Rome
Surgical ward
via Alvaro del Portillo 20
Rome
00128
Italy

Sponsor information

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
University/education

Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes
Via Alvaro del Portillo 20
Rome
00128
Italy

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04gqx4x78

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
Private sector organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
Campus Bio-Medico University
Location
Italy

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2016
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in the journals JCEM, JBMR or Bone.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet 13/04/2016 No Yes
Results article results 01/11/2016 Yes No

Additional files

ISRCTN74486450_PIS_Italian.docx
13/04/2016

Editorial Notes

08/05/2017: Publication reference added.