An observational study in Spinal Cord Injuries, Endothelial Dysfunction and Testosterone Deficiency, sponsored by Craig Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 89 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-21.
Sponsored by Craig Hospital · Observational
Among 21 studies in Spinal Cord Injuries by Craig Hospital — 6 open to participants now, 7 under way, none of them phase 3. Spinal Cord Injuries · Craig Hospital.
Among the 21 studies in Spinal Cord Injuries by Craig Hospital, this one is one of 4 that started in 2025, is one of 3 of another kind, and was the 20th registered.
2,025 studies on the registry are indexed under Spinal Cord Injuries; 537 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 48 is below the median of 60 across 332 observational studies indexed under Spinal Cord Injuries.
Browse Spinal Cord Injuries studies →6 of the 21 studies in Spinal Cord Injuries by Craig Hospital are open now, in 1 country. Each count lists the studies.
Of the 375 Spinal Cord Injuries studies recruiting now, 166 (44%) set no upper age limit and 158 (42%) stop at 75 or younger; 41 take children under 18; 52 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 89 Years · male · no healthy volunteers.
The full table on the hub →21 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
First in 2006; this study’s year is marked. 4 started in 2025.
Median enrollment 37 across the 17 interventional studies, 44 across the 4 observational. Of the 11 that completed or were terminated, 1 (9%) have results posted.
Craig Hospital is the lead sponsor of 38 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.
4 of the studies in Spinal Cord Injuries by Craig Hospital that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT05191121Craig HospitalImproving Upper Extremity Function and Trunk Stability After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) | 2027-02 |
| NCT06443151Craig HospitalRole of Endothelial Function in SCI CVD Risk | 2027-03-30 |
| NCT07227727Craig HospitalEndothelial Dysfunction After SCI | 2027-07-30 |
| NCT06743607Craig HospitalSpinal Stimulation for Upper Extremity Recovery in the Home | 2027-08 |
Among the 21 studies in Spinal Cord Injuries by Craig Hospital, from their registry updates:
Nothing recorded among them since 2026-09-25.
Heart attacks and strokes are among the most common causes of premature death in individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and appear to occur earlier in life. The factors that lead to the heighten and accelerated risk of heart attacks and strokes in adults living with SCI remain poorly understood. The investigators aim to uncover why this happens and find ways to prevent it. Our research focuses on how important cells which line blood vessels, called endothelial cells, function after SCI. The investigators test endothelial function in live conscious people with SCI. The investigators also study signaling molecules endothelial cells release called endothelial cell derived microvesicles (EMVs), which the investigators can measure in blood to tell us the health of endothelial cells. By using these rigorous tests of vascular function, the investigators have determined that endothelial cells appear dysfunctional after SCI. The investigators also know that many men with SCI have low testosterone levels. Our team has studied testosterone's effects on endothelial dysfunction and believe low testosterone may be contributing to endothelial dysfunction after SCI. By understanding these mechanisms, the investigators hope to improve the lives of those living with SCI and reduce their risk for heart attacks and strokes. The investigators propose to study the influence of testosterone on endothelial function by using state-of-the-art clinical and laboratory experiments to assess endothelial function in men with SCI with low and normal testosterone levels.
The vascular endothelium plays a central role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and may contribute to the increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke following spinal cord injury (SCI). Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by impaired vasodilator function and reduced fibrinolytic capacity.
Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is primarily mediated by nitric oxide (NO), which induces rapid relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Fibrinolysis is the breakdown of thrombi within blood vessels, and is facilitated by endothelial cells through the synthesis and release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). Importantly, endothelial dysfunction often precedes detectable atherosclerosis and predicts future major vascular events.
Low testosterone (T) is a common secondary complication that occurs early after SCI, with hypogonadism being four times more prevalent in men with SCI. Testosterone has known antioxidant properties and its deficiency may contribute to endothelial dysfunction. Testosterone deficiency may represent a modifiable risk factor for vascular impairment after SCI.
This cross-sectional study will include 48 adults with subacute (\<6 months), motor-complete (AIS A/B) paraplegia (neurological level T3 or below). 24 with testosterone deficiency and 24 with normal T levels. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation and t-PA capacity will be assessed via intra-arterial infusion of vasoactive drugs, with total forearm blood flow measured using venous occlusion plethysmography.
Only male participants of all races and ethnic backgrounds aged 18-89 with a history of motor complete (AIS A/B) paraplegia (NLI T3 or Below). Time since injury \<6 months at time of enrollment and diagnosed with normal and low T (Testosterone Deficiency defined as \< 300ng/dL)
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.
ECG (electrocardiogram)
A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
24 male participants of all races and ethnic backgrounds aged 18-89 years with a history of spinal cord injury and diagnosed with normal testosterone
Diagnostic Test: Intra-arterial Infusion of Vasoactive Agents · Diagnostic Test: Intra-arterial Vitamin C Infusion · Diagnostic Test: Blood Sampling
24 male participants of all races and ethnic backgrounds aged 18-89 years with a history of spinal cord injury and diagnosed with low testosterone
Diagnostic Test: Intra-arterial Infusion of Vasoactive Agents · Diagnostic Test: Intra-arterial Vitamin C Infusion · Diagnostic Test: Blood Sampling
A catheter is placed in the brachial artery of the non-dominant arm, and small doses of vasoactive drugs acetylcholine, isoproterenol, sodium nitroprusside are infused. Forearm blood flow will be measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. The purpose of this procedure is to assess endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation by stimulating different vascular pathways. The acetylcholine infusion is to test muscarinic receptor, nitro oxide dependent, endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Isoproterenol was selected to stimulate tissue plasminogen activator based on its specificity and effectiveness at eliciting local and rapid tissue plasminogen activator release in adult humans. Sodium nitroprusside infusion is to assess endothelium-independent vasodilation.
Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, will be infused into the forearm and forearm blood flow will be re-evaluated to determine whether oxidative stress contributes to endothelial dysfunction.
Blood will be sampled from the antecubital vein (\~50 mL) for biomarker analysis. This is to assess circulating biochemical and molecular indicators of vascular health and inflammation including levels of endothelial cell derived microvesicles.
Endothelium-dependent vasodilation
Total forearm blood flow with be measured by strain gauge venous plethysmography under baseline conditions and under pharmacological manipulation with acetylcholine at increasing concentrations (8, 16, 32ug/ml).
Time frame: Measured at baseline (without acetylcholine) and immediately after each acetylcholine dose for 3-5 minutes.
Endothelium-independent vasodilation
Total forearm blood flow with be measured by strain gauge venous plethysmography under baseline conditions and under pharmacological manipulation with sodium nitroprusside at increasing concentrations (1, 2, 4ug/ml).
Time frame: Measured at baseline (without sodium nitroprusside) and immediately after each sodium nitroprusside dose for 3-5 minutes.
Tissue plasminogen activator release
Net endothelial release or uptake of t-PA and PAI-1 (both antigen and activity levels) at each dose of isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside will be calculated as the product of the arteriovenous concentration gradient and the infused forearm plasma flow. Arteriovenous concentration gradients for both t-PA and PAI-1 antigen and activity for each subject (at each time point) will be determined by subtraction of the values measured in simultaneously collected venous and arterial blood samples
Time frame: Measured at baseline and immediately after each isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside dose for 3-5 minutes.
Endothelial cell-derived microvesicles concentration
Endothelial cell-derived microvesicles will be collected from venous blood samples and counted used flow cytometry to determine a circulating concentration.
Time frame: Baseline
Endothelial cell-derived microvesicles effects of human coronary artery endothelial cells nitric oxide bioavailability.
Endothelial cell-derived microvesicles will be sorted and collected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) flow cytometry. The endothelial cell-derived microvesicles will be co-cultured with human coronary artery endothelial cells. Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase and phosphorylation sites of interest will be measured by intracellular protein expression quantification of whole cell lysates by capillary electrophoresis immunoassays. Nitric oxide production will be assessed by total nitric oxide and nitrate/nitrite parameter assays
Time frame: Baseline
Endothelial cell-derived microvesicles effects of human coronary artery endothelial cells reactive oxygen species and antioxidant capacity
Endothelial cell-derived microvesicles will be sorted and collected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) flow cytometry. The endothelial cell-derived microvesicles will be co-cultured with human coronary artery endothelial cells. Super oxide dismutase and catalase expression will be measured by intracellular protein expression quantification of whole cell lysates by capillary electrophoresis immunoassays. Intracellular oxidative stress will be assessed by ROS-Glo H2O2 assay.
Time frame: Baseline
Plan to share: Yes — Data sharing will be facilitated through active participation in Open Data Commons for SCI (ODC-SCI). ODC-SCI is a cloud-based community-governed repository to store, share, and publish research data on Spinal Cord Injury and is compliant with requirements for FAIR and trustworthy repositories established by NIH.
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