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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04903366

Absorption and Safety of Topical Timolol to Treat Chronic Wounds

Topical timolol has been used primarily as eye drops to treat glaucoma for many years. Recent clinical experience has broadened its off-label use for a number of skin conditions, including slow-healing wounds. While there have been extensive safety studies performed on timolol administration to treat the eye, to date, no studies have documented absorption of timolol after applied on chronic wounds. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the blood levels of timolol in patients after topical administration to a chronic wound, and compare these levels with those of patients after administration of the same drug formulation on the eye for the indication of glaucoma.

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Key information

Conditions

Glaucoma, Open-Angle Chronic Wounds Eye Diseases Glaucoma Ocular Hypertension

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

VA Northern California Health Care System

Mather, California, 95655, United States

About this study

Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers are serious problems in our health system, with limited therapeutic options available to improve healing. Our laboratory and animal work has suggested that timolol, a safe medication, currently used as an eye drop for treatment of glaucoma, can heal these ulcers.

Timolol, is a nonselective, beta1/beta2 adrenergic receptor antagonist, widely used for the management of ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. Most recently, there have been many case reports published that suggest that timolol can be used topically to aid in the healing of chronic, recalcitrant ulcers and wounds; however, concern over the medication's systemic effects needs to be further explored and elucidated. The systemic absorption of timolol eye drops and the medications systemic side effects have been well established; however, this has not before been examined in patients receiving topical timolol for chronic wounds. Now that this beta blocker has promising evidence for a role in the topical management of chronic wounds, the safety of this drug in topical use is of interest.

The importance of this study is in the exploration of the safety of timolol in the topical treatment of chronic wounds. If the systemic absorption from topical application to chronic wounds is found to be equivalent or less than that from ophthalmic drops, then a strong argument can be made regarding the relative safety of Timolol.

To investigate the safety profile of topical timolol application, blood levels will be measured to determine the systemic absorption of timolol. To do this, we proposed an observational cross-sectional comparative study with two groups of patients: one group receiving topical timolol for chronic wounds and the other receiving ophthalmic timolol for the management of glaucoma. Serum levels of timolol will be quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the levels between the two groups will be compared.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Using physician-prescribed timolol as directed
  • The ability to read, understand, and sign informed consent for blood draw and release of medical information forms
  • For wound group: documented chronic wound (greater than 30 days, with minimal improvement), with any type of wound.
  • For glaucoma group: diagnosed with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient is not currently prescribed timolol or currently taking oral metoprolol
  • History of any type of heart block
  • History of bradycardia (heart-rate less than 60 beats per minute (bpm))
  • History of documented hypotension
  • History of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Treatment and study plan

timolol maleate

Drug

timolol maleate 0.5% gel-forming solution

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean plasma concentration of timolol in each group

    Time frame: Blood was drawn 1 hour after drug administration

    For both groups, after administration of timolol drops as prescribed, one 6 mL blood was drawn. After centrifugation, the plasma from both groups was frozen at -80°C until assay.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Systemic levels of timolol dose per body weight

    Time frame: Blood was drawn 1 hour after drug administration

    Measurement of timolol dose per kilogram body weight plotted against the systemic plasma timolol level

  2. Systemic levels of timolol by dose and wound type

    Time frame: Blood was drawn 1 hour after drug administration

    Measurement of mean plasma levels of timolol in the different wound categories (e.g., venous, diabetic, pressure ulcer

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

VA Northern California Health Care System

Fed

Registry information

Official study title

Absorption and Safety of Topically Applied Timolol for Treatment of Chronic Cutaneous Wounds

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2020
First posted
May 26, 2021
Registry last updated
May 27, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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