Could a stomach hormone help people with leg artery disease walk farther?

NCT ID NCT04377126

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Northwestern University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether daily injections of unacylated ghrelin, a natural hormone, can improve walking ability in people aged 55 and older with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Participants receive either the hormone or a placebo for four months. The study measures changes in how far they can walk in six minutes, aiming to see if the treatment boosts blood flow and muscle function in the legs.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: unacylated ghrelin
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new treatment to help people with PAD walk farther and maintain mobility.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase pilot trial. The results may not confirm benefit, and the treatment may not work for everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

peripheral arterial disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Chicago, Illinois, 60611-3008, United States
University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

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