Could a common diabetes drug protect PsA Patients' hearts?
NCT ID NCT05988684
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tested whether adding metformin to standard care can slow the buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries of people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who do not have diabetes. Twenty-four participants with PsA and existing carotid plaque were randomly assigned to take metformin or not for one year. The goal was to see if metformin could reduce the risk of heart disease, a major cause of death in PsA patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Metformin (a diabetes drug)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a way to reduce heart disease risk in people with psoriatic arthritis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 24 people, so results may not apply widely. Metformin can cause stomach upset, and the trial is open-label, which can bias results.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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24 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2023
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. fulfill the ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR), 2. are over 18 years old, 3. have a Framingham Risk Score ≥ 10% (i.e. moderate to high CV risk) and 4. have carotid plague on previous ultrasound. Exclusion Criteria: 1. have prior therapy with metformin during the last 6 months; 2. have pre-existing diabetes as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: * fasting plasma glucose values of ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, * 2-h post-load plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L, * HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or * a random blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L); 3. have liver impairment: ALT more than or equal to 2.5×upper limits of normal; 4. have renal impairment: serum creatinine levels more than or equal to 135µmol/L in males and more than or equal to 110µmol/L in females; 5. have had ACS within the previous 3 months; 6. have New York Heart Association functional class 3 or 4 heart failure; 7. have uncontrolled angina; 8. have 70% or more stenosis on initial CCTA; 9. have clinically relevant current malignancy; 10. are pregnant; breastfeeding or of childbearing potential but unwilling to use adequate contraception; 11. are unable to give written informed consent; 12. patients with moderate to heavy alcohol intake.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.