Why do ICU survivors suffer muscle loss? new study seeks answers
NCT ID NCT07329530
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study aims to understand why many people who survive a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience long-term muscle weakness. Researchers will measure inflammation, metabolism, and muscle cell function in 100 participants, including both ICU survivors and patients recovering from major abdominal surgery. The goal is to find patterns that predict muscle recovery over three months, which could lead to better treatments in the future.
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
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 100 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * Critical illness: * anticipated ICU stay \>= 7 days * Major abdominal surgery * elective surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Active malignancy * Inherited metabolic disorder * Known muscle disease * Pregnancy * Patient refusal * Patient unable to express informed consent (dementia, confusion) * Known coagulation disorder (cirrhosis, genetic coagulopathy) or thrombocytopenia \< 100,000/mm³ on the day of biopsy, anemia with hemoglobin \< 9 g/dL on the day of biopsy, or treatment with anticoagulant agents (contraindication to muscle biopsies only) * Pacemaker or other implanted electronic device (contraindication to bioelectrical impedance analysis only) * Oxygen therapy (contraindication to indirect calorimetry during spontaneous ventilation)
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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CHU Sart Tilman
RECRUITINGLiège, 4000, Belgium
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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