Intralesional Injection of STS in Treatment of Calcinosis

Last updated: September 3, 2025
Sponsor: Robyn T. Domsic, MD, MPH
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Lupus

Scleroderma

Myositis

Treatment

Sodium Thiosulfate (STS)

Clinical Study ID

NCT06672822
STUDY24040146
5P50AR080612
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The specific objective of this study is to perform a small, open-label study to assess the safety and efficacy of intralesional, subcutaneous injection of STS on calcinosis symptoms and lesion size in systemic sclerosis (SSc), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and dermatomyositis (DM) patients. Injection will be guided by ultrasound, lesion size assessed by ultrasound, and symptom burden by patient-reported outcome measures.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical diagnosis of systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue disease orinflammatory myopathy

  • Must be over 18 years of age

  • Participants must be competent to give informed consent

  • Participants must have radiographic evidence (xray or ultrasound) of calcinosis.

  • Participants must need symptomatic relief

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women will be excluded

Study Design

Total Participants: 20
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Sodium Thiosulfate (STS)
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
March 17, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
May 01, 2029

Study Description

Calcinosis is a condition in which calcium builds up in the skin and tissue under the skin. It develops in ∼30% of adult dermatomyositis,18%-49% of systemic sclerosis patients, 25-40% of patients with limited systemic sclerosis. There is no standard treatment recommended by physicians currently. Many treatments have been tested, all with limited benefits and without good evidence that any are effective. They are, based only on single cases or small numbers of patients in studies called "case series." But in some cases, these agents may be effective.

There are several case series that have shown the effectiveness of injecting a chemical compound called sodium thiosulfate (or "STS") into calcinosis lesions. There was some improvement in terms of pain control, and a decrease in size and resolution of the calcinosis. The aim of our study is to test intralesional sodium thiosulfate (STS) injection for symptoms relief of calcinosis. STS has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for certain conditions related to childhood cancers. It has not been approved by the FDA to treat calcinosis. The specific aims of this study are to assess change in calcinosis size and quality-of-life measures.

Connect with a study center

  • UPMC Arthritis and Autoimmunity Center

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • UPMC Arthritis and Autoimmunity Center

    Pittsburgh 5206379, Pennsylvania 6254927 15213
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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