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Effect of Red Blood Cell Survival on a Commonly Used Diabetes Lab Test-HbA1c

Does Variation in Mean Red Cell Age Impact HbA1C Interpretation?

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01204216
Enrollment
3
Registered
2010-09-17
Start date
2010-09-01
Completion date
2016-09-01
Last updated
2023-05-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Impaired Fasting Glucose, Prediabetes

Keywords

Hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, glycated serum proteins, fructosamine, glycated albumin, glycation gap

Brief summary

Prevention of complications in veterans with diabetes depends heavily on assessment of blood glucose and HbA1c. The HbA1c is a blood test that measures the exposure of hemoglobin (Hb) to a person's average blood glucose over the lifespan of a red blood cell (RBC). The test is heavily relied upon as a measure of blood glucose control. It is normally assumed that all people (those with and without diabetes) have a narrow range of red blood cell survival. It has been recently shown that this is not a valid assumption. A more precise test of red blood cell survival, using a biotin label method, demonstrated a substantial difference of red blood cell survival among otherwise normal people. There is sufficient difference in red blood cell survival to alter the estimate of glycemic control from the HbA1c test by as much as 30 per cent. This introduces concern that HbA1c values do not mean the same thing in a significant number of people. Although the evidence is clear that there is variation in RBC survival among people, attributing this variation to differences between individuals depends on answering several simple questions which surprisingly remain unanswered: whether RBC survival is stable over time within an individual and whether blood glucose control affects its stability. Therefore, the goal of the proposed studies is to define these characteristics.

Detailed description

The first Specific Aim tests the hypothesis that mean RBC age is stable in subjects without diabetes and in subjects with diabetes at stable glycemic control. The second Specific Aim tests the hypothesis that mean RBC age will not change in subjects with diabetes studied initially in poor glycemic control, and again after being treated to stable, improved glycemic control for \>8 months. To accomplish the two aims, RBC survival and mean blood glucose will be determined at two times separated by at least eight months in 10 subjects without diabetes, 10 subjects with diabetes and stable glycemic control, and up to 15 subjects with diabetes in initial poor glycemic control in order to re-study 10 subjects subsequently in improved glycemic control. The RBC survival will be measured using the same novel biotin RBC label in conjunction with mean glucose determination by continuous glucose monitoring. Mean blood glucose will be assessed using blood glucose testing meter , continuous glucose monitoring equipment, HbA1c, fructosamine and glycated albumin determinations HbA1c is the most highly valued clinical test for long term monitoring of glycemic control and the prediction of diabetes complications risk is relied upon for hundreds of thousands of clinical decisions made every year in veterans with diabetes. The proposed studies, by further defining RBC survival stability necessary to develop a new approach to HbA1c interpretation, therefore has the potential to dramatically support the Department of Veterans Affairs in its mission to reduce the burden of diabetes and its complications

Interventions

BIOLOGICALre-infusion of biotin labeled cells

Subjects will participate in experiments involving re-infusion of biotin-labeled cells in which a small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate. These experiments require a series of small, precisely timed post-infusion blood samples over a period of 4 months, with each subject undergoing the procedure twice separated by an interval of at least 8 month

BIOLOGICALRe-infusion of biotin labeled cells

Subjects will participate in experiments involving re-infusion of biotin-labeled cells in which a small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate. These experiments require a series of small, precisely timed post-infusion blood samples over a period of 4 months, with each subject undergoing the procedure twice separated by an interval of at least 8 months. small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate.

BEHAVIORALDiabetes education/diabetes medication adjustment

Between the initial 3-4 month trial period and the second infusion of biotin labeled cells approximately 8 months later,subjects will receive diabetes education from a CDE. In addition,if needed, diabetes medications may be adjusted by the study endocrinologist to improve subject's glycemic control.

Sponsors

University of Cincinnati
CollaboratorOTHER
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead SponsorFED

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Subjects will be between ages 18 and 85 for Aim 1 and between 18 and 80 years for Aim 2 and non-pregnant * Subjects with both types 1 and 2 diabetes * Subjects without diabetes (as determined by an OGTT test at screening) * veterans receiving care at VAMC will be given preference but open to both veterans and non-veterans.

Exclusion criteria

* known hemoglobinopathy or RBC disorder * positive pregnancy test (in women of child-bearing potential or are breast feeding or planning pregnancy during the course of the study; * baseline serum creatinine \>1.5 mg/dl * CBC outside the normal range * history of GI blood loss or coagulopathy * urine microalbumin \>100 mcg/mg creatinine (spot collection); * transaminases \>3 X the upper limit of normal * presence of serum antibodies to biotinylated proteins (which could interfere with the biotin RBC labeling protocol) * greater than or equal to NYHA stage 3 heart failure; * active infection; * known rheumatologic disease * uncontrolled hypo-or hyperthyroidism or an underlying illness known to be associated with either body wasting or changes in serum proteins * plans to move out of the area within the time frame of the Aim for which they are recruited * unwillingness to perform self monitoring of blood glucose

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Specific Aim 1: To Determine the Stability of MRBC (Mean RBC Age)Over Time at Stable Glycemia. The Hypothesis is MRBC Will be Stable in Subjects Without Diabetes and in Subjects With Diabetes at Stable Glycemic Control.Baseline and 8 months laterThe investigators will determine MRBC and MBG (by both 7 point profile and continuous glucose monitoring), twice in 10 subjects without diabetes and in 10 subjects with diabetes at stable glycemic control. Since the time course study for following the disappearance of re-infused labeled RBCs is approximately 4 months, performing the biotin labeling of the cells for the second study at least 8 months after completion of sampling for the first, effectively samples MRBC at two time points at least one year apart.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Specific Aim 2: To Determine the Impact of Glycemic Control on MRBC.Baseline and 8 months laterUp to 15 subjects participating in Aim 2 will be studied initially in poor glycemic control, while their second biotin/glucose monitoring study will be performed at least 8 months later after achieving stable glycemic control. If RBC survival varies, and in particular if it varies with glycemic control, then the relationship between HbA1c and MBG will change. Several studies have reported that HbA1c rises linearly with MBG until there is the appearance of a plateau suggesting a saturation maximum.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Protocol interrupted due to IND closure, precluding completion of the originally described protocol.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Aim 1
Subjects in this arm will be 10 people without diabetes as well as 10 people with diabetes and stable glycemic control. Subjects will participate in experiments involving re-infusion of biotin-labeled cells in which a small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate. re-infusion of biotin labeled cells: Subjects will participate in experiments involving re-infusion of biotin-labeled cells in which a small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate. These experiments require a series of small, precisely timed post-infusion blood samples over a period of 4 months, with each subject undergoing the procedure twice separated by an interval of at least 8 months.
3
Aim 2
10 additional subjects with diabetes in poor glycemic control will be studied initially and then again in improved glycemic control after at least 8 months (with up to 5 additional subjects entered as needed to ensure 10 completed paired studies) to assess the potential role of MRBC variation in the discordances seen between HbA1c and blood glucose testing. Subjects will participate in experiments involving re-infusion of biotin-labeled cells in which a small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate. Re-infusion of biotin labeled cells: Subjects will participate in experiments involving re-infusion of biotin-labeled cells in which a small volume (\< 10 ml) of autologous, biotinylated erythrocytes will be re-infused to determine cell lifespan and in vivo HbA1c formation rate. These experiments require a series of small, precisely timed post-infusion blood samples over a period of 4 months, with each subject undergoing the procedure twice separated by an interval of at least 8 months. Diabetes education/diabetes medication adjustment: Between the initial 3-4 month trial period and the second infusion of biotin labeled cells approximately 8 months later, subjects will receive diabetes education from a CDE. In addition, if needed, diabetes medications may be adjusted by the study endocrinologist to improve subject's glycemic control.
0
Total3

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAim 1Aim 2Total
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
3 Participants0 Participants3 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
3 participants3 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
2 Participants0 Participants2 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 30 / 0
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 30 / 0
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 30 / 0

Outcome results

Primary

Specific Aim 1: To Determine the Stability of MRBC (Mean RBC Age)Over Time at Stable Glycemia. The Hypothesis is MRBC Will be Stable in Subjects Without Diabetes and in Subjects With Diabetes at Stable Glycemic Control.

The investigators will determine MRBC and MBG (by both 7 point profile and continuous glucose monitoring), twice in 10 subjects without diabetes and in 10 subjects with diabetes at stable glycemic control. Since the time course study for following the disappearance of re-infused labeled RBCs is approximately 4 months, performing the biotin labeling of the cells for the second study at least 8 months after completion of sampling for the first, effectively samples MRBC at two time points at least one year apart.

Time frame: Baseline and 8 months later

Population: Protocol interrupted due to IND termination. The data necessary to conduct analysis was not collected.

Secondary

Specific Aim 2: To Determine the Impact of Glycemic Control on MRBC.

Up to 15 subjects participating in Aim 2 will be studied initially in poor glycemic control, while their second biotin/glucose monitoring study will be performed at least 8 months later after achieving stable glycemic control. If RBC survival varies, and in particular if it varies with glycemic control, then the relationship between HbA1c and MBG will change. Several studies have reported that HbA1c rises linearly with MBG until there is the appearance of a plateau suggesting a saturation maximum.

Time frame: Baseline and 8 months later

Population: Protocol interrupted due to IND termination. The data necessary to conduct analysis was not collected.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026