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A Pilot Study of Moderate Hyperbilirubinemia in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

A Pilot Study of Moderate Hyperbilirubinemia in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01421355
Enrollment
15
Registered
2011-08-22
Start date
2012-05-31
Completion date
2014-02-28
Last updated
2014-07-21

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

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Brief summary

Specific Aim: To establish the feasibility of studying the change in endothelial function caused by induced moderate hyperbilirubinemia in type 1 diabetes. Atazanavir, a drug that inhibits bilirubin conjugation, will be used to induce moderate hyperbilirubinemia. Endothelial function will be measured before and after atazanavir therapy. In addition, plasma markers of antioxidant capacity and oxidant stress will be measured as proof-of-concept that induced moderate hyperbilirubinemia has favorable effects on oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes.

Detailed description

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a markedly increased risk of both macro- and microvascular disease. Excess pro-oxidants and insufficient antioxidants each contributes to oxidant stress in DM. Oxidant stress induces endothelial dysfunction, a major determinant of vascular damage. In DM, hyperglycemia and elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) induce generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by stimulating protein kinase C (PKC) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Figure 1). In addition, hyperglycemia activates the renin-angiotensin system, and angiotensin II (Ang II) additively stimulates PKC and NADPH oxidase. Bilirubin, long regarded as metabolic waste, is, in fact, a potent antioxidant scavenger of ROS. It also directly inhibits both protein kinase C and the NADPH oxidase system, augmenting its antioxidant activity (Figure 1). Moreover, bilirubin inhibits Ang II-mediated vasoconstriction and ROS generation. Experimental models suggest that hyperbilirubinemia may preserve diabetes-associated endothelial function and prevent vasculopathy. Furthermore, epidemiological studies demonstrate that higher bilirubin levels are associated with a reduced risk of vascular disease in DM. Bilirubin therefore emerges as a potentially critical molecule to protect against diabetic vascular and renal damage. However, limited translational research has addressed raising bilirubin levels as a preventive therapy for vascular disease in DM. Accordingly, the investigators seek to establish the feasibility of studying the change in endothelial function caused by induced moderate hyperbilirubinemia in type 1 diabetes. the investigators will take advantage of the recently described use of atazanavir to safely achieve moderate hyperbilirubinemia. Atazanavir is a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV infection that competitively inhibits hepatic 1A1 isoform of uridine diphosphoglucose glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1), limiting bilirubin clearance and inducing hyperbilirubinemia (Figure 2). This mimics Gilbert's syndrome, a benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to partial genetic deficiency of UGT1A1. This work has the potential to identify iatrogenic moderate hyperbilirubinemia as a strategy to interrupt key mechanisms of type 1 diabetes-associated macro- and microvascular disease. This is a physiologic study. The design is a single arm and open label. There are three study visits: a screening visit, a baseline visit, and a final visit. The treatment is atazanavir 300 mg PO bid. The treatment period is 4 days. The primary study outcome is forearm vascular function. The principal secondary outcomes are serum antioxidant defense capacity and measures of oxidant stress. The investigators aim to study 20 subjects to completion over the 12 month funding period. The investigators anticipate enrolling 40 subjects before 20 complete the study.

Interventions

DRUGAtazanavir

The study design is a single arm, open label trial. Treatment is atazanavir 300 mg BID per day for 4 days. The Brigham and Women's Hospital Investigational Drug Service (IDS) will dispense study drug.

Sponsors

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
CollaboratorNIH
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Symptoms of diabetes plus casual plasma glucose concentration ≥ 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l), or; 2. FPG ≥ 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l), or; 3. 2-h postload glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) during an OGTT. In addition, subjects would be required to be at increased risk of cardiovascular events, defined as: * microalbuminuria, or; * T1DM duration of \> 20 years.

Exclusion criteria

1. HIV infection 2. Gilbert's syndrome 3. Hepatic failure or active hepatitis, 4. Unstable cardiovascular disease, including angina, heart failure or arrhythmia 5. drug abuse including alcoholism or addiction to cocaine, heroin or amphetamines 6. Use of medications that significantly with atazanavir 7. Pregnancy, or inability to practice adequate contraception

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Brachial Artery DiameterDay 0 and Day 4The primary endpoint is the difference in the change in brachial artery diameter in response to a flow stimulus at visit 2 and 3. It is anticipated that a response will occur following atazanavir therapy compared with baseline. The principal secondary endpoints are the serum measures of oxidant stress and antioxidant capacity.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Atazanavir 300 mg BID
Atazanavir 300 mg BID for 4 days. Atazanavir: The study design is a single arm, open label trial. Treatment is atazanavir 300 mg BID per day for 4 days. The Brigham and Women's Hospital Investigational Drug Service (IDS) will dispense study drug.
21
Total21

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAtazanavir 300 mg BID
Age, Continuous44 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8
Region of Enrollment
United States
21 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
9 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 15
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 15

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Brachial Artery Diameter

The primary endpoint is the difference in the change in brachial artery diameter in response to a flow stimulus at visit 2 and 3. It is anticipated that a response will occur following atazanavir therapy compared with baseline. The principal secondary endpoints are the serum measures of oxidant stress and antioxidant capacity.

Time frame: Day 0 and Day 4

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Atazanavir 300 mg BIDChange in Brachial Artery Diameter-0.93 percentage of dilationStandard Deviation 2.4

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