Peripheral Mononuclear Cells to Screen, Monitor and Stratify the Population at Risk of Osteoporosis and Fractures (DISCERN)

May 25, 2026 updated by: Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Identification, Monitoring, and Classification of Patients at Risk of Osteoporosis and Fractures Using a Method Based on the Use of Mononuclear Cells From Peripheral Blood

Osteoporosis (OP) is one of most common age-associated and chronic metabolic bone diseases, featured by a decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) that increases the risk of bone fractures.OP guidelines agree that Dual-X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for BMD assessment, but for the different OP stages screening and diagnosis, BMD by itself is not an accurate predictor. Thus, OP is often misdiagnosed. Aim of the this study is to improve a tool for OP diagnosis based on the ability of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to maintain or not their in vitro viability (IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli European patent n.3008470 March 21, 2018) for the measurement of the different OP severity levels, also considering specific gender related differences.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Inadequate assessment, diagnosis, and stratification of patients with bone mass loss can lead to an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Therefore, alternative and advanced methods to support screening and diagnosis of osteoporosis (OP) are becoming increasingly essential, particularly considering specific gender differences. In this context, evaluating new methods and innovative techniques is a global challenge. To address this challenge, in 2018, the IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (IOR) filed a European patent (European Patent No. 3008470, March 21, 2018; Inventors: Fini M, Giardino R, Salamanna F) related to an in vitro method for correlating the vitality of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with bone metabolism alterations and OP through simple optical microscope observation. Additionally, specific gender-related differences have been observed in the number, size, differentiation time, and gene and protein expression profiles of PBMCs from osteoporotic patients of different sexes. In this context, the purpose of this study is to fully expand and develop the patent filed by IRCCS IOR in 2018 in order to: a) improve the understanding of the mechanisms of action and observed behavior in PBMCs on which the IOR patent is based; b) correlate the in vitro behavior of PBMCs with different levels of bone metabolism alteration (from osteopenia to fragility fractures); c) evaluate the correlation between the Dual-X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) T-score and other blood factors related to OP (parameters related to platelets, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, lymphocyte subpopulations) with the in vitro behavior of PBMCs in the presence of different levels of bone metabolism alteration, considering specific gender differences.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Bologna, Italy, 40136
        • Recruiting
        • Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
        • Contact:
      • Catania, Italy, 95123
        • Recruiting
        • Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico G.Rodolico - San Marco
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy patients (at risk and undergoing periodic follow-up and/or attending outpatient visits for preventive screening), osteopenic patients, and those with osteoporosis (fractured and non-fractured) with an available DXA or, for fractured patients, a DXA prescribed as part of clinical practice, aged ≥ 40 years of both sexes, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy patients (at risk and undergoing periodic follow-up and/or attending outpatient visits for preventive screening)
  • Osteopenic patients with an available DXA
  • Osteoporotic patients (fractured and non-fractured) with an available DXA or, for fractured patients, a DXA prescribed as part of clinical practice
  • Aged ≥ 40 years of both sexes
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hematopoietic system disorders (hemolytic, aplastic, and neoplastic anemias)
  • Coagulation disorders (hereditary or secondary to other disorders)
  • Infections (including HIV-HBV-HCV positivity)
  • Neoplastic diseases (primary and/or secondary tumors)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Alcohol consumption (>20 g of alcohol per day currently or in the past)
  • Smoking (>10 cigarettes per day, currently or in the past)
  • Diabetes
  • Treatment with therapeutic agents that may interfere with hematopoiesis (corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, cytotoxic drugs)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Healthy patients
Patients with available DXA results, at risk and in periodic follow-up and/or attending outpatient visits for preventive screening
Diagnostic test: Vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
Diagnostic test based on the vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) tested analyzing approximately 2-5 mL of blood from healthy patients and from osteopenic and osteoporotic (both fractured and non-fractured) patients of both genders
Osteopenic patients
Patients with available DXA results, enrolled during outpatient visits and/or emergency room and/or hospital admissions
Diagnostic test: Vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
Diagnostic test based on the vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) tested analyzing approximately 2-5 mL of blood from healthy patients and from osteopenic and osteoporotic (both fractured and non-fractured) patients of both genders
Non-fractured osteoporotic patients
Patients with available DXA results, enrolled during outpatient visits and/or emergency room and/or hospital admissions
Diagnostic test: Vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
Diagnostic test based on the vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) tested analyzing approximately 2-5 mL of blood from healthy patients and from osteopenic and osteoporotic (both fractured and non-fractured) patients of both genders
Fractured osteoporotic patients
Patients with available DXA results or prescribed as per clinical practice, enrolled during hospital admissions
Diagnostic test: Vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
Diagnostic test based on the vitality and biological activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) tested analyzing approximately 2-5 mL of blood from healthy patients and from osteopenic and osteoporotic (both fractured and non-fractured) patients of both genders

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sensitivity and specificity
Time Frame: January 2026
The primary outcome is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the in vitro behavior (vitality, number, size, and differentiation) of PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) in relation to different levels of bone metabolism alteration (ranging from osteopenia to fragility fractures).
January 2026

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation
Time Frame: January 2026
The secondary outcomes include the evaluation and correlation of BMD via DXA T-score, vitality, number, size, and differentiation of PBMCs, T lymphocyte subpopulations, pro- and anti-inflammatory factors, platelet-related parameters, and the expression of biochemical markers of bone turnover in blood and serum samples from healthy individuals, as well as from osteopenic and osteoporotic patients (both fractured and non-fractured).
January 2026

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico G.Rodolico - San Marco

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 5, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 21, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 20, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 9, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 9, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 13, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 25, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • DISCERN (CardioDx)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings