EMPRA (EMPagliflozin and RAs in Kidney Disease) (EMPRA)

Effect of Empagliflozin on the Renin-angiotensin System in Patients With Chronic

This study will be a prospective, clinical pilot study in CKD patients to show whether Empagliflozin in addition to ACEi treatment significantly increases Ang 1-7 levels compared to ACEi treatment alone.

Null and alternative hypotheses:

H0: Empagliflozin in addition to ACEi treatment does not increase Ang 1-7 levels more than ACEi treatment alone.

H1: Empagliflozin in addition to ACEi treatment significantly increases Ang 1-7 levels compared to ACEi treatment alone

Methodology:

Two groups of 24 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, respectively, with and without type 2 diabetes will be randomized into the study medication or placebo group. The number of patients per treatment arms is n = 12. Included and consented patients will be subjected to an initial 2-week run-in period for conversion of current RAS blocking medications to ACEi therapy with enalapril or ramipril and respective dose titration to 10 mg enalapril 2 x daily and 10 mg ramipril 1 x daily. Additional antihypertensive medication will be standardized as feasible, with the primary goal of keeping blood pressure as recommended by KDIGO. Following the 2-week run-in phase, all study patients will be subjected to blood collection including the first RAS quantification (RAS Fingerprint) and assessment of HDL composition, as well as urinary analysis and bioimpedance fluid status assessment (BCM measurement). Subsequently, patients will be randomized to either receive empagliflozin (at a dose of 10 mg daily) or placebo. Subsequently, biweekly study visits including electrolyte and glucose (plasma and urine) monitoring as well as BCM measurement will take place. After 12 weeks of study medication intake, a concluding study visit will be scheduled for final RAS quantification (RAS Fingerprint) and HDL analyses as well as final blood and urinary analysis and BCM measurement. Initially, blood and urine will be collected at the clinical visit as part of the routine blood obtainment (no additional effort on patients). From these routine measurements we will be able to extract information regarding the patient's current CKD stage as well as other relevant laboratory parameters (e.g. HbA1c, UACR, etc.). Furthermore, we will document the patient's current medication and significant comorbidities.

Primary analysis variable/endpoint:

The difference of Ang 1-7 increase from baseline between a 3-month treatment with empagliflozin on top of ACEi treatment compared to ACEi treatment alone

Most important secondary analysis variables/endpoints:

1. Simultaneous quantitative changes of multiple RAS effector angiotensin levels determined by mass-spectrometry
2. Recurrence of Ang II levels determined by mass-spectrometry
3. HDL parameters (protein composition of HDL)
4. Renal parameters (albuminuria reduction measured by urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), serum-creatinine)
5. Urinary electrolyte levels
6. Urinary glucose levels
7. Urinary RAS metabolites (angiotensinogen, ACE and ACE2 levels, ACE2 activity)
8. Blood pressure determined by ambulatory blood pressure measurements
9. Body volume determined by bioimpedance fluid status assessment (BCM measurement)
10. OCR and ECAR in PBMCs determined by Seahorse Flux Analyzer
11. Assessment of reduction of salt sensitivity by using salt sensitivity test with empagliflozin

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Kidney Disease; Chronic Kidney Disease stage4; Chronic Kidney Disease stage3
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Empagliflozin 10 MG [Jardiance]; Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 51
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Vienna, Austria, 1090
    • Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

for CKD patients with type 2 diabetes

• Estimated GFR (calculated with the MDRD-IDMS formula) between 15 and 59 ml/min (with CKD stage IIIa/b to IV)
• Albumin excretion rates of 30-300 mg/24 hours (UACR <300 mg/g)
• Fasting plasma glucose levels >126 mg/dl [7mmol/L] or HbA1c levels >6.5% (Definition of type 2 diabetes according to the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Diabetes Association in 2009)

for CKD patients without Diabetes

• Estimated GFR (calculated with the MDRD-IDMS formula) between 15 and 59 ml/min (with CKD stage IIIa/b to IV)
• Albumin excretion rates of 30-300 mg/24 hours (UACR <300 mg/g)

Exclusion Criteria:

CKD patients with type 2 diabetes

• Age <18 years
• Severely impaired renal function (eGFR <15ml/min)
• Hyperkalemia above 4.5mmol/L
• Hypotension (systolic blood pressure lower than 120 mmHg on ambulatory measurement)
• Pregnant patients
• Patients planning pregnancy
• Body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2

for CKD patients without diabetes

• Age <18 years
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Severely impaired renal function (eGFR <15ml/min)
• Hypotension (systolic blood pressure lower than 120 mmHg on ambulatory measurement)
• Pregnant patients
• Patients planning pregnancy
• Body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2 -

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Group A; Diabetic CKD patients receiving Empagliflozin 10 MG [Jardiance]	Drug: Empagliflozin 10 MG [Jardiance]; administered orally once daily
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Group B; Diabetic CKD patients receiving Placebo Oral Tablet	Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet; administered orally once daily
EXPERIMENTAL: Group C; Non-diabetic CKD patients receiving Empagliflozin 10 MG [Jardiance]	Drug: Empagliflozin 10 MG [Jardiance]; administered orally once daily
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Group D; Non-diabetic CKD patients receiving 'Placebo Oral Tablet	Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet; administered orally once daily

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The difference of Ang 1-7 increase from baseline between a 3-month treatment with empagliflozin on top of ACEi treatment compared to ACEi treatment alone	The difference of Ang 1-7 increase from baseline between a 3-month treatment with empagliflozin on top of ACEi treatment compared to ACEi treatment alone	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean quantitative changes of baseline multiple RAS effector angiotensin levels after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean quantitative changes of baseline multiple RAS effector angiotensin levels after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months
Mean changes of baseline Ang II levels after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean changes of baseline Ang II levels after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; : 3 months
Mean changes of baseline specific protein amount on HDL after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean changes of baseline specific protein amount on HDL after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months
Mean changes in specific renal parameters from baseline in 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment (albuminuria reduction, renal function)	Mean changes in specific renal parameters from baseline in 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment (albuminuria reduction, renal function)	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; 3 months
Mean changes from baseline relevant blood parameters (HbA1c, β-hydroxybutyrat, elektrolytes, lipids, etc.) after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean changes from baseline relevant blood parameters (HbA1c, β-hydroxybutyrat, elektrolytes, lipids, etc.) after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; 3 months
Mean changes from baseline urinary RAS metabolites (angiotensinogen, ACE and ACE2 levels, ACE2 activity) after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean changes from baseline urinary RAS metabolites (angiotensinogen, ACE and ACE2 levels, ACE2 activity) after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months
Mean changes in baseline blood pressure after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean changes in baseline blood pressure after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; 3 months
Mean changes in body fluid status after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Mean changes in body fluid status after 3 months of empagaliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months
Mean changes in baseline oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in peripheral peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after 3 months of empagliflozin treatment	Mean changes in baseline oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in peripheral peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after 3 months of empagliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months
Mean changes in salt sensitivity after 3 months of empagliflozin treatment	Mean changes in salt sensitivity after 3 months of empagliflozin treatment	Visit 2 and Visit 8; 3 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of symptomatic hypoglycemia and confirmed hypoglycemic events (plasma glucose level ≤70 mg/dl or an event requiring assistance)	Number of symptomatic hypoglycemia and confirmed hypoglycemic events (plasma glucose level ≤70 mg/dl or an event requiring assistance)	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; timeframe: 3 months
Number of adverse events reflecting urinary tract infections, genital infections, volume depletion, acute renal failure, bone fractures, diabetic ketoacidosis and thromboembolic events.	Number of adverse events reflecting urinary tract infections, genital infections, volume depletion, acute renal failure, bone fractures, diabetic ketoacidosis and thromboembolic events.	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; 3 months
Number of cardiovascular events (i.e. stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure) during the study.	Number of cardiovascular events (i.e. stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure) during the study.	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; 3 months
Number of hospitalizations during the study.	Number of hospitalizations during the study.	Visit 2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8; 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna
• Collaborators: Attoquant Diagnostics

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): April 15, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): June 18, 2019
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): August 7, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 7, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 13, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): August 8, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 7, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Empagliflozin; SGLT-2 Inhibiton and RAS in CKD
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus; Renal Insufficiency; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Kidney Diseases; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Diabetic Nephropathies; Hypoglycemic Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; Empagliflozin
• Other Study ID Numbers: EUDRACT-Nr: 2016-002935-14

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No