Dapagliflozin and Endothelin Receptor Antagonism in Large Vessel Vasculitis (DERAIL-LVV) (DERAIL-LVV)

Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is a disease that causes damage to blood vessels. This damage to blood vessels can increase the risk of patients with LVV developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. A chemical produced in the body called endothelin may contribute to this increase in cardiovascular disease risk by causing the vessels to stiffen and blood pressure to increase.

It has previously been shown that by blocking the effects of endothelin, vessel stiffness and blood pressure improve. Bosentan is a tablet that blocks the effects of endothelin.

Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor that has been shown to improve blood vessel function and stiffness in patients with diabetes.

The investigators plan to assess blood vessel function in those with LVV and participants without LVV. Participants with LVV will be given Bosentan and Dapagliflozin for 6 weeks, followed by Dapagliflozin for 4 weeks, to evaluate their impact on blood vessel function.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Takayasu Arteritis; Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA); Large Vessel Vasculitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Bosentan and dapagliflozin

Detailed Description

Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammatory damage to the blood vessels. Although symptoms initially are non-specific, complications such as vessel stenosis can lead to heart failure and stroke. While current immunosuppressive treatments have improved short-term outcomes, they have not led to improvements in long-term outcomes. Patients with LVV remain at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, the underlying mechanisms of which are not yet fully understood.

The inflammatory damage to blood vessels in LVV can result in endothelial dysfunction. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor produced by the endothelium. In endothelial dysfunction, excess ET-1 production causes raised blood pressure, increased arterial stiffness and reduced fibrinolytic capacity. Previous research has demonstrated that short-term blockade of endothelin receptors improves arterial stiffness and fibrinolytic capacity.

Inhibitors of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2i) target the renal proximal tubule to promote glycosuria. Recent large studies have demonstrated their impressive cardiovascular benefits across a range of conditions. Previous work has also demonstrated their ability to improve endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with diabetes.

Recently, the randomised, active-controlled Zenith-CKD trial demonstrated that the combination of zibotentan (an endothelin receptor antagonist) and the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin was effective in reducing albuminuria in patients with chronic kidney disease. Part of the rationale for combining these therapies was to offset the potential for fluid retention with zibotentan alone by harnessing the diuretic effect of dapagliflozin. The safety profile of an endothelin receptor antagonist and an SGLT2 inhibitor was excellent.

Bosentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Combining it with dapagliflozin will minimise the potential for fluid retention. Additionally, the potential for improved endothelial function and enhanced CVD protection with both of these agents used in combination is significant. To date, dual endothelin receptor antagonism and SGLT2 inhibition have not been trialled in patients with LVV.

The investigators will conduct a cross-sectional, case-control study comparing blood vessel function in patients with LVV with sex-, age-, and cardiovascular disease risk factor-matched control participants. This will be followed by an open-label trial in patients with LVV. Patients with LVV will be given 6 weeks of treatment with Bosentan and dapagliflozin, followed by 4 weeks of dapagliflozin to assess whether these drugs can improve blood vessel function and stiffness. Assessment of blood vessel function will be measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, a gold standard measure.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Alex Armstrong; Phone Number: +447445695898; Email: a.armstrong-9@sms.ed.ac.uk

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH16 4TJ
    • Recruiting
    • University of Edinburgh
    • Contact: Alex Armstrong; Phone Number: +447445695898; Email: a.armstrong-9@sms.ed.ac.uk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• A diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis that has been in remission for ≥ 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years
• Active LVV
• Any organ transplant recipients
• A requirement for any medications that are contra-indicated whilst taking Bosentan or dapagliflozin
• Congestive cardiac failure
• Patients not medically fit to attend study visits
• Patients without mental capacity or willingness to provide informed consent
• History of multiple and/or severe (clinical judgement as determined by the Investigator) allergic reactions to drugs, including the study drug, or food
• Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding, or those who plan to become pregnant during the study
• Participation in another clinical trial for 28 days before or 90 days after the study period

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 30 participants with large vessel vasculitis in disease remission; Participants will undergo a forearm blood flow study where forearm vasodilatation will be assessed in response to acetylcholine (7.5, 15 and 30ug/min) and sodium nitroprusside (1, 2 and 4ug/min).; Participants will also receive bradykinin (100, 300 and 1000pmol/min) in order to assess tPA release to measure fibrinolytic capacity.; Participants will also have 24-hour blood pressure measured, as well as measurements of arterial stiffness, choroidal volume and balance of peripheral inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cells.; After these baseline measurements have been obtained, the subject will receive 6 week of Bosentan. The participant will undergo the same investigations to compare if measurements differ after treatment.	Drug: Bosentan and dapagliflozin; Participants with LVV will receive Bosentan 62.5 mg twice daily and Dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily for 6 weeks, followed by Dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
No Intervention: 30 age-, sex- and cardiovascular disease risk-matched control participants; Participants will undergo a forearm blood flow study where forearm vasodilatation will be assessed in response to acetylcholine (7.5, 15 and 30ug/min) and sodium nitroprusside (1, 2 and 4ug/min).; Participants will also receive bradykinin (100, 300 and 1000pmol/min) in order to assess tPA release to measure fibrinolytic capacity.; Participants will also have 24-hour blood pressure measured, as well as measurements of arterial stiffness, choroidal volume and balance of peripheral inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cells.; These measurements will be compared to the large vessel vasculitis group to assess if there are differences in these measurements.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline to week 6 in forearm blood flow	Change from baseline to week 6 in acetylcholine-mediated forearm blood flow vasodilation	Before and after 6 weeks of treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline to week 6 in fibrinolytic capacity	Plasma concentration of tissue plasminogen activator in response to bradykinin will be assessed before and after 6 weeks of intervention	Before and after 6 weeks of treatment
Change from Baseline to week 6 in 24h blood pressure	24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be assessed at baseline and 6 weeks.	Before and after 6 weeks of treatment
Change from baseline to week 6 in arterial stiffness	Arterial stiffness will be assessed using pulse wave velocity as measured using SphygmoCor technology. Percentage change in pulse wave velocity will be compared between baseline and 6 weeks	Before and after 6 weeks of treatment
Change from baseline to week 6 assessment of eye microvasculature using retinal OCT	Choroidal volume will be assessed using optical coherence tomography which will be compared at baseline and 6 weeks	Before and after 6 weeks of treatment
Change from baseline to week 6 peripheral blood cells (balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cells) analysed using flow cytometry	Flow cytometry will be used to assess peripheral blood cells (balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cells) at baseline and 6 weeks	Before and after 6 weeks of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Edinburgh

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 21, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 13, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 20, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 12, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inflammation; Endothelial dysfunction; Bosentan; Takayasu arteritis; SGLT2 inhibitor; dapagliflozin; Giant cell arteritis; Endothelin; Large vessel vasculitis; Dual enodthelin receptor antagonism
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Skin Diseases; Skin Diseases, Vascular; Aortic Diseases; Vasculitis; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System; Arteritis; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Aortic Arch Syndromes; Inflammation; Giant Cell Arteritis; Takayasu Arteritis; Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Amides; Pyrimidines; Benzene Derivatives; Benzenesulfonamides; Sulfonamides; Sulfones; Bosentan; dapagliflozin
• Other Study ID Numbers: AC24184

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No