MedPath

Effect of Ferric Carboxymaltose on Exercise Capacity After Kidney Transplantation

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Iron-deficiency
Transplant-Related Disorder
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03769441
Lead Sponsor
University Medical Center Groningen
Brief Summary

Iron deficiency is common in kidney transplant recipients and is associated with impaired exercise tolerance and an unfavourable prognosis.

This multicentre double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled clinical trial will allow the investigators to analyse the effects of intravenous iron correction with ferric(III) carboxymaltose on exercise tolerance and other parameters, in comparison to a placebo.

Detailed Description

Rationale: Iron deficiency is common in kidney transplant recipients. The presence of iron deficiency is associated with an unfavourable prognosis in these patients. In patients with heart failure and iron deficiency, treatment with intravenous iron improved exercise capacity and quality of life. Whether such beneficial effects may also occur in kidney transplant recipients is unknown.

Objective: Our main objective is to address whether correction of iron deficiency with ferric(III) carboxymaltose improves exercise tolerance and quality of life in iron-deficient kidney-transplant recipients.

Study design: A multicentre double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled clinical trial will be performed to compare the effects of ferric(III) carboxymaltose with placebo.

Study population: 158 iron-deficient kidney transplant recipients. The intervention arm will receive 10 mL of ferric(III) carboxymaltose (50 mg Fe3/mL, intravenously) every six weeks, with a total of four dosages. The control arm receives an intravenous placebo solution (saline).

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint is the distance walked in six minutes, as quantified by the six-minute-walking-test at the end of follow-up.

The investigators expect that iron-deficient kidney transplant recipients will benefit from ferric(III) carboxymaltose treatment as a result of an improvement in exercise tolerance and general wellbeing.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
148
Inclusion Criteria
  • Kidney transplant recipient
  • Iron deficiency, defined by a ferritin level of ≤100 ug/L, or 100-299 ug/L combined with a transferrin saturation of ≤20%
  • At least six months after transplantation at baseline
  • Age ≥18 years
  • Ability to comply with the study protocol
  • Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Intolerance to any intravenous iron solution
  • Severe anemia (Hb <10.5 g/dL, <6.5 mmol/L), microcytic anemia (MCV <80 fl) or progressive anemia (˃3.2 g/dL per month decline for two months or more)
  • A positive feces occult blood test or otherwise demonstrated gastrointestinal, or urogenital, blood loss
  • Blood transfusion in the past six weeks
  • Polycythemia (Hb >15.3 g/dL, 9.5 mmol/L)
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≤ 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2
  • History of haemochromatosis
  • Unstable angina or myocardial infarction during the previous month
  • Disability to walk
  • Severe hypophosphatemia in the month before baseline (serum phosphate <0.35 mmol/L)
  • Pregnancy or inability to take adequate contraceptive measures when at childbearing age (women)
  • Any signs of an active systemic infection
  • Participation in another interventional study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Ferric(III) carboxymaltoseFerric carboxymaltoseThe intervention group will be treated with four dosages of 500 mg iron in the form of 10 mL ferric(III) carboxymaltose dissolved in 240 mL of NaCl 0.9%, with interval periods of six weeks.
PlaceboSodium chlorideThe placebo-controlled group will receive four dosages of 250 mL of NaCl 0.9% solution with interval periods of six weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Exercise tolerance24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in exercise tolerance quantified by the six-minute walk test (6MWT)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cognitive performance (semantic memory)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (Word Fluency Test, minimum value 0, no maximum value, a higher score means a better outcome)

Plasma creatinine24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in plasma creatinine

Hemoglobin level24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in hemoglobin level

Muscle mass24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in muscle mass assessed using 24-hour urinary creatinine excretion

Phosphate level24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in phosphate level

Parathyroid hormone24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in parathyroid hormone level level

FGF2324 weeks

The between-group difference in change in FGF23 level

Incidence of hospitalisation24 weeks

The between-group difference in incidence of hospitalisation

Incidence of cardiac events24 weeks

The between-group difference in incidence of cardiac events

Lymphocyte proliferation rate24 weeks

The between-group difference in lymphocyte proliferation rate (assessed with FACS)

Iron status24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in iron parameters (plasma iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation)

Muscle strength 324 weeks

The between-group difference in change in muscle strength measured by handgrip dynamometry

Calcium level24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in calcium level

Cognitive performance (memory span)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (Digit Span Forward Test, minimum value 0, maximum value 9, a higher score means a better outcome)

Quality of Life (subjective fatigue)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in quality of life quantified with the Dutch Checklist individual Strength). A higher score means worse fatigue.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccination T-lymphocyte response12 months

The between-group difference in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) specif T-lymphocyte response after vaccination.

Gastro-intestinal symptoms24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in gastro-intestinal symptoms assessed with the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale.

Cardiac function24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cardiac structure, function and strain, analysed with a transthoracic echocardiography

Muscle strength 124 weeks

The between-group difference in change in muscle strength measured by the 'Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand-test (FTSTS)

Vitamin D status24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in vitamin D level

Intestinal microbiota24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in intestinal microbiota

Incidence of any infection24 weeks

The between-group difference in incidence of infections

Incidence of graft failure24 weeks

The between-group difference in incidence of graft failure

Lymphocyte production of cytokines24 weeks

The between-group difference in lymphocyte cytokine espression (measured with facs)

Lymphocyte production of immunoglobulins24 weeks

The between-group difference in lymphocyte IgG production (measured with ELISA)

B-lymphocyte differentiation rate24 weeks

The between-group difference in B-lymphocyte plasma cell formation (assessed with Facs)

Cognitive performance (verbal memory)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (15 word test, minimum value 0, maximum value 75, a higher score means a better outcome)

Cognitive performance (processing speed)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (symbol digit modalities test, minimum value 0, maximum value 110, a higher score means a better outcome)

Cognitive performance (executive control)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (Controlled Oral Word Association Test, minimum score 1, no maximum score, a higher score means a better outcome)

Cognitive performance (working memory)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (Digit Span Backward, minimum score 0, maximum score 8, a higher score means a better outcome)

Muscle strength 224 weeks

The between-group difference in change in muscle strength measured by the timed-up-and-Go test (TUG)

Cognitive performance (visuomotor and mental speed)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (Trail Making Test A, minimum value 1, no maximum value, a lower score means a better outcome)

Cognitive performance (cognitive flexibility)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in cognitive performance quantified with neuropsychological testing (Trail Making Test B, minimum value 1, no maximum value, a lower score means a better outcome)

Quality of Life (health)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in quality of life quantified with SF36 questionnaire. A higher score means a better outcome.

Quality of Life (long-lasting fatigue)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in quality of life quantified with the Dutch Multifactor Fatigue Scale). A higher score means worse fatigue.

Quality of Life (overall)24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in quality of life quantified with EuroQol-5D-5L

Hepatic injury24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in plasma hepatic enzyme levels (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccination IgG response12 months

The between-group difference in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) specific antibody titre after vaccination.

Restless legs24 weeks

The between-group difference in prevalence of restless legs symptoms before and after treatment

Kidney graft rejection and injury24 weeks

The between-group difference in change in urine kidney injury marker levels

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University Medical Center Groningen

🇳🇱

Groningen, Netherlands

University Medical Center Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

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