Effect of Dapagliflozin on Microvascular and Macrovascular Circulation and Total Body Sodium Content (Dapa)
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02383238 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : March 9, 2015
Last Update Posted : May 11, 2018
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 | Drug: Dapagliflozin Drug: Placebo | Phase 3 |
Diabetes mellitus, considered at the beginning as a metabolic disorder, mutates into a predominantly vascular disease, once its duration extends over several years or/and when additional cardiovascular risk factors coexist, in particular arterial hypertension. In accordance, patients with type 2 diabetes die because of microvascular and macrovascular complications, and only rarely because of hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic shock syndromes [1]. As a consequence, treatment of type 2 diabetes should focus not only on metabolic control but also on improving the global vascular risk. Analyses that have compared the importance of the various cardiovascular risk factors concluded that reductions of blood pressure and lipid levels are significantly more important than reduction of hyperglycemia [2]. Of course, a multidisciplinary approach is desirable and the STENO-2 study has clearly indicated that in mid-term microvascular complications and in long-term macrovascular complications can be prevented in type 2 diabetes [3].
Vascular changes occurring in the course of type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension and elevated global cardiovascular risk can now reliably assessed non-invasively, and already at the very early stage of vascular remodeling processes. For example, the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension recommend several vascular
#0284 CSP 130911 v1.4.docx 8 parameters to be assessed already at the diagnosis of the disease in order to analyze early organ damage of the arteries [4]. The measurement of pulse wave velocity, pulse wave analysis, central (aortic) systolic pressure and pulse pressure are tools to detect early vascular changes in the large arteries related to a faster wave reflection in the arterial tree [5]. Wall to lumen ratio of retinal arteries, retinal capillary flow and flow mediated vasodilation are tools to detect changes in the microvascular circulation [6]. These parameters are only infrequently measured in studies with type 2 diabetes, mainly due to lack of awareness that the vascular changes are the key prognostic factor in type-2 diabetes that ultimately determine the fate of the patient.
Dapagliflozin is a novel selective SLGT-2 inhibitor that has been shown to improve glycaemic control after 2, 12, and 24 weeks as well as after 1 and 2 years. Dapagliflozin produced dose dependent increases in glucosuria and clinically meaningful changes of glycemic parameters in type 2 diabetes in addition to weight loss. Most striking, dapagliflozin was also found to lower systolic blood pressure by 5 mmHg. This reduction in blood pressure might be related to weight loss or/and concomitant loss of total body sodium content. However, the precise mechanism of the blood pressure reduction needs to be elucidated. Loss of sodium would lead to a less reactive contraction of the small arteries in response to increased sympathetic activity, angiotensin II [7] and catecholamines.
In summary, dapagliflozin exert beneficial effects on a variety of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hyperglycaemia, hypertension and obesity. These changes should lead (so the hypothesis) to improved vascular function in the micro- and macrocirculation. Moreover, increased total body content of sodium that now can be measured in humans by a specific MRI technique [8] may also be reduced by dapagliflozin that may lead to less vasoreactive responses since the tubular SGLT-2 mediated glucose uptake is sodium related, i.e. blockade should lead to sodium loss. However, the latter is nothing more than hypothesis and requires clear proof by clinical studies in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 59 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Clinical Study to Analyse the Effect of Dapagliflozin on Microvascular and Macrovascular Circulation and Total Body Sodium Content |
Study Start Date : | March 2014 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | October 2015 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | October 2015 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Dapagliflozin
Dapagliflozin, 10 mg/day, oral administration, 6 weeks
|
Drug: Dapagliflozin
10 mg, oral for 6 weeks
Other Name: Forxiga |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo, oral administration, 6 weeks
|
Drug: Placebo
oral for 6 weeks |
- Microcirculation [ Time Frame: 6 weeks ]To analyse the effects after 6 weeks of treatment with dapagliflozin on retinal capillary flow (given as AU) as the key measurement of vascular remodeling in the microcirculation compared to placebo.
- Macrovascular circulation [ Time Frame: 6 weeks ]To analyse the effects after 6 weeks of treatment with dapagliflozin on central (aortic) systolic pressure, central (aortic) pulse pressure and augmentation pressure, on retinal capillary flow after flicker light exposure, parameters that all are determined by pulse wave reflection (i.e. arterial wall properties) in the arterial tree compared to placebo.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Type 2 diabetes
- HbA1c > 6.5%
- age > 18 years
- male and females
Exclusion Criteria:
- age > 75 years
- HbA1c > 10 %,
- reduced renal function (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²).
- insulin therapy, or any antidiabetic medication other than metformin.
- uncontrolled hypertension (> 180/>110 mmHg)
- cardiovascular event within the last 3 months
- Use of loop diuretics

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02383238
Germany | |
University Erlangen-Nuernberg | |
Erlangen, Germany, 91054 |
Principal Investigator: | Roland Schmieder, Prof. | Department of Medicine 4, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Roland E. Schmieder, Prof. Dr. Roland E. Schmieder, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02383238 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
MB102-210 |
First Posted: | March 9, 2015 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 11, 2018 |
Last Verified: | May 2018 |
Dapagliflozin diabetes mellitus vascular |
Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Endocrine System Diseases |
Dapagliflozin Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Hypoglycemic Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs |