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NCT Number: NCT04583462

Impact of Metformin on Peripheral Arterial Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes

Vascular calcification (VC) is a complication frequently observed in elderly, in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in diabetes (particularly in type 1 diabetes). VC is a dynamic pathophysiological process that causes cardiovascular morbidity and is an independent risk factor of major amputation. In vitro and human observational studies have suggested a role of metformin in preventing VC. The investigators propose to test the effect of metformin treatment during two years on lower limb arterial calcification evaluated by CT-scan in patients with type 1 diabetes and without CKD.

This research is a phase III double blind randomized controlled trial consisting of 2 years double-blind treatment phase (patients randomized to metformin or placebo) in type 1 diabetic patients.

The participants and the investigators will be blinded to the study medications taken during the double-blind treatment period

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Key information

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes Autoimmune Diseases Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Immune System Diseases Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Peripheral Arterial Calcification

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Diabetology department

Paris, 75013, France

About this study

The main objective of this study is to show that metformin, in patients with type 1 diabetes but without chronic kidney disease, is able to slow below- knee arterial calcification evaluated by the difference between below-knee arterial calcification score evaluated by CT-scan at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients treated or not with metformin. This research is a phase III double blind randomized controlled trial consisting of 2 years treatment phase (patients randomized to metformin or placebo).The participants and the investigators will be blinded to the study medications taken during the treatment period. The treatment delivered will be metformin vs placebo started at 500 mg per day per os and titrated up to 2000 mg (increase of 500 mg every two weeks). The duration of the treatment will be two years. The main inclusion criteria are: Type 1 diabetes / Women and Men ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 80 years old with complications: diabetic retinopathy and/or nephropathy (with creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/mn) and/or neuropathy and/or peripheral arterial occlusive disease and/or cardiopathy and/or stroke and/or cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension and/or dyslipidemia (HDL < 0.35g/L or LDL > 1.9g/L or treated dyslipidemia) and/or tobacco use (old or active smoking greater than 5 pack years))and/or Diabetes duration >20 years.

The secondary objectives and endpoints are: 1. To show that metformin, in patients with type 1 diabetes but without CKD, is able to slow below-knee arterial occlusive disease evaluated by the difference between below-knee arterial ultrasonographic occlusion score at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients supplemented or not with metformin, 2. To show that metformin, in patients with type 1 diabetes but without CKD, is able to improve ankle and toe brachial indexes evaluated by the difference between ankle and toe brachial indexes at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients supplemented or not with metformin, 3. To show that metformin, in patients with type 1 diabetes but without CKD, is able to improve pulse wave velocity evaluated by the difference between pulse wave velocity at T0 and T2 years in type 1 diabetic patients supplemented or not with metformin, 4. To show that metformin, in patients with type 1 diabetes but without chronic kidney disease, is able to slow coronary arterial calcification evaluated by the difference between coronary calcification score evaluated by CT-scan at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients treated or not with metformin, 5. To conduct a subgroup analysis for the primary outcome to evaluate whether the effect of metformin on the difference of below-knee arterial calcification score evaluated by CT-scan at T0 and T2years varies according to initial below-knee arterial calcification score (≤ versus >400) evaluated by the difference between below-knee arterial calcification score progression between T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients treated or not with metformin and with initial below-knee arterial calcification score ≤ and >400.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Women and Men ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 80 years old with:
  • Complications: diabetic retinopathy and/or nephropathy (with creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/mn) and/or neuropathy and/or peripheral arterial occlusive disease and/or cardiopathy and/or stroke and/or
  • cardiovascular risk factors : hypertension and/or dyslipidemia (HDL < 0.35g/L or LDL > 1.9g/L or treated dyslipidemia) and/or tobacco use (old or active smoking greater than 5 pack years) and/or
  • Diabetes duration >20 years
  • For women in childbearing age, effective contraception during the whole trial
  • Signed written informed consent
  • Affiliation of a social security regime (AME excluded)

Exclusion criteria

  • Creatinine clearance of less than 3 months <60 mL/mn (MDRD) at the inclusion time
  • Known metformin contra-indication: severe liver insufficiency -CHILD B or C, heart failure (FEVG<45%) or history of pulmonary edema, respiratory insufficiency with history of acute respiratory failure or patients receiving oxygen therapy, chronic ethylism, lactic acidosis
  • Know sensitivity to metformin or to any of its excipients or placebo excipients (lactose)
  • Indication or history of lower limb angioplasty (with stenting) and/or bypass
  • Previous treatment with metformin (within 3 months prior to inclusion)
  • HbA1c of less than 3 months >11%
  • Chronic inflammatory disease or chronic immune-suppressive drugs intake
  • Participation in an another interventional trial (Jardé 1 and 2) or in the exclusion period of any other interventional study
  • Pregnancy woman (confirmed by a sanguine beta-human chorionic gonadotropin test) or breastfeeding woman
  • Patient under legal protection measure (tutorship or curatorship) or deprived of freedom
  • Unable to consent

Treatment and study plan

metformin

Drug

Metformin, started at 500 mg per day per os and titrated up to 2000 mg during 2 years (increase of 500 mg every two weeks)

Other names: Metformine Arrow LAB 1000 mg

Placebo

Drug

Control group : Placebo (coated tablet similar to metformin tablet titrated following the same schedule as in the experimental arm) started at 500 mg per day per os and titrated up to 2000 mg during 2 years (increase of 500 mg every two weeks)

Other names: Control group

Primary outcomes

  1. Change between below-knee arterial calcification score evaluated by CT-scan at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients treated or not with metformin.

    Time frame: Change between T0 baseline visit and T2 years

    Below-knee artery calcification scores will be obtained after scanning with a 128-slice multidetector CT scanner without contrast, in a craniocaudal direction, from the bottom of the patella down to the ankle region. The 3-mm cross-sectional slices were separately analyzed. Analysis was performed by radiologists kept blind about the results of the color duplex ultrasonography, laboratory tests, and clinical examinations, using a commercially available software package (Heartbeat CaScore; Philips Healthcare). On cross-sectional images, areas of calcification along below-knee arteries with a density ≥130 Hounsfield units attenuation and a surface >1 mm2 were identified automatically. Calcification score, determined according to the method described by Agatston et al, will be obtained separately for each of the main below-knee arteries (distal popliteal, anterior tibial, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries) and added up to obtain the calc

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change between below-knee arterial ultrasonographic occlusion score at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients treated or not with metformin.

    Time frame: Change between T0 baseline visit and T2 years

    Detailed colour duplex ultrasonography will be performed, from the abdominal tree down to the foot arteries, to all the patients, by one physician by center. Occlusive disease will be defined as the presence of either >70% stenosis or an occlusion in any artery being studied (aorto-ilio-femoral segment, popliteal artery, tibio-peroneal trunk, anterior tibial, posterior tibial, peroneal, and dorsalis pedis arteries). The results will be scored according to an adapted version of an angiographic score based on the severity of the stenosis in the lower limb arteries: 0 if stenosis is <70%, 2 if stenosis is >70%, and 3 in case of occlusion. Consequently, duplex scores range from 0 to 39. Mediacalcosis will be also graded for each infrapopliteal artery (popliteal arteries included): 0 if not visible, 1 if mild and discontinuous, 2 if continuous, and 3 if severe with lumen obstruction. Therefore, mediacalcosis scores range from 0 to 36.

  2. Change between ankle and toe brachial indexes at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients supplemented or not with metformin.

    Time frame: Change between T0 baseline visit and T2 years

    Dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial and brachial arterial systolic blood pressures were measured with a Doppler probe (Parks Medical Electronics, Aloha, OR, USA). Measurements will be taken after participants have rested for 10 min in the supine position. Brachial blood pressure will be measured in the dominant arm with an appropriately sized cuff after 10 min rest in the supine position. Two measurements will be obtained and averaged.

    Toe systolic pressure measurements will be taken with the Systole Automated Toe Pressure System (Atys Medical, Soucieu-en-Jarrest, France)

  3. Change between pulse wave velocity at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients supplemented or not with metformin.

    Time frame: Change between T0 baseline visit and T2 years

    Pulse Wave Velocity and pulse wave analysis were measured with applanation tonometry, using SphygmoCor system version 7.1 (Atcor Medical). Central arterial pressure (CAP) and central systolic pressure were derived and central augmentation index (AIx) was calculated. As AIx is influenced by heart rate, an index normalized for a heart rate of 75 beats/min was used. To determine pulse wave velocity, pulse wave forms were recorded at the right carotid artery and left femoral artery sequentially. Wave-transit time was calculated using the R-wave of a simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram as a reference frame.

  4. Change between coronary calcification score evaluated by CT-scan at T0 and T2years in type 1 diabetic patients treated or not with metformin.

    Time frame: Change between T0 baseline visit and T2 years

    Agatston score is a semi-automated tool to calculate a score based on the extent of coronary artery calcification detected by an unenhanced low-dose CT scan, which is routinely performed in patients undergoing cardiac CT. Coronary artery calcification scores will be obtained after scanning with a 128-slice multidetector CT scanner without contrast, in a craniocaudal direction. Analysis was performed by radiologists kept blind about the results of laboratory tests and clinical examinations, using a commercially available software package (Heartbeat CaScore; Philips Healthcare). On cross-sectional images, areas of calcification along coronary arteries with a density ≥130 Hounsfield units attenuation and a surface >1 mm2 were identified automatically. Calcification score, determined according to the method described by Agatston et al, will be obtained separately for each of the main coronary arteries and added up to obtain the total coronary

  5. Change between below- knee arterial calcification score progression between T0 and T2years with initial below-knee arterial calcification score ≤ and >400 (subgroup analysis)

    Time frame: Change between T0 baseline visit and T2 years

    Detailed colour duplex ultrasonography will be performed, from the abdominal tree down to the foot arteries, to all the patients, by one physician by center. Occlusive disease will be defined as the presence of either >70% stenosis or an occlusion in any artery being studied (aorto-ilio-femoral segment, popliteal artery, tibio-peroneal trunk, anterior tibial, posterior tibial, peroneal, and dorsalis pedis arteries). The results will be scored according to an adapted version of an angiographic score based on the severity of the stenosis in the lower limb arteries: 0 if stenosis is <70%, 2 if stenosis is >70%, and 3 in case of occlusion. Consequently, duplex scores range from 0 to 39. Mediacalcosis will be also graded for each infrapopliteal artery (popliteal arteries included): 0 if not visible, 1 if mild and discontinuous, 2 if continuous, and 3 if severe with lumen obstruction. Therefore, mediacalcosis scores range from 0 to 36.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Metformin on Peripheral Arterial Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes: a Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: IMPACT-1D

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Oct 12, 2020
Registry last updated
Nov 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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