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CompletedNCT00252525Updated Jun 27, 2014

Correlation of Plasma Endothelial Cell Activity With Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

An observational study in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, sponsored by US Department of Veterans Affairs. Completed at 7 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 40 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2014-06-27.

Sponsored by US Department of Veterans Affairs · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Enrollment
400
Ages
40 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

CSP 465-B, Correlation of Plasma Endothelial Cell (Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor) Activity With Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus, Type II.

Mark Zimering M.D.

Objectives: Endothelial cell dysfunction plays a role in the development of the atherosclerotic vascular lesion and it is also thought to provide a mechanism for increased urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Micro- or macroalbuminuria are associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In at least one longitudinal study in older-age onset patients, micro-or macroalbuminuria robustly predicted increased CV risk independent of other diabetes-related factors.1 The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying a significant association between micro- or macroalbuminuria and CV risk in diabetes mellitus are not known but may include: growth factors, clotting factors, lipids, or hemodynamic factors. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether an angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), plays a role in increased CV risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research Plan: BFGF (FGF-2) is one of the most potent known angiogenesis factors. Increased bFGF was previously associated with both endothelial cell injury and micro- or macroalbuminuria. In a prior study of 73 older-age onset veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus (JCEM, 1996), we found plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity was significantly associated with glycemic levels, and (in multiple regression analysis) independently associated with both microalbuminuria and retinopathy. We will test whether plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity is significantly, independently associated with a pooled endpoint of cardiovascular events that includes myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, congestive heart failure (CHF), or CV mortality. We expect that increased bFGF may itself be a robust marker for increased CV risk in diabetes mellitus for three reasons. First, because bFGF was independently associated with (micro)-albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Second, because increased bFGF was associated with increased activity in the renin-angiotensin system in vascular smooth muscle cells (Dzau, et al. JCI, 1995). And third, because (as we reported) angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) drugs substantially decreased plasma bFGF levels in (micro)- albuminuric diabetes mellitus type 2, and (as others reported) ACEi drugs substantially reduced the risk of development of CHF in patients with LVH 2, the risk of mortality after MI (8,9), and the risk of CV death in diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Because plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity correlated significantly with glycemic levels in diabetes mellitus type 2, plasma bFGF may be one of the pathogenetic links between glycemic levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular events in diabetes mellitus, type 2.

Methods: Blood (3 mL EDTA plasma) will be collected from each subject in Years 1, and 2 of the Study at each of 6 local participating VA substudy sites. Because plasma endothelial cell (bFGF-like) bioactivity and bFGFR-IR in vivo are stable for months and years based on our prior published studies (1-3), we anticipate that obtaining 2 specimens, 1 each in Years 1, 2 of the study, will provide sufficient data to model proportional risk.

Read the detailed description

Primary Hypothesis: The aim of the present study is to investigate whether an angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), plays a role in increased CV risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Secondary Hypotheses:

Primary Outcomes: cardiovascular morbidity and mortality

Study Abstract:

CSP 465-B, Correlation of Plasma Endothelial Cell (Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor) Activity With Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus, Type II.

Mark Zimering M.D.

Objectives: Endothelial cell dysfunction plays a role in the development of the atherosclerotic vascular lesion and it is also thought to provide a mechanism for increased urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Micro- or macroalbuminuria are associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In at least one longitudinal study in older-age onset patients, micro-or macroalbuminuria robustly predicted increased CV risk independent of other diabetes-related factors.1 The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying a significant association between micro- or macroalbuminuria and CV risk in diabetes mellitus are not known but may include: growth factors, clotting factors, lipids, or hemodynamic factors. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether an angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), plays a role in increased CV risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research Plan: BFGF (FGF-2) is one of the most potent known angiogenesis factors. Increased bFGF was previously associated with both endothelial cell injury and micro- or macroalbuminuria. In a prior study of 73 older-age onset veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus (JCEM, 1996), we found plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity was significantly associated with glycemic levels, and (in multiple regression analysis) independently associated with both microalbuminuria and retinopathy. We will test whether plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity is significantly, independently associated with a pooled endpoint of cardiovascular events that includes myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, congestive heart failure (CHF), or CV mortality. We expect that increased bFGF may itself be a robust marker for increased CV risk in diabetes mellitus for three reasons. First, because bFGF was independently associated with (micro)-albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Second, because increased bFGF was associated with increased activity in the renin-angiotensin system in vascular smooth muscle cells (Dzau, et al. JCI, 1995). And third, because (as we reported) angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) drugs substantially decreased plasma bFGF levels in (micro)- albuminuric diabetes mellitus type 2, and (as others reported) ACEi drugs substantially reduced the risk of development of CHF in patients with LVH 2, the risk of mortality after MI (8,9), and the risk of CV death in diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Because plasma endothelial cell (bFGF) activity correlated significantly with glycemic levels in diabetes mellitus type 2, plasma bFGF may be one of the pathogenetic links between glycemic levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular events in diabetes mellitus, type 2.

Methods: Blood (3 mL EDTA plasma) will be collected from each subject in Years 1, and 2 of the Study at each of 6 local participating VA substudy sites. Because plasma endothelial cell (bFGF-like) bioactivity and bFGFR-IR in vivo are stable for months and years based on our prior published studies (1-3), we anticipate that obtaining 2 specimens, 1 each in Years 1, 2 of the study, will provide sufficient data to model proportional risk.

Results: One hundred and five first cardiovascular events occurred in these 399 subjects.

The best fit model of risk factors associated with the time to first CVD occurrence (in the study) over a seven and one-half year period had as significant predictors: prior cardiovascular event [hazard ratio (HR) 3.378; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.079-3.807; P \<0.0001), baseline plasma bFGF (HR 1.008; 95% CI 1.002-1.014; P D0.01), age (HR 1.027; 95% CI 1.004-1.051; P D0.019), baseline plasma triglycerides (HR 1.001; 95% CI 1.000-1.002; P D0.02), and diabetes duration-treatment interaction (P D0.03). Intensive glucose-lowering was associated with significantly decreased hazard ratios for CVD occurrence (0.38-0.63) in patients with known diabetes duration of 0-10 years, and nonsignificantly increased hazard ratios for CVD occurrence (0.82-1.78) in patients with longer diabetes duration. Conclusion: High level of plasma bFGF is a predictive biomarker of future CVD occurrence in this population of adult type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion, the present findings suggest that baseline plasma bFGF may be a marker of CVD risk in adult male veterans with type2 diabetes. These results suggest that increased plasma bFGF drive cell proliferation and be involved in the mechanism for increased CVD occurrence in older adults with advanced type2 diabetes mellitus.

Main Manuscript: Basic fibroblast growth factor predicts cardiovascular disease occurrence in participants from the veterans affairs diabetes trial.

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Conditions studied

  • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
03

In context

Diabetes Mellitus

10,925 studies on the registry are indexed under Diabetes Mellitus; 1,319 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 400 is above the median of 233 across 2,220 observational studies indexed under Diabetes Mellitus.

Browse Diabetes Mellitus studies →

Lead sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs is the lead sponsor of 658 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
40 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

This is an observational study of patients who are enrolled in the ongoing randomized clinical trial AGlycemic Control and Complications in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2@.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with type 2 DM who are no longer responsive to maximum dose of one or more oral agents.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not a part of the VADT.
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Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Enrollment
400 participants (actual)
Biospecimen retention
None retained

Groups and cohorts

  • Group 1

    This is an observational study of patients who are enrolled in the ongoing randomized clinical trial AGlycemic Control and Complications in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2@.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. The primary outcome measures are cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

    Time frame: End of study.

07

Study locations

7 sites
  • Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center
    Phoenix, Arizona 85012, United States
  • VA Medical Center, Long Beach
    Long Beach, California 90822, United States
  • Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL
    Miami, Florida 33125, United States
  • VA Medical Center, Omaha
    Omaha, Nebraska 68105-1873, United States
  • VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange
    East Orange, New Jersey 07018, United States
  • VA South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio
    San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
  • Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center
    Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
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References and documents

Publications

  • Zimering MB, Anderson RJ, Ge L, Moritz TE; Investigators for the VADT. Increased plasma basic fibroblast growth factor is associated with coronary heart disease in adult type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2011 Feb;60(2):284-91. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2010.02.003. Epub 2010 Mar 6. PubMed 20206949 ↗
  • Zimering MB, Anderson RJ, Moritz TE, Ge L; Investigators for the VADT. Endothelial cell inhibitory autoantibodies are associated with laser photocoagulation in adults from the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial. Metabolism. 2009 Jun;58(6):882-7. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2009.02.023. PubMed 19375761 ↗
  • Zimering MB, Anderson RJ, Moritz TE, Ge L; Investigators for the VADT. Low plasma basic fibroblast growth factor is associated with laser photocoagulation treatment in adult type 2 diabetes mellitus from the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial. Metabolism. 2009 Mar;58(3):393-400. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.10.014. PubMed 19217457 ↗
  • Zimering MB, Anderson RJ, Luo P, Moritz TE; Investigators for the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial. Plasma basic fibroblast growth factor is correlated with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentration in adults from the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial. Metabolism. 2008 Nov;57(11):1563-9. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.06.012. PubMed 18940395 ↗
  • Zimering MB, Pan Z. Autoantibodies in type 2 diabetes induce stress fiber formation and apoptosis in endothelial cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jun;94(6):2171-7. doi: 10.1210/jc.2008-2354. Epub 2009 Mar 17. PubMed 19293267 ↗
  • Zimering MB, Moritz TE, Donnelly RJ. Anti-neurotrophic effects from autoantibodies in adult diabetes having primary open angle glaucoma or dementia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2013 May 15;4:58. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00058. eCollection 2013. PubMed 23720653 ↗
  • Zimering MB, Anderson RJ, Ge L, Moritz TE, Duckworth WC; Investigators for the VADT. Basic fibroblast growth factor predicts cardiovascular disease occurrence in participants from the veterans affairs diabetes trial. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2013 Nov 22;4:183. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00183. eCollection 2013. PubMed 24319441 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 27, 2014, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00252525
Lead sponsor
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Collaborators
American Diabetes Association
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 11, 2005
Start date
Jun 2007
Primary completion
May 2008
Completion
May 2008
Last update
Jun 27, 2014

Study contacts

Carlos Abraira, MD
study chair · Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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