ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT01048905Updated Jun 10, 2021Results posted

Glutamine Therapy for Hemolysis-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension

A Phase 2 interventional study of L-Glutamine in Pulmonary Hypertension, Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia, sponsored by UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 4 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-06-10.

Sponsored by UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
13
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
4 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The primary hypothesis of this study is that glutamine supplementation will improve the erythrocyte glutamine/glutamate ratio, a biomarker of oxidative stress, hemolysis and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia (Thal) patients with PH. PH is defined as a tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) on Doppler echocardiography > 2.5 m/s. We also predict that glutamine therapy will increase arginine bioavailability and subsequently alter sickle red cell endothelial interaction that can be identified using endo-PAT technology through nitric oxide (NO) generation, leading to changes in biological markers, and clinical outcome. Specifically our second hypothesis is that oral glutamine will decrease biomarkers of hemolysis and adhesion molecules, and improve the imbalanced arginine-to-ornithine ratio that occurs in hemolytic anemias, leading to improved arginine bioavailability and clinical endpoints of endothelial dysfunction and PH in patients with SCD and Thal.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Thalassemia

Keywords

  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Thalassemia
03

In context

Hypertension, Pulmonary

1,092 studies on the registry are indexed under Hypertension, Pulmonary; 244 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 13 is below the median of 35 across 649 interventional studies indexed under Hypertension, Pulmonary.

Browse Hypertension, Pulmonary studies →

Lead sponsor

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland is the lead sponsor of 55 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
4 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Established diagnosis of SCD ( SS, SC or SBeta- thalassemia) or Thal
  • PH documented by echocardiography, defined as at TRV greater than 2.5 m/s
  • Age greater than or equal to 4 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to take or tolerate oral medication
  • Acute crisis or hospitalization within 1 month of enrollment
  • Hepatic dysfunction ( greater than 3X normal)
  • Renal dysfunction (Creatinine greater than 2X normal)
  • Allergy to glutamine
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Patients on sildenafil (Viagra), calcium channel blockers, or amino acid/protein supplements (other therapies acceptable if stable more than 3 months)
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
13 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Treatment: L-glutamine

    Patients will receive an 8-week course of oral L-glutamine 10 grams TID

    Drug: L-Glutamine

Interventions

  • Oral L-glutamine 10 grams TID or (0.1g/kg TID) for children \< 15 years of age.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio at 8 Weeks

    Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio: a novel biomarker of oxidative stress

    Time frame: 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Plasma Glutamine

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  2. Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity on Doppler Echocardiography

    Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity was measured using Doppler Echocardiography in meters per second.

    Time frame: 8 week

  3. 6 Minute Walk Distance

    The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the distance in meters an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  4. Liver Function Tests

    Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  5. Renal Function Tests

    Creatinine Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

    Time frame: 8 weeks

07

Results

Posted Jun 10, 2021

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneTreatment: L-glutamine
Started13
Completed12
Not completed1

Outcome measures

PrimaryErythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio at 8 Weeks

Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio: a novel biomarker of oxidative stress

Time frame:
8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · Ratio
Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio at 8 Weeks
RatioTreatment: L-glutamine
Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio at 8 Weeks2.40 ± 1.6
SecondaryPlasma Glutamine
Time frame:
8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · µmol/L
Plasma Glutamine
µmol/LTreatment: L-glutamine
Plasma Glutamine685.8 ± 139
SecondaryTricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity on Doppler Echocardiography

Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity was measured using Doppler Echocardiography in meters per second.

Time frame:
8 week
Reported as:
Mean · Meters per second
Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity on Doppler Echocardiography
Meters per secondTreatment: L-glutamine
Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity on Doppler Echocardiography2.8 ± 0.5
Secondary6 Minute Walk Distance

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the distance in meters an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface.

Time frame:
8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · Meters
6 Minute Walk Distance
MetersTreatment: L-glutamine
6 Minute Walk Distance366 ± 109
SecondaryLiver Function Tests

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Time frame:
8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · U/L
Liver Function Tests
U/LTreatment: L-glutamine
ALT38 ± 27
AST63 ± 26
SecondaryRenal Function Tests

Creatinine Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Time frame:
8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · mg/dL
Renal Function Tests
mg/dLTreatment: L-glutamine
Creatinine0.9 ± 0.3
BUN17 ± 7

Adverse events

Collected over 8 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Treatment: L-glutamine1/13 (7.7%)4/13 (30.8%)1/13 (7.7%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventTreatment: L-glutamine
PainGeneral disorders3/13
Acute Chest SyndromeGeneral disorders1/13
SepsisInfections and infestations1/13
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventTreatment: L-glutamine
Sexually Transmitted Disease Related PainReproductive system and breast disorders1/13

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Treatment: L-glutamine
Mean45.8 ± 13.8
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Treatment: L-glutamine
Female8
Male5
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Treatment: L-glutamine
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American13
White0
More than one race0
Unknown or Not Reported0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Treatment: L-glutamine
United States13
Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio
Erythrocyte Glutamine/Glutamate Ratio(Ratio)Treatment: L-glutamine
Mean1.75 ± 0.6
Plasma Glutamine
Plasma Glutamine(µmol/L)Treatment: L-glutamine
Mean704.5 ± 137
Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity on Doppler Echocardiography
Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity on Doppler Echocardiography(Meters per second)Treatment: L-glutamine
Mean3.0 ± 0.6
6 Minute Walk Distance
6 Minute Walk Distance(Meters)Treatment: L-glutamine
Mean386 ± 94

2 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

1 site
  • Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland
    Oakland, California 94608, United States
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 10, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01048905
Lead sponsor
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Collaborators
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 14, 2010
Start date
Mar 2009
Primary completion
Mar 2014
Completion
Mar 2014
Results posted
Jun 10, 2021
Last update
Jun 10, 2021

Study contacts

Claudia Morris, MD
principal investigator · Emory University
Augusta Saulys, MD
principal investigator · Children's Hosptial & Research Center Oakland

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Studies of the drug tested here: Glutamine

Start the discussion