Individuals with T2DM have a two-fold excess risk of cardiovascular (CV) events compared with their non-diabetic counterparts. Although it is the primary cause of death in T2DM, there is no significant evidence that intensive glucose lowering reduces CV events. Multiple Cardiovascular Outcome Trials have suggested CV safety and benefit with the new class hypoglycemic agents - glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-RAs) in patients with DM and a high CV risk profile with a mechanism not directly dependent on their glucose-lowering effect. Varies theories regarding the mechanism of action of GLP-RAs on reducing CV events have been proposed, including reducing inflammation, protection of ischemia/reperfusion injury, and improvement in endothelial dysfunction but the effects of these new agents on in-vivo atherosclerotic plaque burden is currently unproven. The investigators hypothesize that compared with placebo, 1-year treatment with the oral GLP-RA "Semaglutide" will result in a regression of necrotic core within potentially vulnerable coronary plaques (identified using the novel method "Plaque Maps" analysis on CT Coronary Angiography) in patients with raised HbA1c (\>5.7%) after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: One hundred forty patients admitted with ACS and have raised HbA1c \>5.7% will be enrolled in the trial and randomized in a 1:1 blinded fashion to receive conventional therapy and initiation of Semaglutide or conventional therapy plus placebo. All patients will have a CT Coronary Angiography with Plaque Map analysis of atherosclerotic burden, plaque composition and presence of potentially vulnerable plaque morphology at baseline prior to therapy initiation and following 12 months of treatment. In addition, to help elucidate the potential mechanisms of any anti-atherosclerotic effects, patients will have a non-invasive assessment of vascular function assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity and comprehensive biomarker analysis of inflammation, atherogenesis and oxidative stress.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
140
Participants in both arms will undergo CT coronary angiogram with Plaque Map analysis at baseline prior to therapy initiation and following 12 months of treatment.
Participants in both arms will undergo aortic carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)through the Vicorder (Skidmore medical, UK), which uses oscillometric cuff-based measurements to establish the index of arterial stiffness. The procedure will be done at baseline and 12 months after therapy initiation.
All the participants will have (non-fasting) blood samples performed to assess serum glucose, lipid profile and serum biomarkers for plaque initiation (Lipid profile, LpPLA2), endothelial activation (MCP-1), plaque inflammation (hsCRP, IL6, IL18, TNF, advanced glycation end-products), vulnerable transformation (vEGF, PAI-1, BMP-6) and measures of oxidative stress (Ox-LDL, TAOS, TBARs) at baseline, and at 12 months after therapy initiation
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Swansea, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGCompare the regression of vulnerable coronary plaque (necrotic core) assessed using histologically validated "Plaque Maps" derived from CT Coronary angiography in patients with raised HbA1c admitted with ACS and treated with oral Semaglutide or placebo.
Reduction in mean coronary plaque necrotic core (%) identified by CT Coronary Angiography Plaque Maps after 12-month therapy (Semaglutide or placebo).
Time frame: 12 months
-Evaluate the effect of oral Semaglutide on atherosclerotic plaque burden.
Compare the regression (or progression) of vulnerable coronary plaque burden (%) assessed by CTCA in patients treated with oral Semaglutide or placebo for 12 months.
Time frame: 12 months
Evaluate the effect of oral Semaglutide on levels of biomarkers of inflammation.
Assess the changes in levels of serum biomarkers for inflammation (inflammation (hsCRP, IL6, IL18, TNF, advanced glycation end-products) at baseline, and at 12 months after therapy initiation (Drug vs placebo). The biomarkers will be calculated on the whole as one outcome. i.e. if the majority of the biomarkers are decreasing with the use of oral Semaglutide , this will count as a positive outcome and vice versa. Every biomarker value will be recorded in the trial before and after the follow-up period
Time frame: 12 months
-Evaluate any potential effect of oral Semaglutide on arterial stiffness
Assess the changes in arterial stiffness by calculating aortic carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) through the Vicorder (Skidmore medical, UK) at baseline, and at 12 months after therapy initiation (Drug vs placebo).
Time frame: 12 months
Evaluate the effect of oral Semaglutide on levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Assess the changes in levels of serum biomarkers for oxidative stress (Ox-LDL, TAOS, TBARs) at baseline, and at 12 months after therapy initiation (Drug vs placebo). The biomarkers will be calculated on the whole as one outcome. i.e. if the majority of the biomarkers are decreasing with the use of oral Semaglutide , this will count as a positive outcome and vice versa. Every biomarker value will be recorded in the trial before and after the follow-up period
Time frame: 12 months
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