This is a prospective, interventional, cohort study, meaning that researchers will follow and observe a group of enrolled study participants over a period of time (one to two months) to gather information and record any developments of the outcomes in question. This study will recruit 125 participants with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) to: 1. Analyze the effect of reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood on platelet function. (Platelets are small cells in the blood which help form blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and to help wounds heal 2. Analyze the effect of reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood on While Blood Cell (WBC) gene expression, (White Blood Cells are part of the body's immune system which help the body fight infection and other diseases) and 3. Analyze the effect of reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood on vascular or blood vessel function.
Participants will receive weekly injections of PCSK9i (evolocumab) plus daily, oral pills of atorvastatin or ezetimibe for 1 month. Participants will undergo blood draw, and optional vascular studies that include: * Glycocalyx testing (A non-invasive test where a video microscope camera is placed under the tongue to capture images of the movement of red blood cells as they travel through the micro-blood vessels) * PET/CT for vascular imaging - to assess any inflammation of blood vessels and to evaluate increased metabolism in related tissues, and * Endothelial cell collection before cholesterol reduction and 1-month after cholesterol reduction to measure any genetic changes in in the endothelial cells before and after collection Glycemic Variability (GV), the amount one's blood sugar changes throughout the day, will be analyzed from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
125
Injectable PCSK9 inhibitor.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor for oral use.
Will only be distributed to patients with statin intolerance; replacement for both Atorvastatin and Evolocumab. Inhibitor of intestinal cholesterol for oral use.
Optional procedure. Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) imaging to assess vascular inflammation and related anatomy requires injection of the PET tracer 18F-FDG. 18F-FDG is an FDA-approved analogue of sugar, routinely used to evaluate elevated metabolism in tissues, including increased metabolism due to inflammatory cells. A standard dose of 7.0 mSv will be administered.
Optional procedure (endothelial cell harvesting). An angiocatheter ≤ 21 gauge will be inserted into a peripheral vein on the upper extremity using aseptic technique. A 0.018in. diameter J-shaped wire (Arrow, Reading, PA) will be then advanced into the angiocatheter, to a distance of 4cm beyond the end of the angiocatheter.
Optional procedure (endothelial cell harvesting). Either a 0.021in. diameter J-shaped wire (Daig, Minnetonka, MN) or a 0.018in. diameter J-shaped wire (Arrow, Reading, PA) will be used.
Optional procedure (assessment of vascular function). Video microscope developed by GlycoCheck.
New York VA Hospital
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGNYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGNYU Langone Health
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGMount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGChange in Monocyte Platelet Aggregation (MPA) from Baseline
Measurement of platelet activity. Assessed via patient blood sample.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4
Change in Light Transmission Aggregation (LTA) from Baseline
Measurement of platelet activity. Assessed via patient blood sample.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4
Percent Change in Natural Killer (NK) Cell Population from Baseline
Assessed via patient blood sample.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4
Percent Change in Dendritic Cell Population from Baseline
Assessed via patient blood sample.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4
Percent Change in CD8 Cell Population from Baseline
Assessed via patient blood sample.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4
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