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Propionic AcidemiaPhase 1NCT00645879

Anaplerotic Therapy in Propionic Acidemia

A Phase 1 study testing ornithine alpha ketoglutarate, glutamine and disodium citrate in people with Propionic Acidemia, run by Nicola Longo at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of this project is to define whether nutritional supplements (ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamine, or citrate) capable of filling-up the citric acid cycle (anaplerotic therapy) can improve hyperammonemia, glutamine levels, and outcome in patients with propionic acidemia. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 5 to 12 years
Conditions the study is for
Propionic Acidemia
What is being tested?
ornithine alpha ketoglutarate, glutamine and disodium citrate
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
3 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jul 2008to Feb 2010
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 5 to 12 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Confirmed diagnosis of propionic acidemia (propionyl CoA carboxylase deficiency)

Who cannot join

  • Severe illness with cardiac or hepatic compromise that could affect study results
  • Use of other investigative therapies
  • Inability to comply with study directions

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Utah, Department of Pediatrics

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Safety & Efficacy of Investigational Products: Ornithine Alpha-ketoglutarate, Glutamine, or Disodium Citrate on Hyperammonemia in Propionic Acidemia.

The objective of this project is to define whether nutritional supplements (ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamine, or citrate) capable of filling-up the citric acid cycle (anaplerotic therapy) can improve hyperammonemia, glutamine levels, and outcome in patients with propionic acidemia. Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamine, and citrate are commonly used as nutritional supplements specially by athletes to increase muscle strength. They can be mixed with formula or other foods.

Read the detailed description

Propionic acidemia is caused by deficiency of propionyl CoA carboxylase that impairs the supply of succinyl CoA to the citric acid (Krebs) cycle. The Krebs cycle is responsible for obtaining energy from food in the form of ATP. ATP is essential for muscle contraction and correct functioning of all organs including the hearth, the kidney, and the pancreas.

Patients with propionic acidemia develop hyperammonemia at birth that recurs during episodes of metabolic decompensation. We found that plasma levels of the amino acids glutamine/glutamate are reduced in patients with propionic acidemia and decrease, rather than increase (like in urea cycle defects or other types of hyperammonemia) with hyperammonemia. Since alpha-ketoglutarate is the main source of endogenous glutamate/glutamine synthesis, our hypothesis is that chronic hyperammonemia and progressive dysfunction of multiple organs in patients with propionic acidemia is due to a functional insufficiency of the citric acid (Krebs) cycle with defective production of alpha-ketoglutarate. The basic deficiency of intermediates of the Krebs cycle can decrease production of ATP and explain the low muscle tone, progressive organ dysfunction, and poor long-term outcome of patients with propionic acidemia.

To test this hypothesis, we will test whether dietary supplementation with alpha ketoglutarate precursors (in the form of ornithine alpha ketoglutarate, glutamine or citrate) can improve plasma ammonia and overall outcome in patients with propionic acidemia. In this study, a limited number of patients (3) with propionic acidemia will be given the 3 different nutritional supplements and studied at regular intervals to see whether their glutamine/glutamate levels improve and if they have fewer episodes of hyperammonemia or acute decompensation. The supplement that produces the best increase in plasma glutamine levels will be tested for an additional 30 weeks. Children's development and motor skills will be tested before and after therapy to see if there is any improvement. The study will be conducted on outpatients at the University of Utah Clinical Research Center. If the initial trial is successful, we will try to launch a national trial involving multiple centers in the US and abroad to involve the largest number of patients possible.

The current therapy of propionic acidemia is based on restriction of precursors of propionic acid (methionine, valine, isoleucine, threonine, odd chain fatty acids, cholesterol) and administration of carnitine to help remove toxic organic acids. This therapy is not effective in preventing the long-term complications of the disease, even in children identified at birth by newborn screening. This research will test a completely new way of treating patients with severe and disabling metabolic disorders using replacement of downstream products involved in the generation of energy (ATP). This approach, if effective, could be extended to a number of other diseases, including other organic acidemias and mitochondrial disorders.

Being tested
ornithine alpha ketoglutarate, glutamine, disodium citrate
Keywords
Propionic Acidemia, hyperammonemia, hypotonia, glutamine, ornithine alpha ketoglutarate, citrate
Medical subject headings
Propionic Acidemia, Hyperammonemia, Muscle Hypotonia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ornithine alpha ketoglutarateDrug

    Also called OKG

    A dose of 400 mg/kg up to 16 g per day was selected. Split into 2 doses taken for 4 weeks. If determined the drug with the best effect, drug will be taken for 30 weeks.

  • glutamineDrug

    Also called Glutamic Acid

    A dose of 400 mg/kg up to 16 g per day was selected. Split into 2 doses taken for 4 weeks. If determined the drug with the best effects, drug will be taken for 30 weeks.

  • disodium citrateDrug

    Also called Citric Acid Sodium Salt, Sodium Citrate

    Dose: 7.5 mEq/Kg or 658 mg/kg up to 16 g per day Split into 2 doses taken for 4 weeks. If determined the drug with the best effects, drug will be taken for 30 weeks.

Study groups in NCT00645879
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
OKG, Glutamine, and Disodium CitrateExperimentalOrnithine Alpha Ketoglutarate for 4 weeks, followed by 2 week washout period. 4 weeks Glutamine, followed by 2 week washout period. 4 weeks Disodium Citrate, followed by 2 to 12 week washout period. Then continue an additional 30 weeks on Disodium Citrate (drug producing the best increment in plasma glutamine levels).
Receives: Drug: ornithine alpha ketoglutarate; Drug: glutamine; Drug: disodium citrate

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Define safety and efficacy of nutritional therapy with these investigational products: L-Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, Glutamine, or disodium citrate (anaplerotic therapy) on hyperammonemia and outcome in patients with propionic acidemia.

    Measured: end of study

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Define the effect of citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamine on plasma amino acids, acylcarnitines, ammonia, lactic acid and urine organic acids in patients with propionic acidemia.

    Measured: end of study

  2. Evaluate the effect of investigational products on the developmental quotient and medical complications in patients with propionic acidemia.

    Measured: end of study

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Mar 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2008
  3. Primary completionAug 2009
  4. Study completionFeb 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
3 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00645879
Sponsor's protocol ID
24806
Other IDs
1R21DK077415-01A1, ANA-PA-001
Status last verified
Jan 2015
First submitted
25 Mar 2008
Last updated
21 Jan 2015
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Deodato F, Boenzi S, Santorelli FM, Dionisi-Vici C. Methylmalonic and propionic aciduria. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2006 May 15;142C(2):104-12. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30090.

    PubMed 16602092
  • Dionisi-Vici C, Deodato F, Roschinger W, Rhead W, Wilcken B. 'Classical' organic acidurias, propionic aciduria, methylmalonic aciduria and isovaleric aciduria: long-term outcome and effects of expanded newborn screening using tandem mass spectrometry. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2006 Apr-Jun;29(2-3):383-9. doi: 10.1007/s10545-006-0278-z.

    PubMed 16763906
  • Mochel F, DeLonlay P, Touati G, Brunengraber H, Kinman RP, Rabier D, Roe CR, Saudubray JM. Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency: clinical and biochemical response to anaplerotic diet therapy. Mol Genet Metab. 2005 Apr;84(4):305-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2004.09.007.

    PubMed 15781190
  • Roe CR, Sweetman L, Roe DS, David F, Brunengraber H. Treatment of cardiomyopathy and rhabdomyolysis in long-chain fat oxidation disorders using an anaplerotic odd-chain triglyceride. J Clin Invest. 2002 Jul;110(2):259-69. doi: 10.1172/JCI15311.

    PubMed 12122118
  • Filipowicz HR, Ernst SL, Ashurst CL, Pasquali M, Longo N. Metabolic changes associated with hyperammonemia in patients with propionic acidemia. Mol Genet Metab. 2006 Jun;88(2):123-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2005.11.016. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

    PubMed 16406646
  • Longo N, Price LB, Gappmaier E, Cantor NL, Ernst SL, Bailey C, Pasquali M. Anaplerotic therapy in propionic acidemia. Mol Genet Metab. 2017 Sep;122(1-2):51-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2017.07.003. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

    PubMed 28712602

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing ornithine alpha ketoglutarate, glutamine and disodium citrate in people with Propionic Acidemia, run by Nicola Longo at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Jan 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Define safety and efficacy of nutritional therapy with these investigational products: L-Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, Glutamine, or disodium citrate (anaplerotic therapy) on hyperammonemia and outcome in patients with propionic acidemia. (time frame: end of study). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00645879, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Jan 2015.

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