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Mechanisms Accounting for Unexplained Anemia in the Elderly

Primary Purpose

Anemia

Status

Completed

Phase

Phase 1

Locations

United States

Study Type

Interventional

Intervention

Biotin RBC survival

About this trial

This is an interventional diagnostic trial for Anemia focused on measuring Anemia, Elderly, Mechanisms, Red Cell Survival

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Ambulatory, community dweller
Age greater than or equal to 70 years or older or between the ages of 18 and 50 years.
Able to understand English
Able to complete study questionnaires as determined by the investigator
Evidence for recent (within 1 year) clinical evaluation for blood loss directed by primary care physician or consultant in subjects referred with microcytic anemia or with referring laboratories indicative of iron deficiency. Furthermore, subjects found to have microcytic anemia will be eligible but will be referred to their primary doctor for evaluation of blood loss.
Provide informed consent

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Hemoglobin (Hb) less than 9 g/dL during screening
History of red blood cell transfusion withinthe 3 month period prior to accrual to this study, or evidence for active bleeding as ascertained by medical history (e.g., persistent melena, hematuria or dysfunctional uterine bleeding).
Patients for whom oral iron supplementation has been prescribed within the past two months. (Patients on a stable dose of oral iron for more than two months may be eligible).
ALT or AST more than 3 times upper normal limitation of the time of screening
B12 or folate deficiencies during screening period
Estimated GFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73m(2)during screening period (by the 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD] equation).
Receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for renal failure, or history of kidney transplant
Use of exogenous erythropoietin during the past 3 months
Any major surgery requiring general anesthesia within the past 3 months
Treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the past 12 months
Current diagnosis of active cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer and, stable prostate cancer
History of blood disorders including thalassemia, sickle cell disease or myelodysplasia
Current severe (NYHA Class III - IV) congestive heart failure or advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Positive serum monoclonal protein and immunofixation
Women who are pregnant or women planning to get pregnant during the duration of the study or those with a positive pregnancy test during screening
Active infection requiring antibiotic treatment or HIV, Hepatitis B or C
History of overt chronic inflammation, active Crohn s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetes(HbA1C greater than 7),
Known hemolytic anemia
History of prosthetic heart valve
History of participation in biotinylation studies or handling biotinylated reagent products.

Sites / Locations

National Institute of Aging, Clinical Research Unit

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm 3

Arm 4

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Arm Description

Age 70 and older with unexplained anemia

Age 70 and older with iron deficient anemia

Age 70 and older without anemia

Age 18 - 50 without anemia

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Measurement of red blood cell survival

Directly measure red blood cell survival and to correlate this with aspects of red blood cell physiology that may increase susceptibilty to the hemolytic process

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

NCT ID

NCT01572506

First Posted

April 5, 2012

Last Updated

October 20, 2023

Sponsor

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number

NCT01572506

Brief Title

Mechanisms Accounting for Unexplained Anemia in the Elderly

Official Title

Assessing Mechanisms Accounting for Unexplained Anemia in the Elderly

Study Type

Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date

March 2, 2023

Overall Recruitment Status

Completed

Study Start Date

March 29, 2012 (undefined)

Primary Completion Date

July 30, 2015 (Actual)

Study Completion Date

July 30, 2015 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title

Sponsor

Name of the Sponsor

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product

5. Study Description

Brief Summary

Background: - Anemia occurs commonly and is associated with poor outcomes in the elderly. In about a third of anemia cases in older people (over age 65), the cause of anemia is unexplained. Anemia in older adults may be caused by the bone marrow's inability to produce red blood cells fast enough to replace older red blood cells that have died. Researchers want to look at unexplained anemia by studying the life span of red blood cells in younger adults and older adults. To do so, a vitamin called Biotin will be used as a marker on the red blood cells. Objectives: - To investigate possible causes of unexplained anemia in older people. Eligibility: Individuals in the following groups: Men and women between 18 and 50 years of age who do not have anemia Men and women at least 70 years of age who do not have anemia. Men and women at least 70 years of age who have iron-deficiency anemia. Men and women at least 70 years of age who have anemia with no known cause. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. Participants will have an overnight stay for the first study visit. They will provide a blood sample to which Biotin will be added. The blood sample with Biotin will then be returned to the participant. Twenty-four hours later, another blood sample will be collected. Participants will have up to 14 additional study visits. At each visit, blood samples will be collected to measure the amount of Biotin remaining in the blood. Participants may also provide a separate blood sample for genetic testing. These tests may provide more information about genetic causes of unexplained anemia.

Detailed Description

Anemia occurs commonly and is associated with adverse outcomes in the elderly. In approximately one third of anemia cases in patients over the age of 65 years, the cause of anemia is not readily apparent (unexplained anemia or UA). Of the various causes of anemia in young adults, overt hemolysis (either acute or chronic) is very uncommon. However, we speculate that older persons tend to develop a low grade hemolytic process which significantly reduces RBC survival, and when this is not adequately countered by increased bone marrow RBC production, anemia (UA) is the consequence. This hypothesis is supported by a few clinical observations. For example, red cells in patients with UA are generally not small and when the peripheral blood smear is examined microscopically, anisocytosis (varying cell size) is observed, as is typical in patients with hemolytic anemia. Similarly, UA is frequently associated with an elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) on electronic measurement. Furthermore, serum erythropoietin levels gradually rise with advancing age (1), and this would be consistent either with a smoldering hemolytic process or a decreased responsiveness to erythropoietin. To address the hypothesis that UA is due, at least in part, to shortened RBC survival, we propose to directly measure red blood cell survival and to correlate this with aspects of red blood cell physiology that may increase susceptibility to the hemolytic process.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study

Anemia

Keywords

Anemia, Elderly, Mechanisms, Red Cell Survival

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose

Diagnostic

Study Phase

Phase 1

Interventional Study Model

Single Group Assignment

Masking

None (Open Label)

Allocation

Non-Randomized

Enrollment

58 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title

Group 1

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Arm Description

Age 70 and older with unexplained anemia

Arm Title

Group 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Arm Description

Age 70 and older with iron deficient anemia

Arm Title

Group 3

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Arm Description

Age 70 and older without anemia

Arm Title

Group 4

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Arm Description

Age 18 - 50 without anemia

Intervention Type

Drug

Intervention Name(s)

Biotin RBC survival

Primary Outcome Measure Information:

Title

Measurement of red blood cell survival

Description

Directly measure red blood cell survival and to correlate this with aspects of red blood cell physiology that may increase susceptibilty to the hemolytic process

10. Eligibility

Sex

All

Minimum Age & Unit of Time

18 Years

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Ambulatory, community dweller Age greater than or equal to 70 years or older or between the ages of 18 and 50 years. Able to understand English Able to complete study questionnaires as determined by the investigator Evidence for recent (within 1 year) clinical evaluation for blood loss directed by primary care physician or consultant in subjects referred with microcytic anemia or with referring laboratories indicative of iron deficiency. Furthermore, subjects found to have microcytic anemia will be eligible but will be referred to their primary doctor for evaluation of blood loss. Provide informed consent EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Hemoglobin (Hb) less than 9 g/dL during screening History of red blood cell transfusion withinthe 3 month period prior to accrual to this study, or evidence for active bleeding as ascertained by medical history (e.g., persistent melena, hematuria or dysfunctional uterine bleeding). Patients for whom oral iron supplementation has been prescribed within the past two months. (Patients on a stable dose of oral iron for more than two months may be eligible). ALT or AST more than 3 times upper normal limitation of the time of screening B12 or folate deficiencies during screening period Estimated GFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73m(2)during screening period (by the 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD] equation). Receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for renal failure, or history of kidney transplant Use of exogenous erythropoietin during the past 3 months Any major surgery requiring general anesthesia within the past 3 months Treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the past 12 months Current diagnosis of active cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer and, stable prostate cancer History of blood disorders including thalassemia, sickle cell disease or myelodysplasia Current severe (NYHA Class III - IV) congestive heart failure or advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Positive serum monoclonal protein and immunofixation Women who are pregnant or women planning to get pregnant during the duration of the study or those with a positive pregnancy test during screening Active infection requiring antibiotic treatment or HIV, Hepatitis B or C History of overt chronic inflammation, active Crohn s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetes(HbA1C greater than 7), Known hemolytic anemia History of prosthetic heart valve History of participation in biotinylation studies or handling biotinylated reagent products.

Overall Study Officials:

First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree

Josephine M Egan, M.D.

Organizational Affiliation

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Official's Role

Principal Investigator

Facility Information:

Facility Name

National Institute of Aging, Clinical Research Unit

City

Baltimore

State/Province

Maryland

ZIP/Postal Code

21224

Country

United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD

Undecided

IPD Sharing Plan Description

.The NIA IRP is discussing the plan to make IPD available. A final decision has not been made.

Citations:

PubMed Identifier

16078962

Citation

Ershler WB, Sheng S, McKelvey J, Artz AS, Denduluri N, Tecson J, Taub DD, Brant LJ, Ferrucci L, Longo DL. Serum erythropoietin and aging: a longitudinal analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Aug;53(8):1360-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53416.x.

Results Reference

background

PubMed Identifier

15238427

Citation

Guralnik JM, Eisenstaedt RS, Ferrucci L, Klein HG, Woodman RC. Prevalence of anemia in persons 65 years and older in the United States: evidence for a high rate of unexplained anemia. Blood. 2004 Oct 15;104(8):2263-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-05-1812. Epub 2004 Jul 6.

Results Reference

background

PubMed Identifier

15381339

Citation

Artz AS, Fergusson D, Drinka PJ, Gerald M, Gravenstein S, Lechich A, Silverstone F, Finnigan S, Janowski MC, McCamish MA, Ershler WB. Prevalence of anemia in skilled-nursing home residents. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2004 Nov-Dec;39(3):201-6. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2004.03.006.

Results Reference

background

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Mechanisms Accounting for Unexplained Anemia in the Elderly

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