Efficacy of LoDoCo in Improving Exercise Capacity Among Patients With HFpEF and Inflammation

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2026-01-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to determine the effectiveness of low dose colchicine (LoDoCo) on measures of exercise capacity, physical function, frailty, and quality of life, among patients with heart failure with chronic stable preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and systemic inflammation. The use of LoDoCo in this study is considered investigational as it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of exercise capacity in patients with HFpEF.

Participants will undergo a 1-day screening that includes a blood draw and physical examination. If deemed eligible for the study, participants will undergo a baseline visit within 2 weeks of screening visit that includes physical examination, exercise testing, echocardiography and completion of quality-of-life surveys. Participants will also be randomized at this visit (randomly assigned to a group) to receive either LoDoCo or placebo (inactive substance) for 3 months. Participants will be called back at 3 months for repeat physical examination, blood draws, echocardiography, exercise testing and completion of quality-of-life surveys. Each visit will take about 3 hours. Total study duration is about 3 months.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Treatments: Colchicine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Informed consent was obtained before any study-related activities. Study-related activities are any procedures that are carried out as part of the study, including activities to determine suitability for the study.

2. Age 50 years or above at the time of signing the informed consent. 3. Serum hs-CRP 2 mg/L at the time of baseline testing. 4. Diagnosis of chronic HFpEF within 6 months of enrolment must have one of the following:

a. Structural Heart Disease with one of the following on echocardiography within 12 months of enrolment.

i. LA volume index > 34 ml/m2. ii. LA diameter ≥ 3.8 cm. iii. LA length ≥ 5.0 cm. iv. LA area ≥ 20 cm2. v. LA volume ≥ 55 mL. vi. Intraventricular septal thickness ≥1.1 cm. vii. Posterior wall thickness ≥1.1 cm. viii. LV mass index ≥115 g∕m2 in men or ≥ 95 g∕m2 in women. ix. E/e' (mean septal and lateral) ≥ 10. x. e' (mean septal and lateral) < 9 cm/s b. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) at rest³15 mmHg or Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) ³18 mmHg, (PCWP) with exercise ³25 mmHg or (³ 2 mmHg/L/min) c. HF hospitalization or urgent/unplanned visit with a primary diagnosis of decompensated heart failure which required intravenous loop diuretic treatment, within the last 9 months prior to enrolment in combination with NT-proBNP ≥ 125 pg/mL within 1 month of enrolment for patients without ongoing atrial fibrillation/flutter. If ongoing atrial fibrillation/flutter at screening NT-proBNP must be ≥ 300 pg/mL 5. Ambulatory participants who can perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing. 6. Stable doses of HF-specific medications within the last 1 month.

7. Stable level of physical activity 8. Stable dose of any weight loss medications.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Do not otherwise meet the inclusion criteria. 2. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may be considering pregnancy during the study period.

3. Renal impairment: eGFR <30mL/min 4. Severe valvular heart disease is considered likely to require intervention. 5. Life expectancy <1 year. 6. Unable to perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing. 7. ALT or AST >2.5 ULN at time of screening