Congenital Heart DiseasePhase 4STEPSNCT06668389
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Patients for Enhancement of Cardio-Pulmonary Status Trial
A Phase 4 study testing SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg) in people with Congenital Heart Disease and Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) is the leading cause of congenital cyanotic heart disease worldwide, involving up to 7-10% of congenital heart disease. With advances in open-heart surgical repair techniques and medical therapies, there is a significant increase in patients with rTOF surviving till late adulthood. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Congenital Heart Disease, Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), Pulmonary Regurgitation
- What is being tested?
- SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg)
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 106 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 12 May 2025to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- rTOF
- Aged 18 years or above
- Voluntarily agrees to participate in the clinical trial and provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with LVEF < 40%
- Planned cardiac and/or non-cardiac surgery in 3 months
- Chronic kidney disease stages 4 to 5
- Unable to perform cardiopulmonary test
- Recent use of SGLT2 inhibitors within 6 months
- Known hypersensitivity to SGLT2 inhibitors
Show all 14Show fewer
- History of diabetic ketoacidosis
- Recent symptomatic hypoglycaemia within 6 months
- Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
- History of perineum infection
- Recent urinary tract infection within 6 months
- Recent genital infection within 6 months
- Other known contraindication to SGLT2 inhibitor
- Pregnancy or breast feeding
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong
Chun Ka Dr Wong, Clinical Assistant Professor, +852-22553111, wongeck@hku.hk
Chun-Ka Dr Wong, Clinical Assistant Professor
About this study
Official title: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Patients for Enhancement of Cardio-Pulmonary Status Trial (STEPS Trial)
Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) is the leading cause of congenital cyanotic heart disease worldwide, involving up to 7-10% of congenital heart disease. With advances in open-heart surgical repair techniques and medical therapies, there is a significant increase in patients with rTOF surviving till late adulthood. One sequalae that nearly all rTOF patients develop during their lifetime is significant pulmonary regurgitation. Pulmonary regurgitation causes progressive right ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction, which in turn impairs cardio-pulmonary function and overall survival.
There is currently no pharmacological therapy proven to improve cardio-pulmonary function in rTOF patients. In a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized controlled trial involving 33 rTOF patients, the use of beta-adrenergic receptor blocker Bisoprolol failed to improve maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) in the treatment group. Furthermore, there was no significant change in dimension of right ventricle on cardiac imaging, or heart failure biomarkers including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). In the APPROPRIATE trial involving 64 patients, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) Ramipril similarly failed to improve VO2 max despite an improved right ventricular long-axis shortening. In REDEFINE trial, 95 rTOF patients were randomized in to receive angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) Losartan and control. At the end of study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in VO2 max, right ventricular ejection fraction, and other key outcomes.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is a promising therapy for rTOF patients. Clinical trials consistently demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce heart failure hospitalization and mortality among patients with heart failure with or without diabetes mellitus. There have been growing body of evidence that demonstrate that SGLT2 inhibitors improve right ventricular function. In a preclinical study of rat with pulmonary hypertension induced right ventricular failure, empagliflozin was found to reduce pulmonary pressure, alleviate right ventricular hypertrophy and reduce myocardial fibrosis. In a pilot study involving 10 patients with adult congenital heart disease and systemic right ventricular failure, SGLT2 inhibitors improved cardio-pulmonary function as reflected by 6-minute walk test performance and New York Heart Association functional status. Most recently, investigators from DAPA-SERVE randomized controlled trial reported that among 92 patients with systemic right ventricular failure, those randomized to receive SGLT2 inhibitors had superior systemic right ventricular function with larger fractional area change (FAC) and more negative free-wall global longitudinal strain. Nevertheless, as these trials involve patients with right ventricular connections to the systemic circulation rather than pulmonary circulation in rTOF, it is uncertain whether the trial results can be extrapolated to the rTOF population. The critical knowledge gap our proposed randomized controlled trial seeks to address is whether SGLT2 inhibitors improve cardio-pulmonary function in rTOF patients.
Read the detailed description
Patients with repaired TOF fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria will be recruited from Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Patients who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be interviewed by research staff and given a detailed explanation of the clinical trial. Written informed consent will be obtained if the patient agrees to enroll in the trial.
Assessments will be performed at Visit 1 (week 1): Review of medical history and history taking, Physical examination of vital signs (including blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry), and cardiovascular system (12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), Blood tests (if not already done within 3 months): Complete blood count, Renal function test, Liver function test, Calcium and phosphate levels, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-pro-BNP), High sensitive troponin T, Creatinine kinase, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Fasting glucose, Lipid profile , Erythropoietin, Multi-omic studies including proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics, Genetic test and geneticist consultation, Echocardiography (if not already done within 3 years), Cardiopulmonary test (CPX), Urine pregnancy test in women of childbearing age.
Randomization will be performed on the day of recruitment. An allocation sequence will be generated prior to initiation of the clinical trial using random numbers generated by computer. After entering a subject's information on the clinical trial system, the allocated group for the subject will be revealed. If a subject found to be ineligible for the clinical trial after randomization, the original assignment will be allocated to the next eligible subject. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to 1 of the 2 treatment arms:
- SGLT2 inhibitor Group: Dapagliflozin 10mg once daily orally from Visit 1 (Week 1) to Visit 3 (Week 12 ± 1)
- Control Group: Routine care.
CPX will be performed on Visit 1 (week 4 ± 1) and Visit 3 (week 12 ± 1) under supervision of cardiologist blinded to randomization results. VO2 max, which represent the maximal amount of oxygen consumed during peak exercise, will be measured. In addition, other parameters including metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved, oxygen pulse, anaerobic threshold (VO2 AT), ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VE/VO2) will be evaluated. Participant will concurrently be Apple Watch Series 9 (Apple, USA) smartwatch for pre- and post-SaO2 and VO2max assessment.
Echocardiography will be performed on Visit 1 and Visit 3 by independent echocardiographer blinded to randomization result. Right ventricular function will be assessed by measuring fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), lateral tricuspid annulus peak systolic velocity (RVS'). Right ventricular diastolic diameter including basal (RVD1), mid ventricle (RVD2) and longitudinal (RVD3) will be measured. Tricuspid regurgitation severity will be graded using vena contracta with <0.2 cm as mild, 0.2-0.6 cm as moderate, and ≥0.7 cm as severe. Pulmonary regurgitation severity will be graded using semi-quantitative approach using right ventricular outflow view and parasternal short axis view with pressure half time <100 ms to be graded as severe.
- Conditions
- Congenital Heart Disease, Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), Pulmonary Regurgitation, Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor, Dapagliflozin (Forxiga)
- Being tested
- SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg)
- Keywords
- Congenital Heart Disease, Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), Pulmonary Regurgitation, Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, Dapagliflozin (Forxiga)
- Medical subject headings
- Heart Defects, Congenital, Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg)Drug
Subjects in SGLT2 inhibitor Group will take dapagliflozin 10mg once daily orally from Visit 1 (Week 1) to Visit 3 (Week 12 ± 1)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SGLT2 inhibitor Group | Experimental | Dapagliflozin 10mg once daily orally from Visit 1 (Week 1) to Visit 3 (Week 12 ± 1) Receives: Drug: SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg) |
| Control Group | No intervention | Routine care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) on cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) at 3 months
Efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors for improving cardiopulmonary function as assessed the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) on cardiopulmonary exercise testing in rTOF patients at 3 months
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Secondary outcomes (7)
Right ventricular systolic function and dimension
Effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on right ventricular dimension and function in rTOF patients as assessed by performing echocardiography at 3 months
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation severity
Effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on as pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation severity as assessed by echocardiography at 3 months
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Other cardiopulmonary test (CPX) parameters
Metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved, oxygen pulse, anaerobic threshold (VO2 AT), and ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VE/VO2) are assessed during CPX for effect of of SGLT2 inhibitors in rTOF patients
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Cardiac biomarkers level
Cardiac biomarkers level, including NT-proBNP and high sensitive troponin T in rTOF patients at 3 months as assessed via blood tests for effect of SGLT2 inhibitors
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire/ Kansa City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score
Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire/ Kansa City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score as completed with rTOF patients for effect of SGLT2 inhibitors
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Time to first occurrence of clinical events
Time to first occurrence of clinical events, including heart failure hospitalization, incident arrhythmia, and cardiovascular mortality in 3 months safety as assessed for tolerability of SGLT2 inhibitors in rTOF patients
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Occurrence of adverse events
Occurrence of adverse events in 3 months as assessed for safety and tolerability SGLT2 inhibitors in rTOF patients
Measured: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Oct 2024
- Study start12 May 2025
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (19)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Congenital Heart DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 106 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Wong Chun Ka, The University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Chun-Ka Dr Wong, Clinical Assistant Professor, Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong/ Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06668389
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STEPS
- Other IDs
- HKU / HA HKW IRB
- Acronym
- STEPS
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Oct 2024
- Last updated
- 28 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Gong Z, Xing D, Wu R, Zhang S, Ye C, Chen Y, Liu X, Chen L, Wang T. Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-form B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2022 Dec;12(6):853-867. doi: 10.21037/cdt-22-155.
PubMed 36605072Wadey CA, Weston ME, Dorobantu DM, Pieles GE, Stuart G, Barker AR, Taylor RS, Williams CA. The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in predicting mortality and morbidity in people with congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2022 Mar 25;29(3):513-533. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwab125.
PubMed 34405863Neijenhuis RML, Nederend M, Jongbloed MRM, Kies P, Rotmans JI, Vliegen HW, Jukema JW, Egorova AD. The potential of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for the treatment of systemic right ventricular failure in adults with congenital heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Jun 26;10:1093201. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1093201. eCollection 2023.
PubMed 37435053Fusco F, Scognamiglio G, Abbate M, Merola A, Grimaldi N, Ciriello GD, Sarubbi B. Dapagliflozin in Patients With a Failing Systemic Right Ventricle: Results From the DAPA-SERVE Trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2024 Apr;12(4):789-791. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2024.01.006. Epub 2024 Feb 28. No abstract available.
PubMed 38430085Wu J, Liu T, Shi S, Fan Z, Hiram R, Xiong F, Cui B, Su X, Chang R, Zhang W, Yan M, Tang Y, Huang H, Wu G, Huang C. Dapagliflozin reduces the vulnerability of rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension-induced right heart failure to ventricular arrhythmia by restoring calcium handling. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2022 Sep 28;21(1):197. doi: 10.1186/s12933-022-01614-5.
PubMed 36171554Axelsen JS, Nielsen-Kudsk AH, Schwab J, Ringgaard S, Nielsen-Kudsk JE, de Man FS, Andersen A, Andersen S. Effects of empagliflozin on right ventricular adaptation to pressure overload. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Dec 14;10:1302265. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1302265. eCollection 2023.
PubMed 38162132van den Bosch E, van Genuchten WJ, Luijnenburg SE, Duppen N, Kamphuis VP, Roos-Hesselink JW, Bartelds B, Roest AAW, Breur JMPJ, Blom NA, Boersma E, Koopman LP, Helbing WA. Associations between blood biomarkers, cardiac function and adverse outcome in a young tetralogy of Fallot cohort. Int J Cardiol. 2022 Aug 15;361:31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.04.065. Epub 2022 Apr 26.
PubMed 35487320McDonagh TA, Metra M, Adamo M, Gardner RS, Baumbach A, Bohm M, Burri H, Butler J, Celutkiene J, Chioncel O, Cleland JGF, Crespo-Leiro MG, Farmakis D, Gilard M, Heymans S, Hoes AW, Jaarsma T, Jankowska EA, Lainscak M, Lam CSP, Lyon AR, McMurray JJV, Mebazaa A, Mindham R, Muneretto C, Francesco Piepoli M, Price S, Rosano GMC, Ruschitzka F, Skibelund AK; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2023 Focused Update of the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J. 2023 Oct 1;44(37):3627-3639. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad195. No abstract available.
PubMed 37622666Nunez J, Palau P, Dominguez E, Mollar A, Nunez E, Ramon JM, Minana G, Santas E, Facila L, Gorriz JL, Sanchis J, Bayes-Genis A. Early effects of empagliflozin on exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure: A pilot study. Clin Cardiol. 2018 Apr;41(4):476-480. doi: 10.1002/clc.22899. Epub 2018 Apr 17.
PubMed 29663436Chen K, Nie Z, Shi R, Yu D, Wang Q, Shao F, Wu G, Wu Z, Chen T, Li C. Time to Benefit of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Among Patients With Heart Failure. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Aug 1;6(8):e2330754. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.30754.
PubMed 37615988Santos-Gallego CG, Vargas-Delgado AP, Requena-Ibanez JA, Garcia-Ropero A, Mancini D, Pinney S, Macaluso F, Sartori S, Roque M, Sabatel-Perez F, Rodriguez-Cordero A, Zafar MU, Fergus I, Atallah-Lajam F, Contreras JP, Varley C, Moreno PR, Abascal VM, Lala A, Tamler R, Sanz J, Fuster V, Badimon JJ; EMPA-TROPISM (ATRU-4) Investigators. Randomized Trial of Empagliflozin in Nondiabetic Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Jan 26;77(3):243-255. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.008. Epub 2020 Nov 13.
PubMed 33197559Chowdhury B, Luu AZ, Luu VZ, Kabir MG, Pan Y, Teoh H, Quan A, Sabongui S, Al-Omran M, Bhatt DL, Mazer CD, Connelly KA, Verma S, Hess DA. The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduces mortality and prevents progression in experimental pulmonary hypertension. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020 Mar 26;524(1):50-56. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.01.015. Epub 2020 Jan 21.
PubMed 31980166McMurray JJV, Solomon SD, Inzucchi SE, Kober L, Kosiborod MN, Martinez FA, Ponikowski P, Sabatine MS, Anand IS, Belohlavek J, Bohm M, Chiang CE, Chopra VK, de Boer RA, Desai AS, Diez M, Drozdz J, Dukat A, Ge J, Howlett JG, Katova T, Kitakaze M, Ljungman CEA, Merkely B, Nicolau JC, O'Meara E, Petrie MC, Vinh PN, Schou M, Tereshchenko S, Verma S, Held C, DeMets DL, Docherty KF, Jhund PS, Bengtsson O, Sjostrand M, Langkilde AM; DAPA-HF Trial Committees and Investigators. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction. N Engl J Med. 2019 Nov 21;381(21):1995-2008. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1911303. Epub 2019 Sep 19.
PubMed 31535829Bokma JP, Winter MM, van Dijk AP, Vliegen HW, van Melle JP, Meijboom FJ, Post MC, Berbee JK, Boekholdt SM, Groenink M, Zwinderman AH, Mulder BJM, Bouma BJ. Effect of Losartan on Right Ventricular Dysfunction: Results From the Double-Blind, Randomized REDEFINE Trial (Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Tetralogy of Fallot: Inhibition of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) in Adults With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot. Circulation. 2018 Apr 3;137(14):1463-1471. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.031438. Epub 2017 Dec 8.
PubMed 29222139Babu-Narayan SV, Uebing A, Davlouros PA, Kemp M, Davidson S, Dimopoulos K, Bayne S, Pennell DJ, Gibson DG, Flather M, Kilner PJ, Li W, Gatzoulis MA. Randomised trial of ramipril in repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary regurgitation: the APPROPRIATE study (Ace inhibitors for Potential PRevention Of the deleterious effects of Pulmonary Regurgitation In Adults with repaired TEtralogy of Fallot). Int J Cardiol. 2012 Feb 9;154(3):299-305. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.09.057. Epub 2010 Oct 22.
PubMed 20970202
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Patients for Enhancement of Cardio-Pulmonary Status Trial (STEPS Trial)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06668389
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STEPS / STEPS
- Conditions
- Congenital Heart Disease, Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), Pulmonary Regurgitation, Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor, Dapagliflozin (Forxiga)
- Keywords
- Congenital Heart Disease, Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), Pulmonary Regurgitation, Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, Dapagliflozin (Forxiga)
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 106 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) is the leading cause of congenital cyanotic heart disease worldwide, involving up to 7-10% of congenital heart disease. With advances in open-heart surgical repair techniques and medical therapies, there is a significant increase in patients with rTOF surviving till late adulthood. One sequalae that nearly all rTOF patients develop during their lifetime is significant pulmonary regurgitation. Pulmonary regurgitation causes progressive right ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction, which in turn impairs cardio-pulmonary function and overall survival.
There is currently no pharmacological therapy proven to improve cardio-pulmonary function in rTOF patients. In a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized controlled trial involving 33 rTOF patients, the use of beta-adrenergic receptor blocker Bisoprolol failed to improve maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) in the treatment group. Furthermore, there was no significant change in dimension of right ventricle on cardiac imaging, or heart failure biomarkers including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). In the APPROPRIATE trial involving 64 patients, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) Ramipril similarly failed to improve VO2 max despite an improved right ventricular long-axis shortening. In REDEFINE trial, 95 rTOF patients were randomized in to receive angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) Losartan and control. At the end of study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in VO2 max, right ventricular ejection fraction, and other key outcomes.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is a promising therapy for rTOF patients. Clinical trials consistently demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce heart failure hospitalization and mortality among patients with heart failure with or without diabetes mellitus. There have been growing body of evidence that demonstrate that SGLT2 inhibitors improve right ventricular function. In a preclinical study of rat with pulmonary hypertension induced right ventricular failure, empagliflozin was found to reduce pulmonary pressure, alleviate right ventricular hypertrophy and reduce myocardial fibrosis. In a pilot study involving 10 patients with adult congenital heart disease and systemic right ventricular failure, SGLT2 inhibitors improved cardio-pulmonary function as reflected by 6-minute walk test performance and New York Heart Association functional status. Most recently, investigators from DAPA-SERVE randomized controlled trial reported that among 92 patients with systemic right ventricular failure, those randomized to receive SGLT2 inhibitors had superior systemic right ventricular function with larger fractional area change (FAC) and more negative free-wall global longitudinal strain. Nevertheless, as these trials involve patients with right ventricular connections to the systemic circulation rather than pulmonary circulation in rTOF, it is uncertain whether the trial results can be extrapolated to the rTOF population. The critical knowledge gap our proposed randomized controlled trial seeks to address is whether SGLT2 inhibitors improve cardio-pulmonary function in rTOF patients.
Detailed description
Patients with repaired TOF fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria will be recruited from Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Patients who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be interviewed by research staff and given a detailed explanation of the clinical trial. Written informed consent will be obtained if the patient agrees to enroll in the trial.
Assessments will be performed at Visit 1 (week 1): Review of medical history and history taking, Physical examination of vital signs (including blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry), and cardiovascular system (12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), Blood tests (if not already done within 3 months): Complete blood count, Renal function test, Liver function test, Calcium and phosphate levels, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-pro-BNP), High sensitive troponin T, Creatinine kinase, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Fasting glucose, Lipid profile , Erythropoietin, Multi-omic studies including proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics, Genetic test and geneticist consultation, Echocardiography (if not already done within 3 years), Cardiopulmonary test (CPX), Urine pregnancy test in women of childbearing age.
Randomization will be performed on the day of recruitment. An allocation sequence will be generated prior to initiation of the clinical trial using random numbers generated by computer. After entering a subject's information on the clinical trial system, the allocated group for the subject will be revealed. If a subject found to be ineligible for the clinical trial after randomization, the original assignment will be allocated to the next eligible subject. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to 1 of the 2 treatment arms:
- SGLT2 inhibitor Group: Dapagliflozin 10mg once daily orally from Visit 1 (Week 1) to Visit 3 (Week 12 ± 1)
- Control Group: Routine care.
CPX will be performed on Visit 1 (week 4 ± 1) and Visit 3 (week 12 ± 1) under supervision of cardiologist blinded to randomization results. VO2 max, which represent the maximal amount of oxygen consumed during peak exercise, will be measured. In addition, other parameters including metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved, oxygen pulse, anaerobic threshold (VO2 AT), ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VE/VO2) will be evaluated. Participant will concurrently be Apple Watch Series 9 (Apple, USA) smartwatch for pre- and post-SaO2 and VO2max assessment.
Echocardiography will be performed on Visit 1 and Visit 3 by independent echocardiographer blinded to randomization result. Right ventricular function will be assessed by measuring fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), lateral tricuspid annulus peak systolic velocity (RVS'). Right ventricular diastolic diameter including basal (RVD1), mid ventricle (RVD2) and longitudinal (RVD3) will be measured. Tricuspid regurgitation severity will be graded using vena contracta with <0.2 cm as mild, 0.2-0.6 cm as moderate, and ≥0.7 cm as severe. Pulmonary regurgitation severity will be graded using semi-quantitative approach using right ventricular outflow view and parasternal short axis view with pressure half time <100 ms to be graded as severe.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SGLT2 inhibitor Group | Experimental | Drug: SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg)Dapagliflozin 10mg once daily orally from Visit 1 (Week 1) to Visit 3 (Week 12 ± 1) |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Routine care |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- rTOF
- Aged 18 years or above
- Voluntarily agrees to participate in the clinical trial and provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with LVEF < 40%
- Planned cardiac and/or non-cardiac surgery in 3 months
- Chronic kidney disease stages 4 to 5
- Unable to perform cardiopulmonary test
- Recent use of SGLT2 inhibitors within 6 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg)Subjects in SGLT2 inhibitor Group will take dapagliflozin 10mg once daily orally from Visit 1 (Week 1) to Visit 3 (Week 12 ± 1) | Drug | SGLT2 inhibitor Group |
Primary outcome
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) on cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) at 3 months
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors for improving cardiopulmonary function as assessed the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) on cardiopulmonary exercise testing in rTOF patients at 3 months
7 secondary outcomes
Right ventricular systolic function and dimension
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation severity
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Other cardiopulmonary test (CPX) parameters
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Cardiac biomarkers level
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire/ Kansa City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Time to first occurrence of clinical events
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Occurrence of adverse events
Time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Oct 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 36605072Gong Z, Xing D, Wu R, Zhang S, Ye C, Chen Y, Liu X, Chen L, Wang T. Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-form B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2022 Dec;12(6):853-867. doi: 10.21037/cdt-22-155.
- Results publication: PubMed 34405863Wadey CA, Weston ME, Dorobantu DM, Pieles GE, Stuart G, Barker AR, Taylor RS, Williams CA. The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in predicting mortality and morbidity in people with congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2022 Mar 25;29(3):513-533. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwab125.
- Results publication: PubMed 37435053Neijenhuis RML, Nederend M, Jongbloed MRM, Kies P, Rotmans JI, Vliegen HW, Jukema JW, Egorova AD. The potential of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for the treatment of systemic right ventricular failure in adults with congenital heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Jun 26;10:1093201. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1093201. eCollection 2023.
- Results publication: PubMed 38430085Fusco F, Scognamiglio G, Abbate M, Merola A, Grimaldi N, Ciriello GD, Sarubbi B. Dapagliflozin in Patients With a Failing Systemic Right Ventricle: Results From the DAPA-SERVE Trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2024 Apr;12(4):789-791. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2024.01.006. Epub 2024 Feb 28. No abstract available.
- Results publication: PubMed 36171554Wu J, Liu T, Shi S, Fan Z, Hiram R, Xiong F, Cui B, Su X, Chang R, Zhang W, Yan M, Tang Y, Huang H, Wu G, Huang C. Dapagliflozin reduces the vulnerability of rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension-induced right heart failure to ventricular arrhythmia by restoring calcium handling. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2022 Sep 28;21(1):197. doi: 10.1186/s12933-022-01614-5.
- Results publication: PubMed 38162132Axelsen JS, Nielsen-Kudsk AH, Schwab J, Ringgaard S, Nielsen-Kudsk JE, de Man FS, Andersen A, Andersen S. Effects of empagliflozin on right ventricular adaptation to pressure overload. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Dec 14;10:1302265. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1302265. eCollection 2023.
- Results publication: PubMed 35487320van den Bosch E, van Genuchten WJ, Luijnenburg SE, Duppen N, Kamphuis VP, Roos-Hesselink JW, Bartelds B, Roest AAW, Breur JMPJ, Blom NA, Boersma E, Koopman LP, Helbing WA. Associations between blood biomarkers, cardiac function and adverse outcome in a young tetralogy of Fallot cohort. Int J Cardiol. 2022 Aug 15;361:31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.04.065. Epub 2022 Apr 26.
- Results publication: PubMed 37622666McDonagh TA, Metra M, Adamo M, Gardner RS, Baumbach A, Bohm M, Burri H, Butler J, Celutkiene J, Chioncel O, Cleland JGF, Crespo-Leiro MG, Farmakis D, Gilard M, Heymans S, Hoes AW, Jaarsma T, Jankowska EA, Lainscak M, Lam CSP, Lyon AR, McMurray JJV, Mebazaa A, Mindham R, Muneretto C, Francesco Piepoli M, Price S, Rosano GMC, Ruschitzka F, Skibelund AK; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2023 Focused Update of the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J. 2023 Oct 1;44(37):3627-3639. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad195. No abstract available.
- Results publication: PubMed 29663436Nunez J, Palau P, Dominguez E, Mollar A, Nunez E, Ramon JM, Minana G, Santas E, Facila L, Gorriz JL, Sanchis J, Bayes-Genis A. Early effects of empagliflozin on exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure: A pilot study. Clin Cardiol. 2018 Apr;41(4):476-480. doi: 10.1002/clc.22899. Epub 2018 Apr 17.
- Results publication: PubMed 37615988Chen K, Nie Z, Shi R, Yu D, Wang Q, Shao F, Wu G, Wu Z, Chen T, Li C. Time to Benefit of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Among Patients With Heart Failure. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Aug 1;6(8):e2330754. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.30754.
- Results publication: PubMed 33197559Santos-Gallego CG, Vargas-Delgado AP, Requena-Ibanez JA, Garcia-Ropero A, Mancini D, Pinney S, Macaluso F, Sartori S, Roque M, Sabatel-Perez F, Rodriguez-Cordero A, Zafar MU, Fergus I, Atallah-Lajam F, Contreras JP, Varley C, Moreno PR, Abascal VM, Lala A, Tamler R, Sanz J, Fuster V, Badimon JJ; EMPA-TROPISM (ATRU-4) Investigators. Randomized Trial of Empagliflozin in Nondiabetic Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Jan 26;77(3):243-255. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.008. Epub 2020 Nov 13.
- Results publication: PubMed 31980166Chowdhury B, Luu AZ, Luu VZ, Kabir MG, Pan Y, Teoh H, Quan A, Sabongui S, Al-Omran M, Bhatt DL, Mazer CD, Connelly KA, Verma S, Hess DA. The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduces mortality and prevents progression in experimental pulmonary hypertension. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020 Mar 26;524(1):50-56. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.01.015. Epub 2020 Jan 21.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Chun-Ka Dr Wong, Clinical Assistant Professor principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong/ Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing SGLT2 inhibitor (Dapagliflozin 10mg) in people with Congenital Heart Disease and Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 3 inclusion and 14 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 2026. 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 Hong Kong. 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 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Chun Ka Dr Wong, Clinical Assistant Professor (+852-22553111, wongeck@hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) on cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) at 3 months (time frame: At Visit 3 (3 months)). 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 NCT06668389, which also lists 19 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 28 Oct 2026.