RecruitingPhase 2

Empagliflozin in Patients With Cirrhosis and Ascites

United States20 participantsStarted 2023-09-11

Plain-language summary

A proof-of-concept placebo-controlled trial to explore the acute and 14-day effects of empagliflozin on natriuresis and total body water in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. We will additionally investigate its effect on neurohumoral activation, and renal hemodynamics.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patients with cirrhosis and ascites on a stable dose of diuretics (spironolactone +/- loop-diuretics based on AASLD guidelines)10 and who do not require large volume paracenteses
. eGFR \>= 30mL/min/1.73 m2
. \>=18 years old

Exclusion criteria

. Hospitalization due to a complication of cirrhosis in the previous 8 weeks (e.g. variceal hemorrhage, encephalopathy, acute kidney injury, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis)
. Direct bilirubin \>=3 mg/dL
. Systolic blood pressure \< 100 mmHg
. Active malignancy including hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing treatment
. History of bladder dysfunction, incontinence, pyelonephritis, urosepsis, or frequent urinary tract infections
. Use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in the last 10 days, or previous use with intolerance
. Type 1 diabetes
. History of frequent hypoglycemic episodes

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in FENa with administration of study drug (10 mg empagliflozin vs. identical placebo)

Timeframe: 14 days

Change in total body water (TBW) before and after a 14-day course of study drug

Timeframe: 14 days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05726032

SponsorYale University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-01

Contact for this trial

Veena Rao, PHD

2037373571 veena.s.rao@yale.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cirrhosis trials