Bariatric Embolization of Arteries With Imaging Visible Embolics (BEATLES) — BAE2  

Obesity Clinical Trial

Official title: Bariatric Embolization of Arteries With Imaging Visible Embolics

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and with a subclass of obesity known as morbid or severe obesity (BMI of ≥40 kg/m2). These are major issues in medicine for both participants and medical providers with >36% of the US population affected. Obesity is one of the biggest causes of preventable chronic diseases and healthcare costs in the USA. Obese adults spend 42% more on direct healthcare costs and morbidly obese adults overall have 81% higher healthcare costs than non-obese adults. Obesity is currently treated with dietary, pharmacological, and/or surgical approaches that are often unsuccessful or are associated with additional risks. As the incidence and prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases are steadily increasing, there is a growing need to detect the key risk factors involved in disease development and modify standard treatment procedures and protocols.

The most successful long-term strategy continues to be bariatric and metabolic surgeries, such as sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP). The NIH recommends bariatric surgery for participants with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or greater or a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or greater and obesity related comorbidities. These surgeries enable participants to lose between 50% and 75% of excess body weight. Despite this success, participants are apprehensive and do not undergo bariatric surgery with the biggest fear being the many complications that come with the procedure. Studies have shown that 57-77% of participants are not interested in bariatric surgery although the participants qualify.(16)

With the concern of complications from bariatric surgery, interest in endoscopic bariatric techniques has increased over the years. The techniques have been shown to be efficacious, reversible, relatively safe, and cost effective. Further, these techniques offer a therapeutic window for some participants who may otherwise be unable to undergo bariatric surgery. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have approved endoscopic procedures, such as balloon therapy, for participants with BMI in the 30-40 kg/m2 range.(17,18) However, the products used in these therapies also have several limitations primarily the inability to provide long term weight loss given the temporary nature of these balloons.(19) Common adverse events following intragastric balloon insertion include abdominal pain (33.7%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (18.3%), anorexia, and nausea (29%). Severe complications such as gastric ulcers (2%), small bowel obstruction (0.3%), perforation (0.1%), balloon migration (1.4%), and death (0.08%) are less common. Early balloon removal occurred in 9.1% of the study participants due to participant intolerance.(20)

In a pilot study to assess safety and efficacy (BEAT Obesity), 20 morbidly obese participants with a BMI of ≥40 kg/m2 with no other comorbid conditions underwent bariatric embolization and were followed for 12 months. Participants were embolized with 300-500 µm Embospheres. None of the 20 participants in the BEAT Obesity trial (the largest prospective trial to date) had any major adverse events. Any gastric ulcers that occurred (40%) were asymptomatic and were completely healed by three months after the procedure.(21)

There were many limitations of this study including the absence of a control cohort and non-compliance amongst study participants. A target population of participants with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 and above was too high considering the bariatric embolization procedure is comparable to endoscopic bariatric therapies rather than bariatric surgery. BEAT Obesity excluded participants with comorbidities, such as those who suffer from diabetes, who may greatly benefit from this procedure and are often the target population for endoscopic/surgical bariatric therapies. A larger bead size of 300-500 µm was specifically chosen compared to preclinical data and prior clinical reports due to concerns of gastric ischemia and ulceration. However, smaller bead size produces greater weight loss and hormonal shifts.(22)

Investigators hypothesize that transvascular bariatric embolization results in safe and effective weight loss in obese participants compared to control subjects.

Clinical Trial Description

The BEATLES study is an investigator-initiated, prospective, double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled study that will assess the impact of bariatric embolization on the systemic levels of obesity-related hormones and, as a consequence, on weight loss. The goal of this study is to help treat obesity combining a lifestyle program and a minimally invasive, angiographic (i.e., through blood vessels) approach. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Morbid Obesity
• Obesity
• Obesity, Morbid
• Weight Loss

• NCT number: NCT04197336
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Johns Hopkins University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 10, 2020
• Completion date: December 14, 2023