Rationale: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an incurable genetic disease that affects the pulmonary
system, digestive system, reproductive system and the sweat glands. 85 percent of patients
with cystic fibrosis have pancreatic insufficiency, more than half of whom will develop CFRD.
CFRD affects patients nutritional state and is associated with a decline in lung function and
decreased longevity. Because early treatment with insulin can reverse some of this decline
and mortality, CF patients are screened yearly for CFRD using an oral glucose tolerance test
(OGTT). During an OGTT patients have to drink a solution of 75 grams of glucose in water and
blood glucose levels are measured after 0 minutes and 120 minutes.
Drinking the glucose solutions is experienced by patients as uncomfortable, as it causes
nausea and sometimes even leads to vomiting. Therefore, some patients do not want to undergo
the OGTT which results in patients getting diagnosed in a later stadium.
Objective: To compare the performance of a glucose tolerance test ("AATT") with a
commercially available beverage to the results of the conventional OGTT with respect to
diagnosing IGT and CFRD in patients with CF.
Study design: Randomized crossover trial Study population: Adult cystic fibrosis patients
from the outpatient of CF-centre Amsterdam; 10 patients with CFRD who are not fully insulin
dependent and 10 patients who have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency but no known CFRD.
Intervention (if applicable): The groups will be undergoing both the oral glucose tolerance
test with the standard glucose solution (OGTT), as the oral glucose tolerance test where the
glucose solution is replaced by commercially available beverage (AATT).
Main study parameters/endpoints: Serum glucose levels at 120 minutes after ingestion of
either the standard glucose solution or the commercially available beverage.
Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group
relatedness: Patients who have no known CFRD will be asked to undergo one additional glucose
tolerance test, which involves a visit to the outpatient clinic, during which patients need
to be fasting since 22:00 the evening before. CF patients already diagnosed with CFRD will be
asked to visit the outpatient clinic two times. Patients who use short-acting insulin need to
have stopped this as well from 23:59 the evening before the test. These patients may become
hyperglycaemic, but since they are not fully insulin dependent there is no risk of
keto-acidosis. During the test an I.V. cannula will be placed so blood samples can be taken
at baseline, after 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and 120 minutes. There is a minor risk
the I.V. cannula will lead to phlebitis.
The overall risk for participation in the study is considered low given the fact that
patients who are insulin dependent (i.e. also in need of long-acting insulin) are excluded,
so the possibility on hyperglycaemia and ketosis seems remote. The commercially available
beverage (AA-drink) used is already determined as a safe sports drink by the Food and
Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in the EU.