Trends in the relation between hyperglycemia correction and active Charcot neuroarthropathy: results from the EPICHAR study

Abstract

Introduction

The pathophysiology of Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) remains unclear. There are a number of hypotheses but these are not exclusive. In its clinical presentation, this complication intersects with the semiology of diabetic-induced neuropathy, such as peripheral hypervascularization and the appearance of arteriovenous shunt. The EPICHAR study is as yet an unpublished cohort of people living with diabetes complicated by CN (in active or chronic phase). Based on the findings of the EPICHAR study, this study aimed to investigate whether a reduction in the rate of hyperglycemia accompanies the onset of an active phase of CN.

Research design and methods

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed 3 months (M3) and 6 months (M6) before the diagnosis of active CN (M0).

Results

103 patients living with diabetes and presenting active CN were included between January and December 2019 from the 31 centers participating in this study (30 in France and 1 in Belgium). The mean age of the participants was 60.2±12.2 years; the vast majority were men (71.8%) living with type 2 diabetes (75.5%). Mean HbA1c levels significantly declined between M6 (median 7.70; Q1, Q3: 7.00, 8.55) and M3 (median 7.65; Q1, Q3: 6.90, 8.50) (p=0.012), as well as between M6 and M0 (median 7.40; Q1, Q3: 6.50, 8.50) (p=0.014). No significant difference was found between M3 and M0 (p=0.072).

Conclusions

A significant reduction in HbA1c levels seems to accompany the onset of the active phase of CN.

Trial registration number

NCM03744039.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC

• Rapid correction of hyperglycaemia has previously been described in the form of treatment-induced neuropathy. However, little is known about the impact of this correction on the development of neuroarthropathy.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• The significant correction of hyperglycaemia based on the onset of neuroarthropathy seems to be the factor inducing inflammation, which is described as a central element in the mosaic of neuroarthropathy pathophysiology.

HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE OR POLICY

• This link may help us to understand this complication and reduce its prevalence.

Introduction

Neuroarthropathy or Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) consists of acute osteoarticular destruction in the context of neuropathy, most commonly in the foot but also in the knee in some cases.¹ The physiopathology of this disorder is poorly understood and the knowledge of its causality remains at the theoretical stage. The most common explanation is inflammatory arthropathy, according to which CN occurs as an increased inflammatory response to a lesion inducing increased bone lysis, with the involvement of bone remodelling factors,² especially the receptor activator of nuclear factor B ligand (RANKL) and its natural antagonist osteoprotegerin (OPG). Many studies have confirmed abnormalities in the balance of the RANK/OPG system during the development of CN.³ A recent study examined in a retrospective manner the evolution of glycemic control in patients who have developed an active form of CN and demonstrated a significant drop in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level in the near period of presentation of CN.⁴ We therefore wanted to know if the same reduction in the rate of HbA1c appears in cases of active CN presented through the descriptive multicentric study ‘EPICHAR’ handled at diabetic foot centers in France and Belgium, the main objective of which is to map patients living with Charcot’s foot (ie, identification of patients with acute and chronic Charcot and the diagnostics and therapeutic methods used).

Study objectives

The primary objective of our study is to investigate if rapid correction of HbA1c levels is accompanied by onset of the active phase of CN. The primary assessment criterion is the comparison of HbA1c levels 6 months (M6) before the diagnosis of the active phase of CN (M0). The secondary objective is to determine whether HbA1c levels rapidly fell between M6 and M3 (3 months) before the diagnosis of the active phase of CN, as well as between M3 and M0. The secondary assessment criterion is the dosage of HbA1c levels between M6 and M3 and between M3 and M0.

Methods

EPICHAR is a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted from January 1 to December 31, 2019. Thirty-one diabetic foot centers (30 in France and 1 in Belgium) took part in the study. The study population consisted of all people aged ≥18 years living with diabetes who were admitted to hospital or consulted for acute or chronic CN, with or without foot ulcers. Unless the patient was participating in another interventional study or refused to participate, no exclusion criteria were used. No follow-up was required in the protocol. For the active phase, the diagnosis of CN was retained if the clinical examination showed a joint with an inflamed appearance and a temperature that was 3°C higher than the contralateral joint. This was validated by MRI.

In this ancillary evaluation, we analyzed the HbA1c levels (measured by high-performance liquid chromatography) of participants with diabetes and acute CN who had been referred to one of the participating diabetic foot centers during the study period. For each patient living with diabetes who was admitted to one of the participating centers and presenting with active CN (diagnosis performed by MRI and clinical examination), HbA1c levels were assessed (M0). The HbA1c values 3 and 6 months before the discovery of CN (respectively, M3 and M6) were then cross-checked via the patient’s medical file or by contacting his or her family physician.

Data are presented as median and IQR. To compare numerical values, statistical analysis was performed with non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Pairwise comparisons between time points were performed using the Bonferroni-Holm method for p value adjustment. The Benjamini and Hochberg false discovery rate method was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher’s exact test. Linear mixed-effect regression models were applied to investigate the evolution of repeated glycated hemoglobin measures and their association with diabetes type. The fixed-effect variable was diabetes type and the random-effect was the individual subject. Influence and residual diagnostics were performed to ascertain whether all the assumptions of the mixed-effects regression models were met in the analyses. An unstructured covariance was chosen. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Analysis System. This study applied the MIXED procedure with fixed and random effects in SAS V.9.3 to implement the linear mixed-effects regression models. This is an ancillary evaluation of the EPICHAR cohort (unpublished results).

Results

There were 467 people recruited in the EPICHAR study. In brief, 26.55% of the participants were women. The mean age of the population was 61.97 (SD 11.45). Of the patients, 17.13% had type 1 diabetes, 79.66% had type 2 diabetes, and 3% had other types of diabetes. Of the patients, 21.62% had bilateral Charcot foot. Only 103 participants presented an active phase of CN. All individuals with missing HbA1c levels at the three time points were excluded. The demographic characteristics of the participants and their body mass index, diabetes type and duration, and any diabetes-related complications are presented in table 1. The HbA1c levels and values of the patients at M0, M3, and M6, expressed in percentages (DCCT/NGSP), are summarized in table 2.

Table 1.

Demographic data and diabetes-related complications of participants with active CN

	Acute CN
Age, mean years±IC (S1) (A2)	60.2±12.2
Men, n (%)	74 (71.8)
Body mass index (kg/m²), median (IQR)	30.11 (25.74–33.14)
Missing data, n	4
Type of diabetes, n (%)
Type 1	22 (21.6)
Type 2	77 (75.5)
Other	3 (2.9)
Missing data, n	1
Diabetes duration, years, n (%)
>20	41 (40.2)
10–20	43 (42.2)
5–10	10 (9.8)
<5	8 (7.8)
Missing data, n	1
Insulin use, n (%)	69 (67.6)
Missing data, n	1
Microangiopathy, n (%)	96 (94.1)
Missing data, n	1
Dialysis, n (%)	4 (10.3)
Missing data, n	64
GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2), median (IQR)	64 (46.5–90)
Missing data, n	71
Macroangiopathy, n (%)	30 (31.3)
Missing data, n	7
DFU history (grade 3 IWGDF), n (%)	63 (61.8)
Missing data, n	1

CN, Charcot neuroarthropathy.

Table 2.

Hb1Ac levels and the results for active Charcot neuroarthropathy cases in the EPICHAR study

Variable	Type 2 diabetes	Type 1	Type 2	Total	P value
Age	n	22	77	99	0.0014
	Median	54.00	63.00	61.00
	Q1, Q3	44.00, 60.00	55.00, 71.00	54.00, 68.00
	Min, max	30.00, 68.00	40.00, 90.00	30.00, 90.00
HbA1c_t0	n	15	60	75	0.4342
	Median	7.50	7.30	7.40
	Q1, Q3	6.60, 8.70	6.40, 8.35	6.50, 8.50
	Min, max	6.20, 9.70	5.00, 12.10	5.00, 12.10
HbA1c_m_3	n	9	41	50
	Median	7.80	7.50	7.65	0.2943
	Q1, Q3	7.60, 8.40	6.90, 8.70	6.90, 8.50
	Min, max	7.30, 9.10	5.20, 11.90	5.20, 11.90
HbA1c_m_6	n	14	30	44
	Median	8.05	7.60	7.70	0.2461
	Q1, Q3	7.20, 9.40	6.80, 8.40	7.00, 8.55
	Min, max	6.40, 13.00	6.00, 12.00	6.00, 13.00

HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; max, maximum; min, minimum.

In the total study sample, the paired Wilcoxon test showed a significant difference between M6 (median 7.70; Q1, Q3: 7.00, 8.55) and M3 (median 7.65; Q1, Q3: 6.90, 8.50) (p=0.012), with mean HbA1c levels significantly falling from 62 mmol/mol (7.8%±1.62) at M6 to 58 mmol/mol (7.45%±1.42) at M0. The paired Wilcoxon test likewise showed a significant difference between M6 and M0 (median 7.40; Q1, Q3: 6.50, 8.50) (p=0.014), with mean HbA1c levels decreasing from 62 mmol/mol (7.8%±1.62) at M6 to 60 mmol/mol (7.67%±1.48) at M3. However, the reduction in HbA1c levels was not significant between M3 and M0 as they decreased only slightly from 60 mmol/mol (7.67%±1.48) at M3 to 58 mmol/mol (7.45%±1.42) (p=0.072) at M0 (table 3 and figure 1).

Table 3.

Pairwise comparison of HbA1c levels for all diabetes types and for each group

Diabetes type	Time 1	Time 2	Mean difference	SE	P value	Adjusted p value
All	HbA1c_t0	HbA1c_m_3	−0.228	0.134	0.072	0.072
All	HbA1c_m_3	HbA1c_m_6	−0.627	0.234	0.012	0.021
All	HbA1c_t0	HbA1c_m_6	−0.608	0.232	0.014	0.021
Type 1	HbA1c_t0	HbA1c_m_3	−0.325	0.384	0.844	–
Type 1	HbA1c_m_3	HbA1c_m_6	−0.786	0.552	0.297	–
Type 1	HbA1c_t0	HbA1c_m_6	−0.667	0.485	0.210	–
Type 2	HbA1c_t0	HbA1c_m_3	−0.206	0.143	0.065	0.065
Type 2	HbA1c_m_3	HbA1c_m_6	−0.578	0.262	0.029	0.060
Type 2	HbA1c_t0	HbA1c_m_6	−0.579	0.258	0.04	0.060

HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c.

Figure 1.

Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (mmol/mol) and their evolution at month 6 (M6), month 3 (M3), and month 0 (M0).

We studied the evolution of HbA1c levels according to diabetes type (mixed model). A similar trend in the evolution of HbA1c was found (figure 2). There was a significant main effect of time between M6 and M0 and between M6 and M3. However, there were no significant main effects for diabetes type. It is important to note that the results of HbA1c adjusted and confounded for age, sex, body mass index, and duration of diabetes did not impact the significance of the reduction in HbA1c (table 4).

Figure 2.

Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (mmol/mol) and their evolution at month 6 (M6), month 3 (M3), and month 0 (M0) according to diabetes type.

Table 4.

HbA1c values adjusted for selected confounders

		Estimate	SE	Inferior	Superior	P value
Intercept		11.2374	1.3134	8.6223	13.8525	<0.0001
HbA1c (temporality)	M3	0.1876	0.1683	−0.1469	0.5222	0.268
	M6	0.6137	0.1789	0.2581	0.9692	0.0009
	M0	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)
Diabetes type	1	−0.3871	0.4516	−1.2878	0.5136	0.3942
	2	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)
Age		−0.05798	0.01355	−0.08496	−0.031	<0.0001
Sex	Female	−0.09947	0.3303	−0.7583	0.5594	0.7642
	Male	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)
BMI		−0.01083	0.02981	−0.07028	0.04862	0.7174
Age of diabetes	≥20	0.5098	0.4354	−0.3579	1.3776	0.2454
	10–20	0.4165	0.4161	−0.4129	1.246	0.3202
	<10	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)	(ref)

BMI, body mass index; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; M3, month 3; M6, month 6; ref, reference.

Discussion

CN generally evolves in two phases: (1) acute and (2) chronic.^{5 6} The typical clinical picture of active CN is a red swollen joint with a temperature difference greater than 2°C compared with the unaffected joint. These symptoms may go unnoticed because the pain may be absent or disproportionate depending on the presence or absence of lesions on the foot.⁷ The pathogenic mechanisms of CN have been subject to a long-running debate with several diverging theories. The inflammatory arthropathy theory described by Jeffcoate² is the most common theory to explain the development of active CN. A new series of experiments were recently carried out to assess the evolution of bone modelling factors in the appearance of CN by associating RANKL and OPG.³ However, this explanation does not address the link between the appearance of the active phase of CN and the rapid correction of HbA1c levels. The latter element is increasingly present in the pathophysiology of CN, with several cases showing the onset of active CN after the rapid correction of HbA1c levels, as in the context of a double pancreatic kidney transplant⁸ or significant weight loss after bariatric surgery.⁹

Our study included 103 people with acute CN. This represents a large sample size for a rare disorder, as its frequency varies between 0.1% and 0.4% of people with diabetes.¹⁰ Nevertheless, aggressive antidiabetic therapy and rapid glycemic control may result in diabetic neuropathy, also known as treatment-induced neuropathy of diabetes (TIND).¹¹ It is noteworthy that in the clinical presentation of active CN and TIND, a common symptom is hypervascularization in the extremities.

Taking the above elements into account, we may legitimately consider that the rapid and significant correction of HbA1c levels may accompany the onset of the active phase of CN. An interesting evaluation¹² demonstrated that the RANKL antagonist OPG is inhibited by hyperglycemia correction, which may explain the elevated levels of RANKL observed during the active phase of CN.³ Indeed, high RANKL levels will be linked to the inhibition of its antagonist following decrease in HbA1c levels. It is important to mention that osteoblast,² the cell described as the main actor in the pathophysiology of CN, has insulin receptors on its membranes. We may therefore suppose that the sensitivity of these cells to insulin changes in the event of a significant reduction in HbA1c levels. Therefore, the rapid correction of hyperglycemia seems to be the inflammation-inducing factor, which is described by Jeffcoate² as a core component in the mosaic of the CN pathophysiology.

In conclusion, the link between the onset of active CN and a significant reduction in HbA1c levels is once again brought to light in this paper. This description can help to understand the physiopathology of CN and potentially to implement monitoring measures, screening, and support for patients living with neuropathy-complicated diabetes who intend to rapidly correct their HbA1c levels.

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

Ethics statements

Patient consent for publication

Not required.

Ethics approval

This study involves human participants. According to French law (Decree No 2016-1872 of December 26, 2016), a file was submitted to INDS (Institut National des Données de Santé) and CEREES (Comité d’Expertise pour les Recherches, les Etudes et les Evaluations dans le domaine de la Santé) for approval. The EPICHAR study received agreement from the ethical committee for the protection of patients (Barboin hospital authorization number: 18.09.01). Participants gave informed consent to participate in the study before taking part.