Effect of Beta-blocker Therapy on QTc Response in Exercise and Recovery in Normal Subjects
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00588965 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: January 9, 2008
Results First Posted
: July 30, 2013
Last Update Posted
: July 30, 2013
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Background. In congenital long QT syndrome type 1 (LQT1), episodes of ventricular tachycardia are usually triggered by exercise and can be prevented in most patients by beta-blocker therapy. In addition, LQT1 associated with a normal resting QT interval can be unmasked by the abnormal QT response to exercise testing (failure of the QT interval to shorten normally). Preliminary data from our laboratory show that the exercise QT intervals of patients with LQT1 are partially normalized by beta-blocker therapy. It is still currently not known if beta-blockers modify the QT/heart rate relationship (a primary effect on repolarization) or if the "normalizing" effect is due to the inability of subjects on beta-blockers to attain sufficiently high workloads (due to reduced heart rate) for prolongation to occur. Moreover, the physiologic response of the exercise QT interval to beta-blockers in healthy control subjects is not known.
Objective. The objective of this study is to define the impact of beta-blocker therapy on the QT response to exercise and recovery in normal subjects.
Methods. Approximately 36 healthy adult subjects age-matched to previously studied LQT1 subjects will undergo 1) screening history, 2) two weeks of beta-blocker therapy ending in an exercise test, and 3) two weeks of placebo therapy ending in an exercise test. Beta blocker and placebo will be given in random order in a double-blind fashion. The QT response to exercise and recovery will be compared between drug-free and beta-blocker-treated states. These data will be compared to those previously collected for LQT1 subjects.
Implications. These results will provide new information about the effect of beta-blocker therapy on repolarization parameters in normal subjects, and will provide a context in which to interpret the previous findings that beta-blocker administration modifies the QT response to exercise in LQT1 subjects.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Long QT Syndrome Cardiac Repolarization | Drug: Placebo Drug: Propranolol LA | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 36 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
Official Title: | Effect of Beta-blocker Therapy on QTc Response in Exercise and Recovery in Normal Subjects |
Study Start Date : | August 2007 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2008 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2008 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Placebo Comparator: 1
Subjects are assigned to placebo.
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Drug: Placebo
Placebo will be given 1 pill daily for a week, then 2 pills daily, followed by the exercise test.
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Active Comparator: 2
Subjects will take propranolol LA 80 mg daily for one week then 160 mg for one week followed by the exercise test.
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Drug: Propranolol LA
Subjects will receive propranolol LA 80 mg one pill daily for 1 week then 2 pills daily for 1 week followed by exercise test.
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- QTc Response to Exercise on Versus Off Beta-blocker. [ Time Frame: 2 weeks on each treatment then exercise test ]To minimize the effect of heart rate on QT, QT was measured at heart rates between 100 and 110 beats per minute during exercise (on and off beta-blocker) and during recovery (on and off beta-blocker).
- Tpeak-end Interval (Tpe) [ Time Frame: Measured after 2 weeks on each intervention ]Tpeak-end interval was measured at rest, exercise, and recovery on placebo and on propranolol.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 55 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy normal adults, age- and gender-matched to previously studied LQT1 subjects
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cardiac disease
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Severe allergic reaction
- Asthma requiring treatment
- Use of medications other than oral contraceptives, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or synthroid or other thyroid medications
- Pregnancy (subjects will be asked if they are pregnant)
- Inability to sign informed consent

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00588965
Principal Investigator: | Elizabeth S Kaufman, MD | MetroHealth Medical Center |
Responsible Party: | Elizabeth S. Kaufman, MD, Professor, Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00588965 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRB07-00418 NIH grant, GCRC MO1 RR000080 |
First Posted: | January 9, 2008 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | July 30, 2013 |
Last Update Posted: | July 30, 2013 |
Last Verified: | July 2013 |
Keywords provided by Elizabeth S. Kaufman, MD, MetroHealth Medical Center:
QT interval beta-blocker exercise electrocardiogram repolarizaton |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Long QT Syndrome Arrhythmias, Cardiac Heart Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Heart Defects, Congenital Cardiovascular Abnormalities Congenital Abnormalities Pathologic Processes Propranolol |
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists Adrenergic Antagonists Adrenergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Physiological Effects of Drugs Anti-Arrhythmia Agents Antihypertensive Agents Vasodilator Agents |