The Role of Endothelin in the Supine Hypertension of Autonomic Failure
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01119417 |
Recruitment Status
:
Enrolling by invitation
First Posted
: May 7, 2010
Last Update Posted
: January 25, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Hypertension Pure Autonomic Failure Multiple System Atrophy | Drug: BQ123 Drug: Bq123 Drug: Saline | Phase 1 |
The pathophysiologic mechanisms causing supine hypertension in patients with autonomic failure are not completely understood.In MSA patients, supine hypertension may be explained by residual sympathetic tone, possibly acting on hypersensitive adrenoreceptors and unstrained by the lack of baroreflex modulation. In contrast, the pathogenesis of hypertension in PAF remains unknown. Hypertension in these patients is not related to intravascular volume, residual sympathetic tone, or renin mechanisms. Increased vascular resistance is the underlying hemodynamic mechanism. The driving force of this increased vascular tone, however, is not known.
We hypothesize that endothelin (ET)-l contributes to the increased vascular resistance in pure autonomic failure patients with supine hypertension. To gauge its contribution to blood pressure regulation, we will induce endothelin blockade with acute systemic administration of BQ123 in an ascending dose regimen (25, 50, 100 and 300 nmol/min) and we will compare the hemodynamic effects between PAF and MSA patients.
Subjects will be studied on 3 different days, one with saline (placebo) and two with BQ123: a 'low dose' day (25 and 50 nmol/min infusions separated by 75 min) and a 'high dose' day (100 and 300 nmol/min infusions separated by 75 min). The order of the placebo day will be randomized in a single-blinded manner so that each subject receives it on a different visit. The order of the BQ123 study days will be always the same, starting with the low dose. If SBP drops by >40 mm Hg or SBP < 130 mm Hg during the monitoring period after the first or second infusion, the following dose(s) of BQ123 will not be given and patients will receive normal saline until the study ends.
Ganglionic Blockade with Trimethaphan (optional study day):
The purpose of this study day is to determine the level of residual sympathetic tone that contributes to supine hypertension in each autonomic failure patient by inducing transient withdrawal of the autonomic nervous system. This approach would allow us to identify patients in whom supine hypertension is not driven by sympathetic tone and thus, better characterize the role of endothelin in the hypertension of these patients.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 12 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Participant) |
Primary Purpose: | Other |
Official Title: | The Role of Endothelin in the Supine Hypertension of Autonomic Failure |
Study Start Date : | May 2010 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2020 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: BQ123
endothelin blocker
|
Drug: BQ123
Low dose day: 25 nmol/min, single IV infusion for 15 min.
Other Name: BQ-123 sodium salt
Drug: BQ123
Low dose day: 50 nmol/min, single IV infusion for 15 min
Other Name: BQ-123 sodium salt
Drug: Bq123
High dose day: 100 nmol/min, single IV infusion for 15 min.
Other Name: BQ-123 sodium salt
Drug: BQ123
High dose day: 300 nmol/min, single IV infusion for 15 min.
Other Name: BQ-123 sodium salt
|
Placebo Comparator: Saline
IV saline
|
Drug: Saline
2-3 IV saline infusions for 15 min each.
Other Name: Normal saline, 0.9% sodium chloride
|
- Change in Systolic BP [ Time Frame: 0 -4 hr post infusion ]
- Change in cardiac output, stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance [ Time Frame: 0-4 hr post infusion ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with autonomic failure and supine hypertension from all races, who are in the hospital participating in the study "The Evaluation and Treatment of Autonomic Failure" (IRB# 000814).
- Supine hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure >150 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg.
- Males and females, between 18-85yr.
- Provide written informed consent to participate in the study and understand that they may withdraw their consent at any time without prejudice to their future medical care.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant women.
- High-risk patients (e.g. heart failure, symptomatic coronary artery disease, liver impairment, history of stroke or myocardial infarction).
- History of serious allergies or asthma.
- In the investigator's opinion, have clinically significant abnormalities on clinical, mental examination or laboratory testing.
- All medical students.

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): NCT01119417
United States, Tennessee | |
Vanderbilt University | |
Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232 |
Principal Investigator: | Italo Biaggioni, M.D. | Vanderbilt University |
Additional Information:
Responsible Party: | Italo Biaggioni, Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01119417 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
091344 |
First Posted: | May 7, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 25, 2018 |
Last Verified: | January 2018 |
Keywords provided by Italo Biaggioni, Vanderbilt University:
supine Hypertension autonomic failure BQ123 BQ-123 endothelin |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Hypertension Atrophy Multiple System Atrophy Shy-Drager Syndrome Pure Autonomic Failure Vascular Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Pathological Conditions, Anatomical Primary Dysautonomias Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases |
Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Hypotension cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu) Antihypertensive Agents Endothelin Receptor Antagonists Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |