Clinical trial NCT00675051: Effect of Endothelin-1 Receptor Blockade on Circulating Endothelial Microparticles Levels in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension
Official title: Effect of Endothelin-1 Receptor Blockade on Circulating Endothelial Microparticles Levels in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Pulmonary Hypertension
Keywords: To determine if there is a trans-pulmonary gradient in the levels of EMPs in patients with PH
To determine if the EMPs measured at the pulmonary capillary wedge position correlates even more strongly with the severity of PH than the circulating levels
To determine if PH therapy with ET-1 receptor blocker will modify EMPs levels
Lead sponsor: University of California, San Francisco
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2008-05-08
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 100
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_ONLY
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension

Brief summary: Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive and life threatening condition. It is characterized by severe remodeling of the pulmonary vessel wall, obstructive plexiform lesions, multi-focal thrombosis, and enhanced vasoconstriction. All of these characteristics contribute to increased pulmonary vascular resistance.

Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) play an integral role in the pathogenesis and perpetuation of pulmonary hypertension. Levels of EMPs are considered a reliable biological parameter of endothelial injury.

We propose to assess the evolution of both circulating and pulmonary venous EMPs in patients with PH. Assessments will be made before and after initiation of Endothelin-1 (ET-1) Receptor blocker therapy, and correlated to their patterns with the changes in mean PAP, the 6 Minutes Walking Distance test, and circulating Endothelin-1 values. Measurements of the endothelial microparticle circulating levels (assessed by flow cytometry methods) will be made before, 1 month and 3 months after initiation of therapy.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient's + 18 years with suspected pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension
* Prescribed Endothelial - 1 receptor blocker

Exclusion Criteria:

* Currently taking endothelium-active vasodilator therapy.
* Hemoglobin and / or hematocrit level blood the lower normal limit.
* Left ventricle dysfunction (LVEF \<50%)
* LV end-diastolic pressure \> 15 mmHg)
* Recent history (\<3 months) of pulmonary embolism
* Liver failure or abnormal liver function tests; aortic or mitral regurgitation or stenosis
* Current medication with endothelin-1 receptor antagonist, prostacyclin analogues or type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors.
* Subjects with conditions known to be associated with an increase in circulating endothelial microparticle numers, such as chronic renal failure (Creatinine Clearance \< 50 ml/min/m2) acute coronary syndromes and uncontrolled system hypertension.

Primary outcomes:
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Francisco
country: United States
facility: University of California
state: California
Study officials:
References: