Conditions: Hypertension
Keywords: hypertension antihypertensive drug pharmacogenetics genetics blood pressure glucose
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 839
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
There are many medications available for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), but finding the right one for a specific patient can be challenging. In fact, it is estimated that less than 50% of people with hypertension have their blood pressure under control. The hypothesis is that genetic differences between individuals influence their response to antihypertensive medications. This study is aimed at determining the genetic factors that may influence a person's response to either a beta-blocker or a thiazide diuretic. The hope is that through this research, the investigators may someday be able to use an individual's genetic information to guide the selection of their blood pressure medicine, leading to better control of blood pressure, and less need for the current trial and error process.

Detailed description:
The proposed work should help move toward the long-term goal of selection of antihypertensive drug therapy based on a patient's genetic make-up. Hypertension (HTN) is the most common chronic disease for which drugs are prescribed, and the most prevalent risk factor for heart attack, stroke, renal failure and heart failure. Responses to antihypertensive drug therapy exhibit considerable interpatient variability, contributing to poor rates of HTN control (currently about 40-50% in the US), and frequent nonadherence and dropout from therapy. We propose to identify genetic predictors of the antihypertensive and adverse metabolic responses to two preferred and pharmacodynamically contrasting drugs, a beta-blocker (metoprolol) and a thiazide diuretic (chlorthalidone) in a sequential monotherapy design in 400 hypertensive individuals. Data collected will include home and clinic blood pressure, blood samples for testing for adverse metabolic effects and other biomarkers, RNA, and DNA and urine sample. We will conduct genome-wide association single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and data from the study will be used for replication of findings from the previous PEAR trial, along with new discoveries. The primary aims are to define the genetic determinants of the antihypertensive response and adverse metabolic responses (e.g. changes in glucose, triglycerides and uric acid). The proposed research is significant because genetically-targeted antihypertensive therapy could lead to dramatically higher response rates and fewer adverse effects than the usual trial-and-error approach. This would likely lead to higher rates of HTN control, less need for polypharmacy, reduced health care costs, and improved outcomes.

Arms:
arm 1: Study participants in this group had their current hypertension treatment withdrawn, baseline labs drawn and hypertension documented. Participants were initiated on metoprolol tartrate 50 mg twice daily for two weeks, followed by dose titration to 100 mg twice daily for six additional weeks if blood pressure (BP) \> 120/70 mmHg. BP measures were again recorded. Participants entered a washout where metoprolol was titrated, then discontinued, and the patient's hypertension was re-established. After another set of identical baseline labs, study participants were initiated on chlorthalidone 25 mg four days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday) 15 mg daily for two weeks, followed by 25 mg daily for an additional six weeks.

Interventions: intervention 1: Metoprolol intervention 2: Chlorthalidone
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Metoprolol 50 mg twice daily titrated to 100 mg twice daily

Note: due to discontinuation of the manufacture of chlorthalidone 15 mg, effective Jan 1, 2013; the starting dose of chlorthalidone will be 25 mg 4 times per week (Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat) with subsequent titration to 25 mg daily. intervention 2: Chlorthalidone 25 mg 4 times per week titrated to 25 mg daily

Protocol document: