Conditions: Hypertension
Keywords: Blood Pressure, High
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 166
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Thiazide medications are often prescribed for individuals with high blood pressure, but research has shown that they may increase an individual's risk of developing diabetes. While it is unknown exactly how thiazide causes this response, it is likely that the nervous system is somehow involved. This study will evaluate the role of the nervous system in sugar metabolism, as well as determine the effect of thiazide and other medications on individuals with high blood pressure.

Detailed description:
Thiazide medications, including chlorthalidone, are commonly prescribed for individuals with high blood pressure because they are inexpensive, effective at lowering blood pressure, and able to reduce the risk of heart failure and stroke. Despite these advantages, research has shown that thiazide medications may increase an individual's risk of developing diabetes. The exact mechanism that causes this remains unknown. Thiazide appears to increase sympathetic nervous system activity, thereby decreasing glucose reuptake and metabolism by skeletal muscle tissues. In turn, this tends to contribute to glucose intolerance and the development of diabetes. More research, however, is needed to confirm this link. Spironolactone, another blood pressure medication, does not pose the same risk for developing diabetes and may prove beneficial as a primary treatment for high blood pressure. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of the sympathetic nervous system in glucose metabolism in individuals with high blood pressure, as well as compare the effectiveness of thiazide, spironolactone, and other antihypertensive medications in reducing blood pressure. Results from this study may initiate the development of future clinical trials involving spironolactone as a primary treatment for reducing blood pressure.

This study will enroll individuals with high blood pressure. Study# 1: All subjects were randomized to receive 3 months chlorthalidone (12.5-25 mg/d) or spironolactone (50-75 mg/d), using a single-blind 2-phase crossover design without washout between treatments. Each subject was followed every 4 wk for measurement of 24-h ambulatory BP and serum potassium (K). The doses of chlorthalidone and spironolactone were titrated to achieve 24-h ambulatory BP of less than 130/80mmHg in the same subject. During chlorthalidone treatment period, subject was given oral K supplementation according to a sliding scale to maintain serum K from 4.0-4.5 mmol/liter. Then, sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is measured after 3 months of chlorthalidone and after 3 months of spironolactone. Arterial baroreflex sensitivity, glucose, and insulin are measured at baseline, after 3 months of chlorthalidone, and after 3 months of spironolactone. Insulin sensitivity will be measured using HOMA-IR. Study #2: All subjects are randomized to 3 months of fixed-dose Chlorthalidone 25 mg once daily alone, fixed-dose Chlorthalidone 25 mg once daily plus fixed-dose Spironolactone 25 mg once daily, and fixed-dose Chlorthalidone 25 mg once daily plus fixed-dose Irbesartan 150 mg once daily, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design without washout between treatments. Then, SNA , Arterial baroreflex sensitivity, glucose, and insulin are measured after 3 months of each treatment phase.

Arms:
arm 1: Participants in study #1 only received 2 interventions. All subjects are randomized to receive 3 months of chlorthalidone first (12.5-25 mg/d), using a single-blind 2-phase crossover design. Then, the subject is transitioned to treatment with spironolactone (25-75 mg/d)without washout period for 3 months. Following 3 month treatment period, the procedures listed below were performed. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 2: Participants in study #1 only received 2 interventions. All subjects are randomized to receive 3 months spironolactone first (25-75 mg/d), using a single-blind 2-phase crossover design. Then, the subject is transitioned to treatment with chlorthalidone(12.5-25 mg/d) without washout period. Following 3 month treatment period, the procedures listed below were performed. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 3: Subjects are randomized to receive 3 months of fixed-dose chlorthalidone (CTD, 25 mg/d) alone first, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design. Then, subjects are treated with fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dosespironolactone (SP) 25 mg daily for 3 months, then fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dose irbsesartan (IR, 150 mg daily) for 3 months. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 4: Subjects are randomized to receive 3 months of fixed-dose chlorthalidone (CTD, 25 mg/d) alone first, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design. Then, subjects are treated with fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d plus fixed-dose irbsesartan (IR, 150 mg daily) for 3 months, followed by fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dose spironolactone (SP) 25 mg daily for 3 months. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 5: Subjects are randomized to receive fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dose spironolactone (SP) 25 mg daily for 3 months, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design. Then, subjects are treated with fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d alone for 3 months, then fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d plus fixed-dose irbsesartan (IR, 150 mg daily) for 3 months. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 6: Subjects are randomized to receive fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dose spironolactone (SP) 25 mg daily for 3 months, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design. Then, subjects are treated with fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d plus fixed-dose irbsesartan (IR, 150 mg daily) for 3 months, then fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d alone for 3 months. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 7: Subjects are randomized to receive fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d plus fixed-dose irbsesartan (IR, 150 mg daily) for 3 months, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design. Then, subjects are treated with fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d alone for 3 months, then fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dose spironolactone (SP) 25 mg daily for 3 months. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued. arm 8: Subjects are randomized to receive fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d plus fixed-dose irbsesartan (IR, 150 mg daily) for 3 months, using a single-blind 3-phase crossover design. Then, subjects are treated with fixed-dose CTD (25 mg/d) plus fixed-dose spironolactone (SP) 25 mg daily for 3 months, followed by fixed-dose CTD 25 mg/d alone for 3 months. After completion of the study procedures, the medication is discontinued.

Interventions: intervention 1: Study#1: chlorthalidone (CTD), titrated dose intervention 2: Study #1: spironolactone (SP), titrated dose intervention 3: Study# 2 chlorthalidone (CTD), fixed dose intervention 4: Study# 2 spironolactone (SP), fixed dose intervention 5: Study# 2 irbsesartan (IR), fixed dose
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Participants in study #1 will receive 3 months of chlorthalidone (12.5-25 mg/d) at the dose titrated to achieve 24-h ambulatory BP \< 130/80 mmHg intervention 2: Participants in study #1 will receive 3 months spironolactone (25-75 mg/d), at the dose titrated to achieve 24-h ambulatory BP \< 130/80 mmHg. intervention 3: Participants in study #2 will receive 3 months of fixed-dose of CTD, at 25 mg/d. intervention 4: Participants in study #2 will receive 3 months of fixed-dose SP at 25 mg daily. intervention 5: Participants in study #2 will receive 3 months of fixed-dose IR at150 mg daily.

Protocol document: