Terazosin Effect on Cardiac Changes in Early Parkinson's Disease

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: The Effect of a1- Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Therapy on Cardiac and Striatal Transporter Uptake in Pre-Motor and Symptomatic Parkinson's Disease

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by many non-motor symptoms that occur several years before the diagnosis, in particular idiopathic REM behavior disorder (iRBD), which is associated with autonomic impairment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of treatment with the selective post-synaptic a1-adrenergic blocker terazosin on 123I-MIBG myocardial uptake in a population of subjects with defined pre-motor PD risks (i.e. hyposmia and RBD) and abnormal baseline 123I-MIBG uptake, with or without 123I-Ioflupane uptake abnormality or PD motor symptoms. Scintigraphic changes will be correlated to motor and non-motor severity of PD, measured by validated clinical scales and cardiac autonomic function tests.

Clinical Trial Description

Based on the increased risk to develop PD, individuals with iRBD are currently considered ideal candidates for therapies that can possibly protects brain cells, due to the critical window of opportunity to intervene early before brain cell loss progresses significantly.

Early changes of PD are associated with a number of symptoms including loss of smell, constipation, anxiety and depression. In addition, early heart and brain abnormalities can be visualized using specialized imaging techniques called 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy (MIBG) and dopamine transporter (DAT) single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) respectively. The combined presence of certain symptoms and the use of these imaging techniques are considered early markers of PD in individuals with iRBD.

In this study the investigators want to learn about the effect of treatment with the adrenergic blocker terazosin on MIBG abnormalities in iRBD patients at risk to develop PD. The investigators believe that reversing the MIBG abnormality might prelude to a slowing of the neurodegenerative process. This drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Hypertension. However, terazosin is not approved by the FDA in patients with iRBD at risk for PD. The available doses for this drug oral formulations are 1mg, 2 mg, 5mg and 10 mg.

Changes visualized with the MIBG imaging technique will be correlated to the presence and severity of neurological (i.e. tremors, stiffness, slow movements, walking difficulties) and other symptoms associated with PD (i.e. abnormal smell, constipation, depression, color vision abnormalities), as measured by specific clinical scales and exams. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mental Disorders
• Parkinson Disease
• Parkinson Disease, Secondary
• Pre-motor Parkinson's Disease
• REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
• Symptomatic Parkinson Disease

• NCT number: NCT04386317
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Contact: Michele L Gregorio, PhD
• Phone: 4243150016
• Email: michele.gregorio@cshs.org
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: November 1, 2020
• Completion date: December 30, 2025