Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Not yet recruiting
Administrative data
NCT number |
NCT00732407 |
Other study ID # |
ronit2 |
Secondary ID |
|
Status |
Not yet recruiting |
Phase |
N/A
|
First received |
August 10, 2008 |
Last updated |
August 11, 2008 |
Start date |
September 2008 |
Study information
Verified date |
August 2008 |
Source |
Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center |
Contact |
Ronit Koren Peleg, MD |
Phone |
972-524-535024 |
Email |
ronitkoren[@]gmail.com |
Is FDA regulated |
No |
Health authority |
Israel: Israeli Health Ministry Pharmaceutical Administration |
Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
Aliskiren is a novel renin inhibitor approved for the treatment of hypertension. The effect
of aliskiren on arterial stiffness, inflammation and oxidative stress has not been fully
investigated yet.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aliskiren on arterial
stiffness, platelet function and inflammation compared to losatan in patients with diabetes
mellitus.
We hypothesize that aliskiren will have a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness and
platelet function in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Description:
Background:
Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an increased risk for atherothrombotic events.
Platelets play an important role in cardiovascular disease both in the pathogenesis of
atherosclerosis and in the development of acute thrombotic events. Their importance in
coronary heart disease is indirectly confirmed by the benefit of antiplatelet agents in
these disorders. Platelet adhesion, aggregation and activation are abnormal in patients with
DM. Several factors were found to be associated with the abnormalities in platelet signaling
in patients with DM, including increased levels of reactive oxygen species, altered calcium
mobilization and increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation.
Arterial stiffness, assessed noninvasively by measuring the aortic pulse wave velocity
(PWV), is considered a powerful and independent risk factor for early mortality. Increased
arterial stiffness may lead to early pulse wave reflection causing an increase in systolic
blood pressure and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure. This in turn, increases the
myocardial oxygen demand, reduces ejection fraction and increases the left ventricular
working load. PWV probably represents an integrated index of vascular structure and
function, being influenced by many factors including age, blood pressure, lipid profile and
glucose levels. For any level of systolic blood pressure, aortic PWV is found to be
increased in diabetic patients compared to nondiabetic patients.
Aliskiren is the first direct renin inhibitor that was introduced for the treatment of
hypertension. Aliskiren binds to the active site of renin, inhibiting the activation of the
renin- angiotensin- aldosteron (RAAS) system at the rate limiting step. Aliskiren inhibits
the conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I (AI). This direct inhibition may be more
efficient than the indirect blockade of ACE inhibitors or ARBs.
Except for its BP lowering effect aliskiren was found to increase renal blood flow to a
higher degree than that was found for angiotensin converting enzime (ACE) inhibitors or
angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Moreover- it blocks the active site of the
prorenin/renin ((pro)renin) receptors reducing the local angiotensin II (AII) generation.
Renin inhibitors, like the ACE inhibitors or ARBs, increase the concentration of renin which
activates the (pro)renin receptors. Renin receptors were found in the kidney, blood vessels
and the heart. Binding of renin to these receptors increases its catalytic effect and
probably activates a potentially pathogenic, mitogen activated protein kinase pathway. It
has a tissue damaging effect by increasing frofibrotic pathways and the expression of
molecules such as TGF- beta.
In a recent study aliskiren was found to bind both to renin and prorenin receptors and
increase their stability, this rise is probably not causing AII generation although it
allows the detection of prorenin as renin. Aliskiren increases the amount of circulating
immunoreactive renin but decreases the PRA.
Uresin Y et al compared the efficacy and safety of aliskiren with that of ramipril in
patients with diabetes and hypertension. Aliskiren was found to be more effective at
lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) than ramipril, and showed no inferiority in reducing
diastolic blood pressure (DBP). When used in combination with ramipril, aliskiren showed a
significant additional reduction in both SBP and DBP. In the same study, plasma renin
concentration (PRC) was significantly increased with each monotherapy and when combined, PRC
increased to a greater level than the sum of the effects of each alone. The reactive rise in
PRC was associated with a concomitant rise in plasma renin activity (PRA) in the ramipril
group, an effect that was suppressed when combined with aliskiren.
Other recent studies found similar results when comparing efficacy and safety of aliskiren
and ramipril or adding it to treatment with valsartan. Safety of aliskiren was also
evaluated in elderly patients (above 65) and was found to effectively reduce blood pressure
and to be well tolerated in this subgroup of patients.
Inhibition of the RAAS in diabetic patients is known to result in several beneficial
effects, independent of their BP lowering effect; Reduction of albumin excretion, prevention
of the progression of renal disease and possibly a cardio-protective effect. Valsartan was
also found to reduce PWV, and hence arterial stiffness, in diabetic patients independently
of its BP lowering effect. Several of these effects had already been evaluated using
aliskiren, for example: Nussberger J at al evaluated the effect of aliskiren on
atherosclerosis and plaque stabilization in mice, comparing it with atenolol, amlodipine and
irbesartan. They found that although they all had a similar blood pressure lowering effect,
aliskiren and irbesartan had a beneficial effect on plaque phenotype (including smooth
muscle cell content, fibrous cap, lipid core, medial degeneration and macrophage content)
whereas amlodipine and atenolol did not. Lu H et al. evaluated the effect of aliskiren on
atherosclerosis in LDL receptor deficient mice. They found a significant reduction in
atherosclerotic plaque size in the aortic root and arch in the aliskiren treated mice.
Aliskiren was found to reduce BP, prevent albuminuria and suppress the renal gene expression
of (pro)renin receptors in a model of hypertensive diabetic renal damage in rats. It also
exhibited a potential to inhibit prorenin. When using the combination of aliskiren and
losartan in patients with DM, aliskiren revealed a reno-protective effect that was
independent of its BP lowering effect. The effect of aliskiren on arterial stiffness is yet
to be evaluated.
Several studies have evaluated the effect of RAAS system inhibitors on platelet function and
hemostasis, for example perindopril was found to have anti-platelet and profibrinolytic
effects and telmisartan was found to have anticoagulant effect. Perindopril was also found
to reduce platelet aggregation and adrenaline induced platelet aggregation.
The effect of aliskiren on platelet activity is not clear. In an in vitro study biomarkers
of platelet activity were not altered by aliskiren (except for a moderate increase of
antithrombin-III activity). At higher doses (exceeding its therapeutic range) it had a
diverging effect - both platelet activating and antiplatelet effects
Purpose:
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of aliskiren, which inhibits the rate
limiting step of the RAAS system, on arterial stiffness, inflammation and platelet function
in patients with DM.
Methods:
Study design:
The study will be a prospective, cross over, randomized trial. All patients fulfilling the
inclusion and exclusion criteria, after a short screening period, will be treated with
aliskiren or losartan. After a washout period of 2 weeks a cross over will be made between
the two groups. Aliskiren will be given in a preliminary dosage of 150 mg per day, after a
follow up of two weeks dosage will be increased to 300 mg per day. Losartan will be given in
a preliminary dosage of 50 mg per day and after a two weeks follow up dosage will be
increased to 100 mg per day. Two weeks after initiation of each treatment potassium and
creatinin levels will be assessed. The follow up will be conducted in the Research and
Development unit in Assaf Harofeh Medical Center at 0, 3 and 6 months and after the wash out
period. On each visit patients BP will be assessed by 24 ambulatory BP monitoring. Blood
will be drawn (10 cc) for Hemoglobin levels, electrolytes, renal and liver functions, total
cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL- cholesterol), triglycerides (TG),
oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and hs- CRP. LDL-cholesterol will be calculated.
PRA will be measured by radioimmunoassay of generated AI, PRC and plasma aldosterone will be
measured by immunochemiluminescence. In addition NO and isoprostane will be measured as an
index to oxidative stress. Platelet function and arterial stiffness will be assessed. The
patients' medication regimen will not be changed throughout the study period.
Platelet Function Tests Cone-and-Platelet Analyzer 200 µL of citrated blood will be placed
in a polystyrene well and subjected to a shear rate of 1300 sec-1 using a rotating conical
disk for 2 minutes. The well will be washed and stained by May-Gruenwald stain. Platelet
adhesion will be evaluated as the percentage of total area covered with platelets designated
as surface coverage (%) and aggregation as the mean size of the surface-bound aggregates
designated as average size (µ`m2) by use of an image analysis system (Galai).
Aspirin Response Assay 3.6µl Arachidonic Acid and 0.2 ml blood will be added to a micro tube
(2ml), (final Arachidonic Acid concentration 0.275 mM). The tube will be rotated on the tube
mixer at 10 rpm for 1 minute. 130 µl will be placed in a well and tested with the cone and
platelet analyzer.
Clopidogrel Response Assay 5 µl ADP and 0.2 ml blood will be added into a micro tube (2 ml)
(final ADP concentration 1.25 µM). The tube will be rotated on the tube mixer at 10 rpm for
1 minute. 130 µl will be placed in a well and tested with the cone and platelet analyzer.
(Varon D et al 1997) Arterial stiffness Assessment of arterial stiffness will be performed
by a noninvasive technique using the commercially available SphygmoCor System (AtCor Medical
LTD, Australia). All measurements will be performed while the patient is in a recumbent
position at a room temperature of 25۫ C, between 06:30 and 08:30 A.M. after an overnight
fasti (8-10 hours) and after a short period of rest. Peripheral pressure waveforms will be
recorded from the radial artery at the wrist, using applanation tonometry with a high
fidelity micromanometer. When sequential waveforms will be recorded, a validated 16-18
generalized transfer function will be applied to generate the corresponding central pressure
waveform. The integral system software will be used to calculate an average radial artery
waveform and to derive a corresponding central aortic pressure waveform using a previously
validated generalized transfer function. From these data the indexes of arterial stiffness
will be obtained. The augmentation of central arterial pressure is the difference between
the first and second systolic peaks of the central pressure waveforms, and the central
augmentation index (AIx) is the augmentation expressed as a percentage of the pulse
pressure.
This technology is easy to use, non-invasive, simple, rapid (15 minutes per test) and
repeatable.