Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension in Autonomic Failure

Orthostatic Hypotension Clinical Trial

Official title:

Evaluation and Treatment of Autonomic Failure.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00223691
• Other study ID #: 000814
• Secondary ID: HL46681
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• First received: September 14, 2005
• Last updated: January 16, 2017
• Start date: March 2002
• Est. completion date: January 2017

Study information

• Verified date: January 2017
• Source: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The autonomic nervous system serves multiple regulatory functions in the body, including the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate, gut motility, sweating and sexual function. There are several diseases characterized by abnormal function of the autonomic nervous system. Medications can also alter autonomic function. Impairment of the autonomic nervous system by diseases or drugs may lead to several symptoms, including blood pressure problems (e.g., high blood pressure lying down and low blood pressure on standing), sweating abnormalities, constipation or diarrhea and sexual dysfunction. Because treatment options for these patients are limited. We propose to study patients autonomic failure and low blood pressure upon standing and determine the cause of their disease by history and examination and their response to autonomic testing which have already been standardized in our laboratory. Based on their possible cause, we will tests different medications that may alleviate their symptoms.

Description:

Subjects will be admitted to the Clinical Research Center at Vanderbilt University for the studies. The average inpatient stay is 7 days. Initially a complete history and physical will be performed and the patient will be placed on a low monamine, no methylxanthine, 150 mEq sodium, 60-80 mEq potassium diet.

The following tests will be performed:

1. Meal challenge:

We observed profound effects of diet on blood pressure in many patients with orthostatic hypotension. Some patients dropped their blood pressure by 40-60 mmHg during the postprandial period. Blood pressure will be monitored with an automated device (Dinamap) after feeding the patients with a standardized diet.

2. Physiologic autonomic tests:

Patients are studied supine, and blood pressure is monitored with a sphygmomanometer or an automated device (Dinamap, Finapres or tonometer).

1. Orthostatic test: Blood pressure and heart rate are measured in the supine and standing positions. Orthostatic hypotension without an adequate heart rate increase is indicative of autonomic failure. On the other hand, orthostatic tachycardia in the absence of volume depletion is seen in "hyperadrenergic orthostatic hypotension".

2. Standing time: The time the patient can stand motionless gives a very good indication of functional capacity.

3. Deep breathing: Heart rate is monitored with an ECG and the patient is asked to breathe deeply 6 times each minute for two minutes. Heart rate variation due to respiration is an autonomic function. The loss of this respiratory arrhythmia is indicative of autonomic failure.

4. Valsalva maneuver: The patient is asked to exhale against a 40 mmHg pressure. This produces transient changes in blood pressure and heart rate which are autonomically mediated, and can be monitored with an ECG. Failure to observe heart rate changes is indicative of autonomic failure.

5. Hyperventilation: The patient is asked to hyperventilate for 30 seconds. The normal response is an increase in heart rate and no significant change in blood pressure. Patients with autonomic failure have profound reductions in blood pressure without compensatory heart rate increases.

6. Handgrip: The patient is asked to maintain a handgrip for three minutes. Increases in heart rate and blood pressure are seen in normal subjects but not in patients with autonomic failure.

7. Cold pressor test: The patient is asked to place an hand in ice cold water for one minute. The results are similar to the handgrip test.

8. Supine hypertension screening: We will measure the blood pressure every two hours during one night to determine if the patient has supine hypertension or high blood pressure while lying down.

3. Posture Study:

Blood for catecholamine, bradykinins, plasma renin activity, aldosterone and plasma angiotensin II is drawn while the patient is supine and upright. Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer or an automated device (Dinamap). Normally, on assuming the upright posture, plasma norepinephrine and renin activity should double. Patients with autonomic failure typically show low supine levels of both norepinephrine and renin activity which failed to increase on assuming the upright posture. In contrast, patients with hyperadrenergic orthostatic hypotension typically have normal or exaggerated responses.

4. Twelve hour urine collections for catecholamines, urinalysis, protein, glucose, creatinine, osmolality, electrolytes and F2-isoprostanes will be collected to analyze for catecholamine excretion (hormones produces by the autonomic nervous system) oxidative stress markers and to assess the patient's kidney function.

5. Blood will be collected in the fasted state through and intravenous catheter to analyze for PAI-1, CRP, F2-isoprostanes, proinflammatory cytokines and renal function.

6. EKG will be recorded while the patient is lying down and while the patient is standing.

7. Orthostatic vital signs will be measured several times a day. This testing consists of blood pressure and heart rate measured while the patient is lying down and then repeated after standing quietly for 10 minutes. Several readings are measured in sequence using an automated blood pressure monitor (Dinamap).

8. Tilt table test: This test uses a tilt table, which is a motorized table with a footboard. The participant rests quietly on the table while the monitoring equipment is assembled. EKG electrodes are applied to the chest to monitor heart rate and rhythm. Blood pressure will be measured with a cuff applied to a finger. Blood pressure will also be checked periodically using a traditional blood pressure cuff wrapped around an upper arm. Safety straps are used to secure the patient to the table to prevent falling or unsteadiness when the table is moved to an upright position. Gradual head up tilt will be performed until a systolic blood pressure of 70 mm Hg is reached or the appearance of symptoms related to hypotension. Changes in cardiac output (heart's pumping capacity) will be measured by analyzing the air that is breathed ("rebreathing test", Innocor). This will be done through a mouthpiece connected to a bag full of air and small concentrations of the inactive gases SF6 and N2O. Subjects will breathe normally through a mouthpiece connected to a bag for about 5 minutes at baseline, at 30º and at the maximum head up tilt. Innocor is FDA approved for inert gases cardiac output measurement.

This test may or may not be performed. Some patients may have already undergone this test or it may not be pertinent to a particular patient. The principal investigator will decide whether this test is performed or not.

9. Therapeutic Drug Trials:

We will try different medications to determine if blood pressure improves upon standing. For all these tests, blood pressure is monitored with a sphygmomanometer and heart rate with an ECG. The procedures are detailed below.

Patients will be in the fasted state in the seated position throughout the study. They will be connected to an automated blood pressure monitor (Dinamap). Thirty minutes after baseline blood pressure and heart rate measurements, they will be given a dose of the medicine to be tested. Blood pressure will be monitored every 5 to 15 minutes for up to four additional hours. Upright blood pressure, heart rate and the standing time will be measure periodically throughout the study. The patients will be asked to rate their symptoms at various time during the study.

This study has been designed to determine optimal candidate drugs and therapy for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension. Potential pressor agents have been selected for this study because of their different mechanism of action. We propose also to use the combination of different therapeutic agents.

For some of these tests,we will do the following:

1. we will determine the effect of the medication on catecholamines and/or markers of inflammation and/or oxidative stress. We will draw a blood sample at baseline and after the medication has taken effect. A saline lock or small flexible intravenous catheter will be placed for this purpose. For each medication trial, the amount of blood drawn would be up to 6 teaspoons. The total blood drawn for all the medication trials would not exceed 36 teaspoons.

2. We will apply external abdominal compression (up to 40mm Hg) to evaluate the ability of this counterpressure method in combination with a pressor agent to improve orthostatic tolerance. For this purpose, we will use an abdominal binder with an inflatable cuff placed underneath, which will be inflated to exert pressure at the level of the umbilicus while patients are standing. Patients may be randomly assigned to 5mm Hg (sham treatment) and/or 20-40mm Hg external abdominal compression with an abdominal binder applied at baseline of some of the therapeutic trials described above. The principal investigator will decide which medication will be used in each trial.

3. We will measure changes in cardiac output (heart's pumping capacity) by analyzing the air that is breathed ("rebreathing test", Innocor). This will be done through a mouthpiece connected to a bag full of air and small concentrations of the inactive gases SF6 and N2O. Subjects will breathe normally through a mouthpiece connected to a bag for about 5 minutes before and after the medication. Innocor is FDA approved for inert gases cardiac output measurement.

4. We will measure the cerebral blood flow to determine if it can be improved with the medication. A middle cerebral artery will be continuously insonated by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. The transducer will be affixed with head straps.

5. We will apply eleven sticky patches to the front of the body to measure the impedance (electrical resistance). This will allow us to determine fluid shifts between body segments and obtain a continuous measurement of cardiac output and peripheral resistance.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 389
• Est. completion date: January 2017
• Est. primary completion date: January 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 85 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients referred for evaluation of their autonomic function

• Ages 18-85

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autonomic Failure
• Hypotension
• Hypotension, Orthostatic
• Orthostatic Hypotension
• Pure Autonomic Failure

Intervention

Drug:
• Atomoxetine
10-50 mg, PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with Yohimbine or Mestinon.
• Acarbose
25-100 mg, PO. Single dose.
• Pyridostigmine Bromide
30 mg-180 mg PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with Yohimbine or atomoxetine.
• Yohimbine
2.7, 5.4 or 10.8 mg PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with Atomoxetine or Pyridostigmine.
• Midodrine HCl
2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10 mg PO. Single dose
• placebo
PO.Single dose.
• Modafinil
50-400 mg PO. Single dose
• Octreotide
5-50 µg, S.C. Single dose.

Other:
• water intake
Tap water 2 onz., 8 oz., 16 oz. PO, alone or in combination with any of the above medications. Single dose.

Drug:
• Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
12.5 mg-100 mg PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with Ranitidine
• Ranitidine HCL
150-300 mg PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with Diphenhydramine.
• Tranylcypromine
5 - 40 mg PO. Single dose
• Ergotamine/ Caffeine
Ergotamine: 1.0 mg PO. Single dose. Caffeine 100 mg PO.Single dose
• Celecoxib
50-200 mg PO. Single dose
• Pseudoephedrine
15, 30 or 60 mg, PO. Single dose.
• Methylphenidate
5 or 10 mg PO. Single dose.
• Indomethacin
25, 50 or 75 mg, PO. Singe dose.
• Ibuprofen
300, 600 or 900 mg, PO. Single dose.
• Oxymetazoline 0.05% nasal solution
1-2 sprays/ nostril. Single dose.

Dietary Supplement:
• Bovril
6-10 g, PO. Single dose.

Drug:
• Acetazolamide
125-1000 mg PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with yohimbine or midodrine
• Rivastigmine tartrate
1.5-6 mg PO. Single dose.
• Carbidopa/levodopa
10mg/100mg or 25mg/100mg. 1-2 tab PO. Single dose. Alone or in combination with carbidopa (Lodosyn) 25-175 mg

Device:
• Inflatable abdominal binder
External abdominal compression (20-40 mm Hg) with an inflatable abdominal binder applied after a pressor agent (e.g. midodrine, yohimbine).
• inflatable abdominal binder (sham)
External abdominal compression (5 mm Hg) with an inflatable abdominal binder applied after a pressor agent (e.g. midodrine, yohimbine).

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Vanderbilt University	Nashville	Tennessee

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Vanderbilt University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (16)

Arnold AC, Biaggioni I. Management approaches to hypertension in autonomic failure. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2012 Sep;21(5):481-5. doi: 10.1097/MNH.0b013e328356c52f. Review. — View Citation

Biaggioni I, Robertson RM. Hypertension in orthostatic hypotension and autonomic dysfunction. Cardiol Clin. 2002 May;20(2):291-301, vii. Review. — View Citation

Garland EM, Hooper WB, Robertson D. Pure autonomic failure. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;117:243-57. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53491-0.00020-1. Review. — View Citation

Jacob G, Costa F, Biaggioni I. Spectrum of autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003 Jul;26(7):2174-80. Erratum in: Diabetes Care. 2003 Sep;26(9):2708. — View Citation

Jordan J, Biaggioni I. Diagnosis and treatment of supine hypertension in autonomic failure patients with orthostatic hypotension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2002 Mar-Apr;4(2):139-45. — View Citation

Jordan J, Shannon JR, Biaggioni I, Norman R, Black BK, Robertson D. Contrasting actions of pressor agents in severe autonomic failure. Am J Med. 1998 Aug;105(2):116-24. — View Citation

Jordan J, Shannon JR, Black BK, Ali Y, Farley M, Costa F, Diedrich A, Robertson RM, Biaggioni I, Robertson D. The pressor response to water drinking in humans : a sympathetic reflex? Circulation. 2000 Feb 8;101(5):504-9. — View Citation

Jordan J, Shannon JR, Diedrich A, Black B, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Water potentiates the pressor effect of ephedra alkaloids. Circulation. 2004 Apr 20;109(15):1823-5. — View Citation

Okamoto LE, Shibao C, Gamboa A, Choi L, Diedrich A, Raj SR, Black BK, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Synergistic effect of norepinephrine transporter blockade and a-2 antagonism on blood pressure in autonomic failure. Hypertension. 2012 Mar;59(3):650-6. doi: 1 — View Citation

Shannon JR, Diedrich A, Biaggioni I, Tank J, Robertson RM, Robertson D, Jordan J. Water drinking as a treatment for orthostatic syndromes. Am J Med. 2002 Apr 1;112(5):355-60. — View Citation

Shibao C, Arzubiaga C, Roberts LJ 2nd, Raj S, Black B, Harris P, Biaggioni I. Hyperadrenergic postural tachycardia syndrome in mast cell activation disorders. Hypertension. 2005 Mar;45(3):385-90. — View Citation

Shibao C, Gamboa A, Diedrich A, Biaggioni I. Management of hypertension in the setting of autonomic failure: a pathophysiological approach. Hypertension. 2005 Apr;45(4):469-76. — View Citation

Shibao C, Gamboa A, Diedrich A, Dossett C, Choi L, Farley G, Biaggioni I. Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, attenuates postprandial hypotension in autonomic failure. Hypertension. 2007 Jul;50(1):54-61. — View Citation

Shibao C, Okamoto L, Biaggioni I. Pharmacotherapy of autonomic failure. Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jun;134(3):279-86. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.05.009. Review. — View Citation

Shibao C, Okamoto LE, Gamboa A, Yu C, Diedrich A, Raj SR, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Comparative efficacy of yohimbine against pyridostigmine for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension in autonomic failure. Hypertension. 2010 Nov;56(5):847-51. doi: 10.11 — View Citation

Shibao C, Raj SR, Gamboa A, Diedrich A, Choi L, Black BK, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Norepinephrine transporter blockade with atomoxetine induces hypertension in patients with impaired autonomic function. Hypertension. 2007 Jul;50(1):47-53. — View Citation

* Note: There are 16 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Increase in seated systolic blood pressure 1-hr post drug compared to baseline.		1.5-4 hours
Secondary	Increase in standing time 1-hr post drug compared to baseline		1.5-4 hours

External Links

•   Autonomic Dysfunction Center Website