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HypotensionPhase 2/3NCT00237770

Prevention of Low Blood Pressure in Persons With Tetraplegia

A Phase 2/3 study testing N-Nitro L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) and Head-up Tilt maneuver in people with Hypotension and Spinal Cord Injury, run by US Department of Veterans Affairs at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of this investigation is to determine the blood pressure response to NOS inhibition, with L-NAME, in persons with tetraplegia compared to non-SCI control subjects and to establish if blood pressure can be increased while upright in those with tetraplegia. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Hypotension, Spinal Cord Injury
What is being tested?
N-Nitro L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) and Head-up Tilt maneuver
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
16 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2003to Jun 2010
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18 to 65 year olds.
  • Non-ambulatory Chronic tetraplegia (1 year after acute SCI).

Who cannot join

  • central nervous system disease (other than SCI) e.g., multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, syringomyelia, tabes dorsalis;
  • peripheral neuropathies;
  • surgical sympathectomy;
  • coronary heart and/or artery disease;
  • anemia;
  • hypertension;
Show all 12Show fewer
  • renal function abnormalities;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • pituitary insufficiency;
  • adrenal insufficiency;
  • hypothyroidism; and
  • medications known to affect the cardiovascular system.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • VA Medical Center, Bronx

    The Bronx, New York, 10468

Other trials in United States

About this study

The aim of this investigation is to determine the blood pressure response to NOS inhibition, with L-NAME, in persons with tetraplegia compared to non-SCI control subjects and to establish if blood pressure can be increased while upright in those with tetraplegia. If blood pressure is increased with NOS inhibition in persons with tetraplegia, this would improve our treatment of the condition of low blood pressure during seated postures in individuals with tetraplegia.

Read the detailed description

Despite disruption of central command of the vasculature during orthostatic maneuvers, individuals with tetraplegia are generally able to be seated in an upright position for long periods of time without developing symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. It must be appreciated however, that orthostatic hypotension may occur unpredictably in persons with chronic tetraplegia. This may result in a range of symptoms due to cerebral hypoperfusion from mild reduction in mental acuity to loss of consciousness. Nitric oxide (NO) is the most potent endogenous vasodilator which is synthesized by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) and may be largely responsible for orthostatic hypotension in individuals with immobilizing conditions. Recent evidence suggests an up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthases (NOS) activity with prolonged exposure to hind limb suspension. The effects of NOS inhibition during orthostasis on blood pressure regulation in those with chronic tetraplegia may provide insight into effective pharmacological therapy to reduce or prevent pathologic orthostatic changes. Treatment with a NOS inhibitor may facilitate the process of mobilization in those with acute higher cord lesions.

Being tested
N-Nitro L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME), Head-up Tilt maneuver
Keywords
Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Autonomic Control, Nitric Oxide, NOS Inhibitor, Orthostatic Hypotension, Spinal Cord Injury, Tetraplegia
Medical subject headings
Hypotension, Spinal Cord Injuries, Hypotension, Orthostatic, Quadriplegia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • N-Nitro L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME)Drug

    A non-specific inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase enzyme.

  • Head-up Tilt maneuverProcedure or surgery

    Participant will be placed onto tilt table and brought to 15 degrees of head up tilt for 60 minutes (intravenous infusion time). After this time, a progressive increase to 45 degrees will be completed with a 10 degree increase every 5 minutes. Participant will remain at 45 degrees for 45 minutes or until symptom onset.

Study groups in NCT00237770
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm 1Placebo comparatorPlacebo control (normal saline) is employed on a separate visit during procedure.
Receives: Drug: N-Nitro L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME); Procedure: Head-up Tilt maneuver

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Systolic Blood Pressure During Head-up Tilt

    Average systolic blood pressure over 45 minutes at 45 degrees of head-up tilt.

    Measured: Average systolic blood pressure during head-up tilt (45 degrees) comparing active drug (L-NAME: 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) to placebo.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Oct 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2003
  3. Primary completionJun 2010
  4. Study completionJun 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
16 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00237770
Sponsor's protocol ID
B3600-R
Status last verified
Apr 2014
First submitted
7 Oct 2005
Last updated
19 May 2014
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Wecht JM, Weir JP, Krothe AH, Spungen AM, Bauman WA. Normalization of supine blood pressure after nitric oxide synthase inhibition in persons with tetraplegia. J Spinal Cord Med. 2007;30(1):5-9. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2007.11753907.

    PubMed 17385265
  • Wecht JM, Weir JP, Goldstein DS, Krothe-Petroff A, Spungen AM, Holmes C, Bauman WA. Direct and reflexive effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibition on blood pressure. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Jan;294(1):H190-7. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00366.2007. Epub 2007 Oct 26.

    PubMed 17965289
  • Wecht JM, Radulovic M, Lafountaine MF, Rosado-Rivera D, Zhang RL, Bauman WA. Orthostatic responses to nitric oxide synthase inhibition in persons with tetraplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Aug;90(8):1428-34. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2009.02.004.

    PubMed 19651280
  • Wecht JM, Radulovic M, Rosado-Rivera D, Zhang RL, LaFountaine MF, Bauman WA. Orthostatic effects of midodrine versus L-NAME on cerebral blood flow and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in tetraplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Nov;92(11):1789-95. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.03.022. Epub 2011 Jul 16.

    PubMed 21762873
  • La Fountaine MF, Wecht JM, Bauman WA. Acute nitric oxide synthase inhibition and cardiac conduction in persons with spinal cord injury: a short report. Pharmazie. 2013 Apr;68(4):245-50.

    PubMed 23700789

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing N-Nitro L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) and Head-up Tilt maneuver in people with Hypotension and Spinal Cord Injury, run by US Department of Veterans Affairs at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 May 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 19 May 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Systolic Blood Pressure During Head-up Tilt (time frame: Average systolic blood pressure during head-up tilt (45 degrees) comparing active drug (L-NAME: 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) to placebo.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00237770, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 May 2014.

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