Race, Natriuretic Peptides and Physiological Perturbations



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Healthy Studies
Therapuetic Areas:Other
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 40
Updated:6/29/2018
Start Date:April 30, 2017
End Date:December 2023
Contact:Nirav Patel, MD
Email:npatel@uabmc.edu
Phone:205-934-6058

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Racial Differences in the Natriuretic Peptide Response to Exercise and Beta-blockers

The purpose of the study is to understand the origins of differential response to
beta-blockers in African-Americans and may provide insight regarding racial differences in
cardiovascular risk.

The heart is an endocrine organ. The natriuretic peptides are hormones produced in the heart
and are secreted in response to increased wall stress in atria and ventricles. The principal
circulating NPs are Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) and B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP).
The endocrine actions of NPs are natriuresis and dilatation of peripheral arteries.

The NPs concentrations are elevated in heart failure (HF) and hypertension (HTN) due to
volume and pressure overload. Therefore, NPs are used as diagnostic and prognostic markers in
heart failure. However, NPs role in healthy individuals is not known.

Previous studies have shown that reduced NP levels are associated with a greater risk of HTN.
Moreover, African-Americans have lower resting NP levels than Caucasians. We hypothesize that
relative NP deficiency in African American compared to Caucasian has the potential to
contribute to increase risk of all-cause mortality, HTN, HF and its sequelae.

Evidence from multiple clinical trials has positioned beta-blockers as a standard heart
failure therapy. Beta-blocker therapy leads to increased NP levels and suppression of
Renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system (RAAS) system. Suppression of renin levels by
beta-blockers has been shown as a potential mechanism of benefit in HF. However, study shows
that beta-blockers are less effective in African-Americans compared to Caucasians in HF
treatment. So, the investigators have proposed a pilot study to look for race-based
differences in the NP and RAAS response to metoprolol in healthy individuals.

Additionally, exercise has been reported to increase NP levels. ANP increases more than BNP
with exercise. But there is no data of NP changes in African-American with exercise. So the
investigators have proposed a sub-study of race-based difference in ANP and BNP response to
exercise.

40 African-American and 40 Caucasians normotensive or pre-hypertensive (healthy) individuals
will be enrolled.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 18 to 40 years

- Blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg

- Able to perform exercise capacity test

- BMI 18-25 kg/m2

- Willing to adhere to study drug

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of cardiovascular disease or use of medications for CVD

- History of hypertension or use of BP lowering medications

- Blood pressure less than 100/60 mm Hg

- Heart rate less than 60 beats/min

- Depression

- Diabetes or use of anti-diabetic medications

- Renal disease (eGFR < 60ml/min/1.73m2)

- Current or prior smokers

- Pregnant or use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptives (OCP) or
steroids
We found this trial at
1
site
1720 2nd Ave S
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
(205) 934-4011 
University of Alabama at Birmingham The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) traces its roots...
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mi
from
Birmingham, AL
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