Cardiovascular Manifestations of MR Activation in Primary Aldosteronism: Pilot Clinical Study
Purpose
This research study aims to learn more about the impact the hormone aldosterone on the heart. Primary aldosteronism is a condition where the body's adrenal glands make too much of the hormone aldosterone, which can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart and kidney disease. Treatment with medications that block aldosterone can reduce that risk. This study is trying to learn whether treatment with a medication that blocks aldosterone can improve heart function in people who make too much aldosterone.
Conditions
- Primary Aldosteronism
- Hypertension
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 18 Years and 85 Years
- Eligible Genders
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- Adults aged 18-85 - Able to provide informed consent and willing to comply with the study - Able to fit safely in PET/CT scanner (weight limit 500 pounds; diameter and circumference of PET/CT scanner are 70 cm and 220 cm, respectively) - Hypertension treated with at least one antihypertensive drug - Cohort A: Clinically confirmed diagnosis of PA not yet treated with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
Exclusion Criteria
- History of MI, CABG, known cardiomyopathy (EF <40%, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and/or amyloid), cardiac transplantation - Contraindication or allergy to eplerenone or spironolactone - Current pregnancy or breastfeeding - eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73m2 or potassium > 5.1 on labs within the preceding 3 months - Cohort A: Planned adrenalectomy in the subsequent 6 months Cohort B: Subclinical & Undiagnosed PA Inclusion Criteria: - Adults aged 18-85 - Able to provide informed consent and willing to comply with the study - Able to fit safely in PET/CT scanner (weight limit 500 pounds; diameter and circumference of PET/CT scanner are 70 cm and 220 cm, respectively) - Hypertension treated with at least one antihypertensive drug - Cohort B: Clinically indicated cardiac PET perfusion scan within the preceding 3 months and echocardiogram within the preceding 6 months Exclusion Criteria: - History of MI, CABG, known cardiomyopathy (EF <40%, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and/or amyloid), cardiac transplantation - Contraindication or allergy to eplerenone or spironolactone - Current pregnancy or breastfeeding - eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73m2 or potassium > 5.1 on labs within the preceding 3 months - Cohort B: 10% or greater burden of ischemia on qualifying PET - Cohort B: Planned coronary angiogram/revascularization in the subsequent 6 months.
Study Design
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- N/A
- Intervention Model
- Single Group Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Eplerenone Treatment |
Eplerenone (50-100mg daily, as tolerated by blood pressure and potassium) for 6 months |
|
Recruiting Locations
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Eva Abel
617-525-3803
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
Detailed Description
The study evaluates the impact of 6 months of treatment with the mineralocorticoid receptor blocking medication eplerenone on the heart's blood flow, using a cardiac PET stress test, and on the heart's structure and function by echocardiogram. Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of primary aldosteronism will undergo echocardiogram and cardiac PET stress test before and after 6 months of eplerenone treatment. Participants without a confirmed diagnosis of primary aldosteronism but with hypertension and a recent clinical PET test and echocardiogram will undergo testing to make the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. Those who test positive will go on to treatment with eplerenone for 6 months, followed by a cardiac PET scan and echocardiogram.