Effect of Folic Acid on Endothelial and Baroreceptor Function in Patients With Heart Failure

NCT ID: NCT00491907

Last Updated: 2007-10-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2004-10-31

Study Completion Date

2007-05-31

Brief Summary

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The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aim to evaluate the effect of 1-month therapy with folic acid (5 mg/day) on endothelial function and baroreceptor function in patients with heart failure.

Endothelial function will be studied non-invasively with flow-mediated dilation while for eveluating baroreceptor function sympathetic nervous system activity will be measured directly with microneurography in baseline condition and during infusion of sodium-nitroprusside.

Detailed Description

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Endothelial and baroreceptor function are impaired in patients with heart failure.

Impaired baroreflex control of the heart and peripheral circulation and endothelial dysfunction are thought to play an important pathophysiological role in chronic heart failure and confers a poor prognosis.

In patients with essential hypertension we demonstrated an improvement in baroreceptor function after treatment with folic acid.

Therefore, the aim of the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate endothelial function and baroreceptor function in patients with heart failure before and after 1-month therapy with folic acid (5 mg) or placebo.

Endothelial function will be assessed with novel high-resolution ultrasound devices, which allows to investigate endothelial function in vivo. This method makes use of the property of the endothelium to release nitric oxide in response to shear stress and increased flow as previously described. Endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelium-independent glycerol trinitrate (GTN) (0.4 mg sublingual, Nitrolingual Spray, Pohl-Boskamp, Germany)-induced vasodilation of the brachial artery will be assessed by a high-resolution ultrasound vessel wall tracking device with a 10 MHz linear array transducer . FMD of the brachial artery is induced by release of a wrist cuff inflated 50 mmHg above systolic pressure for 5 minutes. After sublingual GTN application, used as endothelium-independent stimulus, the diameter will be recorded every 30 seconds for 6 minutes.

Multifiber recordings of muscle sympathetic nerve activity will be obtained from the peroneal nerve posterior to the fibular head with tungsten microelectrodes. The sympathetic nervous activity will be measured continuously together with ECG, respiration rate and blood pressure. Baroreceptor modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate would be assessed by intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside.

Conditions

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Heart Failure

Keywords

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folic acid endothelial function baroreceptor function heart failure

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

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folic acid 5mg/day

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Heart failure (min. NYHA ll, LVEF \<50%)
* Not smokers
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Unstable heart failure
* Smoking
* Unstabile Angina Pectoris
* Endocrinologic disease such as Diabetes mellitus, Hypo- und Hyperthyroidism
* Alcohol abuse
* Epilepsia
* Treatment with folic acid antaponists Trimethoprim, Pyrimethamin, Methotrexat..
* Participation to one other clinical Study within 1 Month
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Zurich

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Georg Noll, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Other Identifiers

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FolicAcid881

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id