The Effects of Normalizing Blood Pressure on Cerebral Blood Flow in Hypotensive Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

NCT ID: NCT02893553

Last Updated: 2024-10-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 21 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2021-12-31

Brief Summary

Dysregulation of blood pressure (BP), secondary to decentralized autonomic nervous system (ANS) control of the cardiovascular system, often results in chronic hypotension and orthostatic hypotension (OH) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), particularly in those with high cord lesions (i.e., above T6). While most hypotensive individuals with chronic SCI remain asymptomatic and do not complain of symptoms associated with cerebral hypoperfusion, evidence of reduced resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been reported in association with low systemic BP in the SCI and non-SCI populations. Reduced CBF in hypotensive individuals may lead to cognitive dysfunction, and we reported significantly impaired memory and marginally impaired attention processing in hypotensive individuals with SCI compared to a normotensive SCI cohort. Furthermore, we found that CBF was not increased during cognitive testing in individuals with SCI, which may contribute to impaired cognitive function compared to non-SCI controls. Although asymptomatic hypotension may have an adverse impact on cognitive function and quality of quality of life (QOL) clinical management of this condition is extremely low. In fact, we reported that while nearly 40% of Veterans with SCI were hypotensive, less than 1% carried the diagnosis of hypotension or were prescribed an anti-hypotensive medication. The discrepancy between incidence and treatment of asymptomatic hypotension in the SCI population may relate to a paucity of treatment options which are supported by rigorous clinical trials documenting safe and effective use of anti-hypotensive therapy on BP, CBF and cognitive function. We hypothesize these study medications may increase systolic blood pressure to the normal range and improve cerebral blood flow velocity. Results and conclusions will not be removed from the record.

Detailed Description

Study 1: Subjects will visit the laboratory between 3 and 9 times for 4 hours to determine the BP response to each dose of the 3 study medications (midodrine, pyridostigmine, and mirabegron). Upon arrival to the laboratory subjects will be randomized to receive midodrine, pyridostigmine, or mirabegron. Subjects will remain seated in their wheelchair for the duration of testing. Instrumentation will be applied by study personnel while subject is seated quietly, this can take up to 20 minutes. Instrumentation includes placement of 3 ECG electrodes for continuous HR monitoring and finger and brachial BP cuffs. BP, BR and HR will be recorded for 5-minutes before medication administration (baseline). After baseline, a small pill will be given with a glass of water. BP, BR and HR will be monitored for 5-minutes every 30 minutes for 4 hours after drug administration.

Study 2: Twenty will visit the laboratory on 4 occasions to determine the effects of three anti-hypotensive agents, compared to placebo, on BP, CBFv, and cognitive performance on selected neuropsychological tests. Upon arrival to the laboratory for every visit subjects will be randomized to receive midodrine, pyridostigmine, mirabegron, or matching placebo. Neither the study subject nor the investigator will know which is being administered. Subjects will remain seated in their wheelchair throughout the duration of the study session and will be closely monitored by study personnel. Instrumentation will include placement of 3 ECG electrodes for continuous heart rate (HR) monitoring, finger and brachial BP cuffs, and a Doppler ultrasound probe positioned at the left MCA for continuous CBFv monitoring. Subjects will remain quietly seated in their wheelchair for 30-minutes after instrumentation for a 5-minute recording of continuous HR, BP, and CBFv (baseline). Prior to the baseline data collection period, the first battery of cognitive tests will be administered. The study medication will be administered to the subject along with a glass of water approximately 30-minutes after arrival to the laboratory. There will be a 2 hour break period until the second cognitive battery begins.

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injury; Autonomic Dysreflexia; Baroreceptor Integrity; Sympathetic Integrity; Vagal Integrity; Autonomic Integrity; Hypotensive; Cognitive Function; Cerebral Blood Flow; Blood Pressure

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Study 1

Study 1: is a dose escalation to determine the individualized dose of each of 3 medications (midodrine, pyridostigmine, mirabegron) that increases SBP into the normal range (111-139 mmHg). The investigator will be using midodrine hydrochloride, pyridostigmine bromide and mirabegron.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Midodrine Hydrochloride

Intervention Type: DRUG

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Pyridostigmine Bromide

Intervention Type: DRUG

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Mirabegron

Intervention Type: DRUG

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Study 2

Study2: is a randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded investigation to determine the effect of the normalization of SBP on cerebral blood flow, cognitive function (memory and attention processing) and quality of life. The investigator will be using midodrine hydrochloride, pyridostigmine bromide, mirabegron and placebo.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Midodrine Hydrochloride

Intervention Type: DRUG

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Pyridostigmine Bromide

Intervention Type: DRUG

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Mirabegron

Intervention Type: DRUG

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Placebo

Intervention Type: OTHER

placebo will only be used for study arm 2, the randomized blinded phase.

Interventions

Midodrine Hydrochloride

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Pyridostigmine Bromide

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Mirabegron

study 1 will be single blind. study 2 will be blinded randomized-control trial.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

placebo will only be used for study arm 2, the randomized blinded phase.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

midodrine; pyridostigmine

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Spinal Cord Injured

• Any level of injury
• Any ASIA grade of SCI
• Primarily wheelchair dependent for mobility
• Duration of injury ˃ 1 year

Exclusion Criteria

• Current illness or infection
• History of severe autonomic dysreflexia (AD: condition where BP increases)
• More than 3 symptomatic events per week; BP elevations above 140/90 mmHg; adverse symptoms reporting (e.g., light headedness, dizziness, goosebumps, chills, nausea, etc.)
• Diagnosis of hypertension
• History of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Documented history of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Neurological condition other than SCI (Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc)
• History of epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Liver or kidney disease
• Bladder problems including blockage of the urine and/or weak urine stream
• Diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• Diagnosis of artery disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and AV block
• Allergies to aspirin, a yellow dye, pyridostigmine bromide, midodrine hydrochloride, lyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide
• Had major surgery in the last 30 days
• Illicit drug abuse within the last 6 months
• Pregnant

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Kessler Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center

FED

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jill M. Wecht, Ed.D.

Research Health Scientist

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Jill M Wecht, Ed.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

James J. Peters VA Medical Center

Locations

Kessler Foundation Research Center

West Orange, New Jersey, United States

James J Peters VAMC

The Bronx, New York, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, and Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

WEC-16-015

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id