The Effect and Safety of Omitting Preoperative Alpha-adrenergic Blockade for Normotensive Pheochromocytoma

NCT ID: NCT05702944

Last Updated: 2025-06-12

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

24 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-01-18

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors originating from catecholamine producing chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal paraganglia. The overall age-standardized incidence rate is 0.18 per 100,000 person-years in Korea.

The definitive treatment of PPGL is surgical excision of tumor. However, surgery is associated with a high risk of perioperative hemodynamic instability (HI). To avoid perioperative HI in patients diagnosed with PPGL, preoperative management including routine use of alpha blockade and volume expansion has been advocated by several guidelines.

While unstable hypertension and tachycardia should be controlled in patients with PPGL, there is controversial that all patients diagnosed with PPGL should undergo preoperative pharmacological treatment, especially alpha blockade. The most important risk of preoperative alpha blockade use is perioperative hypotension.

A recent study reported that patients diagnosed with PPGL postoperatively may have no further higher risk of intraoperative hypertension than those diagnosed preoperatively despite insufficient preoperatively management of PPGL.

Therefore, it is a very important to study the relationship between HI and preoperative alpha blockade in normotensive patients diagnosed with PPGL. The aim this study is to analyze the effect and safety of omitting preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockade for normotensive pheochromocytoma through a prospective randomized controlled trial. The patients is divided into two groups. The patients in control group take a phenoxybenzamine at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. The patients in case group do not take a phenoxybenzamine.

Primary outcome is to evaluate the percentage of time during surgery with systolic blood pressure more than 160mmHg or average blood pressure less than 60mmHg. And secondary outcomes are to evaluate hemodynamic instability in preoperative ward and postoperative ward.

Detailed Description

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Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors originating from catecholamine producing chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal paraganglia. The overall age-standardized incidence rate is 0.18 per 100,000 person-years in Korea. The classical clinical presentations that occur due to the release of catecholamine include headache, palpitation, sweating and hypertension. Excessive catecholamine release from PPGLs can induce life-threatening complication such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, shock, arrhythmias, and stroke. The definitive treatment of PPGL is surgical excision of tumor. However, surgery is associated with a high risk of perioperative hemodynamic instability (HI). To avoid perioperative HI in patients diagnosed with PPGL, preoperative management including routine use of alpha blockade and volume expansion has been advocated by several guidelines.

While unstable hypertension and tachycardia should be controlled in patients with PPGL, there is controversial that all patients diagnosed with PPGL should undergo preoperative pharmacological treatment, especially alpha blockade. The most important risk of preoperative alpha blockade use is perioperative hypotension. The patients with prolonged preoperative alpha blockade may require intravenous fluid and vasopressors. In the recent randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of two different alpha blockade, 80-92% of patients reported mild to moderate side effect on alpha blockade.

The proportion of patients who are incidentally diagnosed with PPGLs are increasing. According to the recent study, the European registry for endocrine tumors revealed that incidentaloma were present in 43.4% (239/551 patients) of pheochromocytoma patients, 11.8% (65/551 patients) of patients were diagnosed as pheochromocytoma after adrenalectomy. Patients who were diagnosed with PPGL postoperatively did not undergo proper preoperative management to prevent perioperative HI. Most of them were normotensive patients and there were no specific findings on laboratory or radiologic examination suggesting PPGLs. In addition, a recent study reported that patients diagnosed with PPGL postoperatively may have no further higher risk of intraoperative hypertension than those diagnosed preoperatively despite insufficient preoperatively management of PPGL.

Therefore, it is a very important to study the relationship between HI and preoperative alpha blockade in normotensive patients diagnosed with PPGL. The department of endocrine surgery in Seoul National University Hospital intends to analyze the effect and safety of omitting preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockade for normotensive pheochromocytoma through a prospective randomized controlled trial. The patients is divided into two groups. The patients in control group take a phenoxybenzamine at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. If blood pressure is more than 130/80mmHg in the sitting position, the patient will take a more amount of phenoxybenzamine. If blood pressure is less than 90mmHg in the standing position, the patients will take a less amount of phenoxybenzamine. In the case group, there is no drug to be taken.

Primary outcome is to evaluate the percentage of time during surgery with systolic blood pressure more than 160mmHg or average blood pressure less than 60mmHg. And secondary outcomes are to evaluate hemodynamic instability in preoperative ward and postoperative ward.

Conditions

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Pheochromocytoma Paraganglioma Adrenalectomy; Status Adrenergics Causing Adverse Effects in Therapeutic Use

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Patients in control group take a "phenoxybenzamine" at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. If blood pressure is more than 130/80 mmHg in the sitting position, the patient will take a more amount of "phenoxybenzamine". If blood pressure is less than 90 mmHg in the standing position, the patient will take a less amount of "phenoxybenzamine". In the case group, there is no drug to be taken.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Phenoxybenzamine before surgery

Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha receptor blocker, is taken at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Phenoxybenzamine

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients in sham comparator group take a phenoxybenzamine at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. If blood pressure is more than 130/80 mmHg in the sitting position, the patient will take a more amount of phenoxybenzamine. If blood pressure is less than 90 mmHg in the standing position, the patient will take a less amount of phenoxybenzamine. In active comparator group, there is no drug to be taken.

No phenoxybenzamine before surgery

Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha receptor blocker, is not taken before surgery

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Phenoxybenzamine

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients in sham comparator group take a phenoxybenzamine at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. If blood pressure is more than 130/80 mmHg in the sitting position, the patient will take a more amount of phenoxybenzamine. If blood pressure is less than 90 mmHg in the standing position, the patient will take a less amount of phenoxybenzamine. In active comparator group, there is no drug to be taken.

Interventions

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Phenoxybenzamine

Patients in sham comparator group take a phenoxybenzamine at least 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. If blood pressure is more than 130/80 mmHg in the sitting position, the patient will take a more amount of phenoxybenzamine. If blood pressure is less than 90 mmHg in the standing position, the patient will take a less amount of phenoxybenzamine. In active comparator group, there is no drug to be taken.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients aged 19 to 70 years old
* Patients who consented to the study and obtained consent for the study
* Patients undergoing unilateral total adrenalectomy due to normotensive pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma with less than five times of upper limits of serum metanephrine

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients under 18 or over 70 years old
* Pregnant women
* Patients with bilateral pheochromocytoma
* Patients suspected of malignant pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma or distant metastasis
* Patients requiring preoperative intensive care unit due to severe hemodynamic instability
* Patients with hypertension (the blood pressure measured more than two times is constantly greater than 140/90 mmHg) or already taking a antihypertensive medication
* Patients with a history of coronary artery disease
* Patients with a history of arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia)
* Patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease (cerebral aneurysm, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage)
* Patients judged unsuitable by the person in charge of the clinical trial
Minimum Eligible Age

19 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Seoul National University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Su-jin Kim

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Su-Jin Kim, M.D., Ph.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Seoul National University Hospital

Locations

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Seoul National University Hospital

Seoul, , South Korea

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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South Korea

Central Contacts

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Su-Jin Kim, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

+82-2-2072-7208

Facility Contacts

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Su-Jin Kim, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: primary

+82-2-2072-7208

References

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Stenstrom G, Svardsudd K. Pheochromocytoma in Sweden 1958-1981. An analysis of the National Cancer Registry Data. Acta Med Scand. 1986;220(3):225-32.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3776697 (View on PubMed)

Sheps SG, Jiang NS, Klee GG. Diagnostic evaluation of pheochromocytoma. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1988 Jun;17(2):397-414.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3042392 (View on PubMed)

Samaan NA, Hickey RC, Shutts PE. Diagnosis, localization, and management of pheochromocytoma. Pitfalls and follow-up in 41 patients. Cancer. 1988 Dec 1;62(11):2451-60. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19881201)62:113.0.co;2-q.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3179962 (View on PubMed)

Lenders JW, Duh QY, Eisenhofer G, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP, Grebe SK, Murad MH, Naruse M, Pacak K, Young WF Jr; Endocrine Society. Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Jun;99(6):1915-42. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-1498.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24893135 (View on PubMed)

Lenders JW, Eisenhofer G, Mannelli M, Pacak K. Phaeochromocytoma. Lancet. 2005 Aug 20-26;366(9486):665-75. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67139-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16112304 (View on PubMed)

Pacak K. Preoperative management of the pheochromocytoma patient. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Nov;92(11):4069-79. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-1720.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17989126 (View on PubMed)

Chen H, Sippel RS, O'Dorisio MS, Vinik AI, Lloyd RV, Pacak K; North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS). The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society consensus guideline for the diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumors: pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and medullary thyroid cancer. Pancreas. 2010 Aug;39(6):775-83. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3181ebb4f0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20664475 (View on PubMed)

Haissaguerre M, Courel M, Caron P, Denost S, Dubessy C, Gosse P, Appavoupoulle V, Belleannee G, Jullie ML, Montero-Hadjadje M, Yon L, Corcuff JB, Fagour C, Mazerolles C, Wagner T, Nunes ML, Anouar Y, Tabarin A. Normotensive incidentally discovered pheochromocytomas display specific biochemical, cellular, and molecular characteristics. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;98(11):4346-54. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-1844. Epub 2013 Sep 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24001749 (View on PubMed)

Kopetschke R, Slisko M, Kilisli A, Tuschy U, Wallaschofski H, Fassnacht M, Ventz M, Beuschlein F, Reincke M, Reisch N, Quinkler M. Frequent incidental discovery of phaeochromocytoma: data from a German cohort of 201 phaeochromocytoma. Eur J Endocrinol. 2009 Aug;161(2):355-61. doi: 10.1530/EJE-09-0384. Epub 2009 Jun 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19497985 (View on PubMed)

Noshiro T, Shimizu K, Watanabe T, Akama H, Shibukawa S, Miura W, Ito S, Miura Y. Changes in clinical features and long-term prognosis in patients with pheochromocytoma. Am J Hypertens. 2000 Jan;13(1 Pt 1):35-43. doi: 10.1016/s0895-7061(99)00139-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10678269 (View on PubMed)

Bruynzeel H, Feelders RA, Groenland TH, van den Meiracker AH, van Eijck CH, Lange JF, de Herder WW, Kazemier G. Risk Factors for Hemodynamic Instability during Surgery for Pheochromocytoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Feb;95(2):678-85. doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-1051. Epub 2009 Dec 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19965926 (View on PubMed)

Shao Y, Chen R, Shen ZJ, Teng Y, Huang P, Rui WB, Xie X, Zhou WL. Preoperative alpha blockade for normotensive pheochromocytoma: is it necessary? J Hypertens. 2011 Dec;29(12):2429-32. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0b013e32834d24d9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22025238 (View on PubMed)

Lafont M, Fagour C, Haissaguerre M, Darancette G, Wagner T, Corcuff JB, Tabarin A. Per-operative hemodynamic instability in normotensive patients with incidentally discovered pheochromocytomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Feb;100(2):417-21. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-2998. Epub 2014 Nov 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25405501 (View on PubMed)

Buitenwerf E, Osinga TE, Timmers HJLM, Lenders JWM, Feelders RA, Eekhoff EMW, Haak HR, Corssmit EPM, Bisschop PHLT, Valk GD, Veldman RG, Dullaart RPF, Links TP, Voogd MF, Wietasch GJKG, Kerstens MN. Efficacy of alpha-Blockers on Hemodynamic Control during Pheochromocytoma Resection: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jul 1;105(7):2381-91. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz188.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31714582 (View on PubMed)

Kim JH, Lee HC, Kim SJ, Lee KE, Jung KC. Characteristics of Intraoperative Hemodynamic Instability in Postoperatively Diagnosed Pheochromocytoma and Sympathetic Paraganglioma Patients. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Feb 24;13:816833. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.816833. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35282440 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2209-044-1357

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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