Oral Calcium in Pregnant Women With Hypertension

To determine of providing calcium supplementation to women with pre-existing hypertension reduces the level of blood pressure, requirement for antihypertensive drugs, and incidence of pre-eclampsia.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

Maternal and fetal complications are more likely to occur in pregnant women with preexisting hypertension. Alterations in calcium metabolism, the renin angiotensin system, and intracellular free calcium concentration have been identified in this high risk population. The beneficial effects of calcium supplementation on blood pressure and the incidence of superimposed pre-eclampsia may be due to correction of the hormonal and cellular basis for vasoconstriction. The trial sought to prove that oral calcium lowered parathyroid hormone, reduced intracellular free calcium, and decreased vascular endothelin production, resulting in vasodilation and compensatory stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Randomized. Double blind. In this observational study, subjects were assigned to two grams of supplemental elemental calcium or to placebo at 13 to 15 weeks gestation. The trial determined the effect of oral calcium supplementation on: the level of blood pressure; the need for antihypertensive drugs; forearm and peripheral vascular resistance; the incidence of maternal complications, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia; and plasma levels of vitamin D3, ionized calcium, parathyroid, renin activity, angiotensin II, endothelin, nitrate/nitrite, prostacyclins, and intracellular calcium concentrations in lymphocytes and platelets. These variables were measured prior to randomization and every two months throughout pregnancy and the postpartum. Support ended in July 1999.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "End Date" entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) record.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Pregnant women with chronic hypertension.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Masking: DOUBLE

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

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Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 1993

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

July 1, 1999

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 27, 1999

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 27, 1999

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

October 28, 1999

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

May 13, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2016

Last Verified

April 1, 2002

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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