Effects of Bosentan on Respiratory Mechanics

August 19, 2015 updated by: dr. Stefano Nava, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna

Effects of 12 Weeks Treatment With Bosentan on Respiratory Mechanics in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension

Bosentan has been largely used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). It can improve exercise capacity, lower Borg dyspnoea score nad these effects are usually associated with the concomitant improvement in cardiopulmonary haemodynamics.

No physiological study has so far verified the hypothesis that Bosentan may laso have an effect on the "respiratory side" of the cadio-pulmonary system (i.e. on pulmonary mechanics and work of breathing)

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Endothelins are powerful vasoconstrictor peptides that also play numerous other functions in many different organs. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most abundant and important of this family of peptides in blood vessels. Production of ET-1 is increased in the endothelium and the kidney in salt-dependent models of hypertension ET-1 elicits an inflammatory response by increasing oxidant stress in the vascular wall, which induces vascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction found in the hypertensive models that exhibit an endothelin-mediated component. Endothelin receptor antagonists lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients. They could become therapeutic agents for prevention of target organ damage in hypertension and in type 2 diabetes, chronic renal failure and congestive heart failure. Side effects of endothelin receptor blockers have prevented up to the present their development for these indications. Endothelin antagonists have been approved only for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, a rapidly fatal condition in which the endothelin system plays an important role and endothelin antagonists exert favorable effects.The exact mechanism of action of ERAs on the pulmonary vascular bed remains unclear. Vasodilatation is just a part of the mechanism, since usually 70%-80% of Idiopathic PAH patients do not respond acutely to vasodilators. Endothelin is likely to be involved in pulmonary vasoconstriction, inflammation, cellular proliferation and fibrosis ie. remodelling Recent research illustrates that bosentan is capable of blunting the vascular remodelling normally associated with PAH If ERAs could prevent remodelling, they might substantially improve the long-term survival in patients with mild symptoms (WHO class II or I).

Bosentan, the most popular endothelin receptor antagonist, has been largely used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). It can improve exercise capacity, lower Borg dyspnoea score nad these effects are usually associated with the concomitant improvement in cardiopulmonary haemodynamics.

No physiological study has so far verified the hypothesis that Bosentan may laso have an effect on the "respiratory side" of the cadio-pulmonary system (i.e. on pulmonary mechanics and work of breathing)

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

4

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • PV
      • Pavia, PV, Italy, 27100
        • Respiratory Unit, Fondazione S.Maugeri

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 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients with World Health Organization (WHO) functional class II-III.
  • A systemic pulse oximetry (SpO2) between 70% and 90% at rest with room air and a baseline 6-minute walk distance between 150 and 450 m were required for inclusion.
  • PAH confirmed by cardiac catheterization as mean pulmonary arterial pressure greater or equal to25 mm Hg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure lower 15 mm Hg,

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients were excluded if they had patent ductus arteriosus (for hemodynamic assessment difficulties)
  • complex congenital heart defect
  • left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction lower 40%)
  • restrictive lung disease (total lung capacity lower 70% predicted)
  • obstructive lung disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] lower 70% predicted
  • with FEV1/forced vital capacity lower 60%)
  • or previously diagnosed coronary artery disease.

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

  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1
treatment with Bosentan
62.5 mg b.i.d. for 4 weeks, then 125 mg b.i.d.for the remaining 8 weeks (if tolerated)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Respiratory mechanics (i.e. lung compliance, resistances and work of breathing)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
exercise capacity (i.e. 6 mwd), dyspnea, oxygen saturation and cardiac function (i.e. hemodynamic evaluation)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Stefano Nava, Fondazione S.Maugeri

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

May 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

May 16, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 20, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 19, 2015

Last Verified

August 1, 2015

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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