Regression of Fatty Heart by Valsartan Therapy

January 16, 2019 updated by: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Traditionally, obesity is considered an indirect cause of heart disease. Obese individuals typically present with a number of traditional Framingham risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes), predisposing them to heart attacks and subsequent heart failure. However, an emerging body of basic research revisits a hypothesis that fat is a direct cardiotoxin. Under healthy conditions, most triglyceride is stored in fatty tissue (adipocytes) while the amount of triglyceride stored in non-adipocyte tissues (such as the pancreas, the liver, skeletal muscle, and heart) is minimal and very tightly regulated. When this regulation is disrupted, intracellular triglyceride accumulates excessively in these organs ("steatosis") and has been implicated in activating adverse pathways which culminate in irreversible cell death ("lipotoxicity"), leading to several well-recognized clinical syndromes. These include non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), pancreatic beta-cell failure in type 2 diabetes, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

It has been recently observed that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in addition to lowering blood pressure improve insulin sensitivity and decrease the risk for type 2 diabetes. This study will test the above theory in two study groups: Valsartan vs. Hydrochlorothiazide. We hypothesize that in obese humans with elevated myocardial triglycerides, blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (Valsartan group) will reduce myocardial fat with improvement of insulin sensitivity and heart function.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Basic science in animal models of genetic obesity have demonstrated that obese, insulin resistant animals have fatty hearts with reduced functional ability. More importantly, insulin sensitizing treatment of prediabetic rats delayed development of diabetes and improved heart function. A primary aim of our laboratory is to translate basic animal research, suggesting that excessive lipid accumulation in the myocardium is toxic, into the clinical setting using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy technology. The results of this research may identify new biomarkers and drug targets to prevent cardiac disease in obese humans.

We used our novel in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy technique that enables quantification of triglyceride in human myocardium non-invasively, to demonstrate that obese humans like obese animals are characterized by elevated fat in myocardium. We hypothesize that in obese humans with elevated myocardial TG, blockade of the renin-angiotensin system will reduce myocardial fat with improvement of insulin sensitivity and heart function.

The aims of this study are to test if in obese people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT):

Aim 1) Valsartan treatment will reduce myocardial fat and will improve heart geometry and function,

Aim 2) therapy with thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) treatment will elevate myocardial fat.

We are planning to test the action of Valsartan versus HCTZ as we expect that these drugs cause opposite metabolic effects. The landmark trial ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial) has refocused attention to the thiazide-type diuretics as the first-line therapy for most patients with hypertension. Despite proven reduction in cardiovascular outcomes and low costs, there is on-going concern that one of the major side effect of the thiazides-glucose intolerance-may fuel the current U.S. epidemic of type 2 diabetes. Despite of efficacy and low cost thiazide diuretics are long known to cause insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and precipitation of overt diabetes.

Study Type

Interventional

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

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390
        • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

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 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Prediabetic individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (2 hr postprandial glucose > 140mg/dL) or having 3 of 5 Metabolic Syndrome criteria:

    1. Fasting glucose > 100mg/dL;
    2. Waist circumference: men > 102cm, women > 88cm (confirmed with abdominal MRI);
    3. HDL: men < 40mg/dL, women < 50mg/dL;
    4. Triglycerides > 150mg/dL;
    5. Blood pressure > 130/80mmHg;
  • Elevated hepatic triglycerides (>5.5%) and myocardial triglycerides (>0.6%)
  • Elevated blood triglycerides >150mg/dL
  • Age < 50 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Type 2 Diabetes mellitus
  • Prior exposure to renin system blockers or HCTZ
  • BP > 160/100mmHg
  • Claustrophobia
  • Metallic implants in body
  • Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • Prior exposure to statin medications

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Valsartan
This arm will determine if blockade of the renin-angiotensin system reduces myocardial fat levels and improves insulin sensitivity. It consists of 6 visits: visit1 (baseline); visit2 (2 weeks); visit3 (1 month); visit4 (3 month); visit5 (6 month); visit6 (8 month). Visits 1 & 6 will consist of blood tests, glucose tolerance test by FSivGTT, MRS, & 24 hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. During visit 1, patients receive automatic blood pressure monitor, OMRON, to record blood pressure between visits. Visits 2 & 3 are needed for the adjustment of medication to the final dose level. During visits 4 & 5, Dr. Price will check subject's status as they continue the medication. In case of uncontrolled blood pressure, Dr. Price will prescribe amlodipine for the additional BP control.
Drug: Valsartan
Valsartan 320mg PO daily for 8 months
Other Names:
  • Diovan
Active Comparator: Hydrochlorothiazide
This arm will determine if thiazide diuretics elevate myocardial triglyceride levels. It consists of 6 visits: visit1 (baseline); visit2 (2 weeks); visit3 (1 month); visit4 (3 month); visit5 (6 month); visit6 (8 month). Visits 1 & 6 will consist of blood tests, glucose tolerance test by FSivGTT, MRS, & 24 hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. During visit 1, patients receive automatic blood pressure monitor, OMRON, to record blood pressure between visits. Visits 2 & 3 are needed for the adjustment of medication to the final dose level. During visits 4 & 5, Dr. Price will check subject's status as they continue the medication. In case of uncontrolled blood pressure, Dr. Price will prescribe amlodipine for the additional BP control.
Drug: Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg PO daily for 8 months
Other Names:
  • HCTZ

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Myocardial triglyceride levels
Time Frame: 8 months
8 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Hepatic triglyceride levels, insulin sensitivity, abdominal fat mass
Time Frame: 8 months
8 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Collaborators

Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ronald G Victor, MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Study Director: Lidia S Szczepaniak, PhD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

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, 2007

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

August 1, 2009

Study Completion (Anticipated)

August 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 29, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 2, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

September 3, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 17, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 16, 2019

Last Verified

January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IIRP Study US 73

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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