The Effects of Low Dose Ketamine on Cardiovascular Function

Low dose ketamine is used for pain management and for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Prior studies on low dose ketamine have noted short-term (minutes to hours) increases or decreases in blood pressure. Blood pressure that is too high or too low can be problematic if untreated. It is unknown exactly how low dose ketamine affects blood pressure. In fact, no prior studies have measured sympathetic nervous system activity after low dose ketamine has been given to an adult. Because sympathetic nervous system activity has a large influence on blood pressure, we need to know how exactly low dose ketamine affects these body systems. Therefore, in this research we will study how low dose ketamine affects sympathetic nervous system activity and cardiovascular function. The results from this research will inform doctors about how low dose ketamine affects the sympathetic nervous system, heart, and blood vessels.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ketamine; Drug: Saline (placebo)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Non-obese (body mass index less than 30 kg/m2)

  *alternatively, individuals will be permitted to participate if they have a body mass index value below 35 kg/m2 but a waist circumference below 88 cm for females and 102 cm for males

• Systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg
• Diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who have cardiac, respiratory, neurological, and/or metabolic illnesses
• Current or previous use of anti-hypertensive medications
• Any known history of renal or hepatic insufficiency/disease
• Pregnancy or breast feeding
• Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years
• Individuals with a history of drug abuse
• Individuals who have an unexplained positive urine drug screen (e.g., some agents cause false-positive results, but when the agent is abstained for hours/days/weeks, the repeated drug screen is negative. One example could be an over-the-counter supplement)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Low Dose Ketamine	Drug: Ketamine; Low dose ketamine - Ketalar (Racemic Ketamine Hydrochloride) Saline - Isotonic/Normal Saline
Placebo Comparator: Saline (placebo)	Drug: Saline (placebo); Saline (placebo)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity Burst Frequency	We will measure muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), quantified as burst frequency and/or incidence, using microneurography	This outcome will be assessed within one trial lasting up to approximately five hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Arterial Blood Pressure	We will measure arterial blood pressure, quantified as systolic, mean, and/or diastolic pressure, using an automated monitor before and after administration of low dose ketamine.	This outcome will be assessed within one trial lasting up to approximately five hours

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood Vessel Diameter	We will measure blood vessel function, quantified as blood vessel diameter, using sonography before and after administration of low dose ketamine.	This outcome will be assessed within one trial lasting up to approximately five hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 28, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): May 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): June 12, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 21, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Anesthetics, General; Anesthetics; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU-2019-1792

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No