MR Antagonist and LSD1

September 29, 2026 updated by: Andrea Haas, M.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital

Role of LSD1 in Hypertension in Blacks

Lysine specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) is an epigenetic regulator of gene transcription involved in the pathophysiology of elevated blood pressure and likely renal damage in Blacks. This project investigates whether a genetically driven anti-hypertensive approach proves superior in controlling blood pressure and mitigating renal injury in Blacks who carry the risk allele for LSD1 (rs587168). The findings of these investigations may lead to a new approach in treating a subset (~30%) of the essential hypertension population (Black LSD1 risk allele hypertensives).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This proof-of-principle physiologic study in hypertensive Black LSD1 risk allele carriers testing the hypothesis that reductions in blood pressure will be greater with a genetically-driven anti-hypertensive approach (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, eplerenone) compared to a non-specific approach (amlodipine). 56 participants will be enrolled in a 12-week randomized, double-blind, active controlled, outpatient study to assess whether eplerenone (LSD1 specific treatment) proves superior in 24-hr ambulatory systolic blood pressure reduction than amlodipine (non-specific treatment). Participants will be randomized to either eplerenone 50mg or amlodipine 2.5mg with escalations in dose of study drug every 4 weeks if the participant's blood pressure is > 140/90.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

300

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
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
        • Brigham and Women's

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

17 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • untreated as well as currently treated hypertensives
  • rs587168 allele carriers
  • not on more than two anti-hypertensives
  • normal renal, metabolic, electrolyte, and CBC laboratory tests
  • self-identified Black race
  • age >17 yrs.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • known cardiac disease other than HTN
  • renal, circulatory or neurologic diseases
  • diabetes
  • smoking
  • secondary HTN as indicated by history, physical examination or screening blood and urine tests
  • smoking
  • any drug therapy, except for anti-hypertensives and stable thyroid medication replacement

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: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Eplerenone Arm

We posit that individuals who carry the LSD1 risk allele have increased mineralocorticoid receptor activity, which results in hypertension. Thus, our mechanistic clinical study will assess whether hypertensive LSD1 risk allele carriers will show significantly greater reductions in blood pressure with a specific aldosterone mediated treatment approach (mineralocorticoid receptor blockade) than with a non-specific approach (amlodipine). To test this hypothesis, we will perform a randomized, double-blind, active controlled study in hypertensive carriers of the LSD1 risk allele using a novel two-limb, proof-of-principle study. Our primary outcome will be a liberal salt diet systolic blood pressure. Therefore, this mechanistic trial will provide support for using a genetic marker that identifies individuals who are uniquely responsive to mineralocorticoid receptor blockade--personalized, precision medicine.
Drug: Eplerenone

Dose escalations of eplerenone 50, 100, or 200mg
Experimental: Amlodipine Arm

We posit that individuals who carry the LSD1 risk allele have increased mineralocorticoid receptor activity, which results in hypertension. Thus, our mechanistic clinical study will assess whether hypertensive LSD1 risk allele carriers will show significantly greater reductions in blood pressure with a specific aldosterone mediated treatment approach (mineralocorticoid receptor blockade) than with a non-specific approach (amlodipine). To test this hypothesis, we will perform a randomized, double-blind, active controlled study in hypertensive carriers of the LSD1 risk allele using a novel two-limb, proof-of-principle study. Our primary outcome will be a liberal salt diet systolic blood pressure. Therefore, this mechanistic trial will provide support for using a genetic marker that identifies individuals who are uniquely responsive to mineralocorticoid receptor blockade--personalized, precision medicine.
Drug: Amlodipine

Dose escalations of amlodipine 2.5, 5, or 10mg

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
24-hour systolic ambulatory blood pressure
Time Frame: Change in systolic blood pressure between baseline and 4 weeks on study drug

Subjects will be counseled regarding liberal salt dietary intake to ensure similar intakes in all subjects [Na+ (200 mEq), potassium (K+, 100 mEq) and calcium (800 mg)]. After completion of this diet for 6 days, the subject will collect a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. Procedure will be performed before randomization and after 4 weeks of therapy.
Change in systolic blood pressure between baseline and 4 weeks on study drug

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Andrea Haas, MD, Brigham and Women's

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 (Actual)

February 3, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 15, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 7, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

April 12, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2021p000990

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

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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