Caveolin-1 and Vascular Dysfunction

Study Summary

Caveolin-1 and Vascular Dysfunction Thank you for your interest in the investigators Blood Pressure Research Study. The National Institutes of Health are sponsoring us to investigate why patients develop high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and heart disease. There are two parts of the investigators research program. The first part is a screening visit. At this visit you will be given a brief physical exam and will be asked questions concerning your medical history. During the same visit you will have your blood drawn for routine screening and genetic testing. You will also be asked to collect a urine sample for routine screening. If the doctor finds that you are a healthy candidate you will be invited to participate in the second part of the study. During Phase II, the investigators will perform physiological tests after you are placed on a low salt diet and again after you are placed on a higher salt diet. If you are on blood pressure medication, it may be necessary to discontinue taking your present medication for up to three months before beginning the study. Patients discontinuing their current blood pressure medication may be placed on a different blood pressure medication during this 'washout' period if necessary to maintain blood pressure at pre-study levels. Once your blood pressure medications are discontinued, you will be closely monitored. If you do not own a home blood pressure monitor, the investigators will provide one for you to use during the study so that you can keep a daily record of your blood pressure readings. The investigators will ask you to call us every three days to report your blood pressure readings. After you have stopped taking your medication, dieticians at the hospital will make you low salt meals to eat at home for about seven days. On the last day of the low salt diet, you will be asked to begin a 24-hour urine collection that you will bring with you when you are admitted to the hospital that evenin

Primary Outcome

We are testing our hypothesis that genetic variation at the cav-1 locus is a determinant of vascular phenotypes in hypertensive subjects. We will recruit hypertensive subjects who will be classified into two groups according to genotype status at rs926198 of CAV-1. Vascular function status will be determined using four markers: renal blood flow (primary endpoint), brachial artery reactivity, aortic compliance, and blood pressure levels. We will assess these endpoints before and after two provoc

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• DRUG Norepinephrine
• DRUG Angiotensin II
• DRUG Para-aminohippuric Acid

Study Locations (1)