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The Potential of Candesartan to Retard the Progression of Aortic Stenosis (ROCK-AS)

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified May 2009 by Helsinki University
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
AstraZeneca
Information provided by:
Helsinki University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00699452
First received: June 16, 2008
Last updated: May 18, 2009
Last verified: May 2009
History of Changes
  Purpose

The present study defines a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, prospective study, the aim of which is to determine the influence of effective treatment with Type 1 angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor (AT-1R) antagonist, using candesartan (target dose 16 mg) on stenotic aortic valves. The investigators will specifically quantify whether candesartan attenuates the key pathogenic mechanisms of aortic valve stenosis, namely inflammation, fibrosis, elastin degradation, calcification, and neovascularization.


Condition Intervention Phase
Aortic Valve Stenosis
 Drug: candesartan
Drug: placebo
 Phase 3

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: The Potential of Candesartan to Retard the Progression of Aortic Stenosis Influences of Medical Therapy to the Atheroinflammatory Process in Stenotic Aortic Valves

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Helsinki University:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • The degree of inflammation in stenotic aortic valves [ Time Frame: 3-5 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • The degree of calcification, lipid accumulation, and fibrosis in stenotic aortic valves [ Time Frame: 3-5 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 120
Study Start Date: May 2009
Estimated Study Completion Date: December 2014
Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: 1
Candesartan 8 mg/d for two weeks, then 16 mg/d until valve replacement surgery (approximately 3 months)
 Drug: candesartan
Candesartan 8 mg/d for two weeks, then 16 mg/d until valve replacement surgery (approximately 3 months)
Other Name: Atacand
Placebo Comparator: 2
Placebo
 Drug: placebo
placebo
Other Name: placebo

Detailed Description:

We will include in the study 120 consecutive patients with clinically significant, symptomatic aortic stenosis referred to the Helsinki University Central Hospital for consideration of valve replacement surgery. Patients who can be put on the hospital's normal waiting list for elective angiography (i.e who do not need urgent surgery) and who give their informed consent, will be randomized into two groups to start therapy with candesartan (8 mg/d for 2 weeks, and then 16 mg/d until surgery) or placebo. On average, the overall duration of the drug intervention will be 3 months, i.e., the average time in our institution from referral to surgery. In addition, patients (n=50) undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery due to aortic regurgitation caused by dilation of the aortic root will be included. This population consists of both patients with early sclerotic, i.e., pre-stenotic, changes in their aortic valves (n=30) and of patients without any sclerotic or stenotic changes in their aortic valves (n=20). The group with sclerotic changes in their aortic valves (n=30) will be divided into two groups to receive candesartan (8 mg/d 2 wk, and then 16 mg/d until surgery) (n=15) or placebo (n=15). The removed aortic valves will be examined utilizing real-time PCR, autoradiography, fluorometry, immunohistochemistry, double immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and enzyme immunoassays. With these techniques, several markers of inflammation, calcification, fibrosis, and the amount of lipid accumulation and oxidation of LDL in the valves will be examined.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 120 consecutive patients with clinically significant, symptomatic aortic stenosis referred to the Helsinki University Central Hospital for consideration of valve replacement surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with past myocardial infarction, more than mild mitral valve disease, or previous cardiac surgery will be excluded.
  • Patients with heart failure who need urgent surgery or those with hypotension (systolic blood pressure below 110 mm Hg) will be excluded.
  • Patients already taking ACE inhibitors or AT-1R antagonists will be excluded from the study population.

  • Other exclusion criteria include the following:

    • Complicated diabetes
    • Primary cardiomyopathy
    • Pregnant women, women who are breast feeding, and women of childbearing potential who are not using chemical or mechanical contraception or have a positive serum pregnancy test
    • History of malignancy (unless a documented disease free period exceeding 5-years is present) with the exception of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Women with a history of cervical dysplasia would be permitted to enter the study provided they had 3 consecutive clear Papanicolaou (Pap) smears
    • Hypothyroidism (TSH 1.5xULN)
    • History of alcohol or drug abuse within the last 5 years (this may affect compliance)
    • Unexplained creatine kinase (CK 3xULN) (To protect patient safety)
    • Serum creatinine >176 umol/L (2.0mg/dL)
    • Participation in another investigational drug study less than 4 weeks before enrolment in the study, or according to subjects local ethics committee requirements where a larger period is stipulated (to avoid potential misinterpretation of overlapping adverse events)
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00699452

Contacts
Contact: Markku Kupari, MD, PhD 358-9-4717-2441 markku.kupari@hus.fi
Contact: Satu Helske, MD, PhD 358-9-681-411 satu.helske@wri.fi

Locations
Finland
Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital Recruiting
Helsinki, Finland, 00029
Contact: Markku Kupari, MD, PhD     358-9-4717-2441     markku.kupari@hus.fi    
Contact: Satu Helske, MD, PhD     358-9-681-411     satu.helske@wri.fi    
Principal Investigator: Markku Kupari, MD, PhD            
Sponsors and Collaborators
Helsinki University
AstraZeneca
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Markku Kupari, MD, PhD Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Markku Kupari, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00699452     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: ROCK-AS
Study First Received: June 16, 2008
Last Updated: May 18, 2009
Health Authority: Finland: Finnish Medicines Agency

Keywords provided by Helsinki University:
aortic stenosis
valve
candesartan

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Aortic Valve Stenosis
Constriction, Pathologic
Heart Valve Diseases
Heart Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Ventricular Outflow Obstruction
Pathological Conditions, Anatomical
Candesartan
 Candesartan cilexetil
Antihypertensive Agents
Cardiovascular Agents
Therapeutic Uses
Pharmacologic Actions
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 23, 2013