A Short Term Open, Randomized Cross-over Trial Exploring the Effect of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition by Acetazolamide on Sleep Apnea Associated Hypertension and Vascular Dysfunction

Göteborg University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Hypertension; Sleep-Disordered Breathing; Blood Pressure; Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Treatments: Device: nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP); Drug: Acetazolamide

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02220803

CA-BP13

2013-004866-33 (EudraCT Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a short term open, randomized cross over trial to explore and compare the efficacy of pharmacological carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) related hypertension. Patients will be randomized to receive Acetazolamide(Diamox®)(ACZ), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)or CPAP plus ACZ for 2 weeks. Following a 2 week wash-out period all study participants will receive the alternative treatment regimen. The total length of the study will be 10 weeks. The effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibition on blood pressure,hemodynamics and sleep apnea will be investigated.

Study hypothesis:

Carbonic anhydrase inhibition alone or in combination with nCPAP will prominently reduce blood pressure in patients with OSA. Further it is hypothesized that CA inhibition will induce a direct pharmacological effects on vascular stiffness as evidenced in overnight non-invasive assessments of vascular stiffness and that this effect will be particularly strong in patients also responding with a reduction of blood pressure.

Enrollment: 13 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Provision of informed consent prior to any study specific procedures
• Males 18 to 75 years
• An Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)>15 and an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (ESS)>6 as verified by a PSG recording.
• Patients with established hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure >= 160/95, either systolic or diastolic accounted for).
• Clinically normal physical findings and laboratory values, as judged by the investigator
• Body mass index >= 35 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• Hypersensitivity to sulfonamides or acetazolamide-
• Patients with ongoing medication with other sulphonamides or patients any specific antihypertensive treatment.
• History of severe allergy/hypersensitivity or ongoing allergy/hypersensitivity.
• Subjects with a seizure disorder
• Patients with clinically verified central sleep apnea
• Clinically significant renal (serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dL or >130 micromol/L), neurological, metabolic (e.g. Type 1 or 2 diabetes), haematological or hepatic disease (ASAT or ALAT >2 times the upper limit of normal).
• Subjects with an occupational risk potentially exaggerated by daytime sleepiness such as handling complex machinery or professional driving
• Unstable angina pectoris, unstable hypertension (or poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1C < 52 mmoles/mol, or fasting plasma glucose >7 mmoles/l).
• Clinically significant congestive heart failure.
• Myocardial infarction or coronary vessel intervention within the previous 6 months period.
• Subjects with uncontrolled hypertension (defined as a diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mmHg and/or a systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg with or without medication).
• Previously diagnosed or treated clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia
• Clinically significant chronic pulmonary or gastrointestinal disease.
• Clinical history of depression as judged by the investigator or other previous or present clinically significant psychiatric disease
• Suspected or confirmed poor compliance
• Alcohol or drug abuse during the last year.
• Subjects with any other significant condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with participation in the study.
• Severe nocturnal hypoxia defined as more than 10 episodes with an oxygen desaturation exceeding 50% or signs of lacking resaturation between desaturations on previous recordings according to investigators judgment
• Participation in another clinical study during the last 6 months.
• Inability to understand and complete the questionnaires.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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13 participants in 3 patient groups

Acetazolamide and CPAP

Active Comparator group

Description:

Acetazolamide: Diamox®. Hard white capsule, 250 mg. The total treatment is 4 weeks (2+2 weeks). Dosing of acetazolamide will be up-titrated during 3 days according to manufacturer instruction and titration scheme of the study. Maximum dosage (750mg) following titration will be administered as morning (250 mg) and evening(500mg) dosages.Evening medication should be taken 2 hours before bedtime. CPAP: Continuous positive nasal airway pressure (nCPAP) delivers slightly pressurized air throughout the breathing cycle and will be given through a mask that is placed and secured over the person's nose. nCPAP titration will follow clinical routines. The standard setting is a pressure delivery in the pressure range 5-15 mbar. The adequate performance of the device is controlled by user time readers and built-in memory cards and control readings are routinely performed at the end of each treatment regimen. Total duration of CPAP treatment is 4(2+2) weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Acetazolamide

Device: nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP)

CPAP

Active Comparator group

Description:

Continuous positive nasal airway pressure (nCPAP) delivers slightly pressurized air throughout the breathing cycle and will be given through a mask that is placed and secured over the person's nose. nCPAP titration will follow clinical routines whereby the patient is equipped with an autotitrating device (Sullivan S9). The standard setting is a pressure delivery in the pressure range 5-15 mbar and the full treatment is maintained in the patient´s home. The adequate performance of the device is controlled by user time readers and built-in memory cards and control readings are routinely performed at the end of each treatment regimen. Patients will be encouraged via telephone calls for maximum use. Total duration of CPAP treatment is 4(2+2) weeks.

Treatment:

Device: nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP)

Acetazolamide

Experimental group

Description:

Acetazolamide (Diamox®) 250 mg. Hard white capsule. The total length of acetazolamide treatment will be 4 weeks (2x2) including 3 days of titration phase of the drug. Dosing of acetazolamide will be up-titrated during 3 days according to manufacturer instruction and titration scheme of the study. Maximum dosage (750mg) following titration will be administered as morning (250 mg) and evening(500mg)dosages.Evening medication should be taken 2 hours before bedtime. The tablets will be swallowed with 300 ml of water (room temperature) in an upright body position and preferably in connection to a meal.

Treatment:

Drug: Acetazolamide