Effects of Physical Training on Vascular Function as a Therapeutic Target in Pulmonary Hypertension

Hospital Clinic of Barcelona

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Treatments: Behavioral: Endurance training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03550729

TrainHAP

Details and patient eligibility

About

The role of physical training in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is controversial. The aim of the project is to evaluate the effect of physical training on markers of endothelial function and integrity and to identify those biomarkers associated with a better therapeutic response in patients with PAH and in an experimental model of pulmonary hypertension. Methodology: 1) Study in humans: sample size will be 50 patients with PAH. Responders and non-responders will be identified for a 12-week resistance training program. Before and after the physical training program, endothelial microparticles and circulating vascular progenitor cells, and metabolomic and mitochondrial function parameters in circulating endothelial cells will be analyzed. Patients will be identified in whom a more favorable response to the training program is obtained. Additionally, investigators will evaluate the relationship between this response and the biomarkers both at baseline and their change with the training program. 2) Study in a murine experimental model: investigators will study mice with pulmonary hypertension induced by the administration of Semaxanib (SU5416) and exposure to hypoxia for 3 weeks and control mice. Half of them will exercise on a treadmill for 3 weeks. At the end of the program the right ventricular pressure will be measured and the animals will be sacrificed. Morphometric studies in pulmonary and cardiac tissue, pulmonary endothelial function and metabolomic parameters in cardiac and skeletal muscle will be performed. Differences in these variables between the different experimental groups will be analyzed.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 99 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age over 18 years
• Functional class of New York Heart Association (NYHA) II-III
• Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by right heart catheterization, as follows:
• Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >=25 mmHg
• Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ≥240 din / s / cm5
• Pulmonary interlock pressure (PCWP) ≤15 mmHg
• Patients with optimized PAH treatment, including intensified treatment with diuretics and who have remained stable for at least 2 months before entering the study (changes in medical treatment are not expected during the entire 12-week study period)
• Be able to understand and be willing to sign the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Other type of PH (groups 2, 3, 4 or 5)
• Pregnant women
• Disability to exercise on a cycle ergometer or walk
• Acute infection or fever
• Any change in the treatment of the disease in the last 2 months
• Acute ischemic heart disease, unstable angina pectoris, exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias, decompensated heart failure
• History or suspicion of inability to cooperate adequately in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 1 patient group

Training

Experimental group

Description:

12-weeks of supervised endurance training program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Endurance training