The Cardiovascular Effects of Air Pollution: the Role of Nitric Oxide

University of Edinburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Endothelial Dysfunction

Treatments: Procedure: Forearm Vascular Study

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00845767

DNR 08-185M/1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Exposure to air pollution has been linked to increased cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The exact component of air pollution that mediates this effect is unknown, but the link is strongest for fine combustion derived particulate matter derived from traffic sources. Recently, it has been demonstrated that inhalation of diesel exhaust impairs vascular vasomotor tone and endogenous fibrinolysis. The mechanism underlying these detrimental vascular is unclear, but is thought to be via oxidative stress and altered bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide. In these studies we plan to elucidate the role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in the adverse vascular responses observed following exposure to diesel exhaust.

Enrollment: 16 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy volunteers

Exclusion criteria

• Use of regular medication (except oral contraceptive pill)
• Current smokers
• Significant occupational exposure to air pollution
• Intercurrent illness

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

Diesel Exposure

Experimental group

Description:

1 hour exposure to dilute diesel exhaust at a concentration of 300 µg/m3 with intermittent exercise

Treatment:

Procedure: Forearm Vascular Study

Air Exposure

Experimental group

Description:

1 hour exposure to filtered air during intermittent exercise

Treatment:

Procedure: Forearm Vascular Study