The Role of Vasopressin Antagonism on Renal Sodium Handling

Mass General Brigham

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Drug: Tolvaptan Oral Tablet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03910231

2012P000638

Details and patient eligibility

About

Vasopressin has primarily been considered to be a water and osmosis regulating hormone that mediates its effects on renal aquaporin channels. Recent data suggest that vasopressin, through its V2 receptor, may also modulate sodium homeostasis. The purpose of this human physiology study was to test whether antagonism of the V2R alters urine sodium excretion in normal healthy volunteers.

Full description

Vasopressin's potential roles in maintaining normal volume homeostasis are expanding. While previous data support the concept that vasopressin's primary role is in mediating water homeostasis, recent data suggest that vasopressin, through its V2 receptor, may also modulate sodium homeostasis. This effect occurs via activation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). These studies document that vasopressin via activation of the V2 receptor, not only reduces free water excretion but also sodium excretion. These data suggest that blocking this receptor under the right circumstances and in the right population may be effective in modulating hypertension in humans: specifically a V2 receptor antagonist may be effective in treating some individuals that have salt-sensitive hypertension. The current proposal will test in normal human subjects the proof of principle of the above stated hypothesis, and to assess the best markers to determine such an effect. It is important to perform studies with strict environmental control in a clinical research center because of the variability of environmental factors that can create confusion in interpreting data (dietary sodium, activity, body posture, diurnal variation, ambient temperature, sleep-wake cycle, etc.).

The overall program objective is to determine if a vasopressin V2 antagonist will be an effective treatment for salt-sensitive hypertension and if so, what subtype. The object of this specific proposal is to determine the effect of a selective V2 antagonist on sodium handling in normal subjects.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• • Blood pressure <130/85 mmHg and >100/50 mmHg
• Normal laboratory values for (see "Normal Values" table):
• Complete blood count
• Serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, glucose, liver enzymes
• Urinalysis
• ECG

Exclusion criteria

• • Alcohol intake >12 oz per week
• Tobacco or recreational drug use
• History of coronary disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, kidney disease, or illness requiring overnight hospitalization in the past 6 months
• Any prescription medication or herbal medication use except oral contraceptive or multivitamin
• Pregnancy or current breastfeeding
• First degree relative with hypertension, diabetes, stroke, renal or cardiac disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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30 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo

Treatment:

Drug: Tolvaptan Oral Tablet

15mg Tolvaptan

Experimental group

Description:

15mg Tolvaptan

Treatment:

Drug: Tolvaptan Oral Tablet

30mg Tolvaptan

Experimental group

Description:

30mg Tolvaptan

Treatment:

Drug: Tolvaptan Oral Tablet