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Role of cerebral blood flow pulsatility in hypertension related brain damage

Conditions
HypertensionCerebral Small Vessel Disease (cSVD)
Registration Number
NL-OMON20070
Lead Sponsor
Maastricht University Medical Center
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Pending
Sex
Not specified
Target Recruitment
75
Inclusion Criteria

Criteria for the hypertensive group without known brain damage:

- Age 40-75 years
- Essential hypertension, defined as an ambulant blood pressure of = 130 over 80 mmHg.

Criteria for the hypertensive group with diagnosed brain damage (Fazekas=2):

- Age 40-75 years
- Essential hypertension, defined as an ambulant blood pressure of = 130 over 80 mmHg.
- Extensive white matter lesions: Fazekas score = 2, indicated on brain MRI.

Criteria for the control (normotensive) group:

- Age 40-75 years
- Normotensive (ambulant blood pressure of < 130 over 80 mmHg).

Exclusion Criteria

- White coat hypertension
- Inability to stop antihypertensive medication (since this results in an altered blood pressure, not the original blood pressure before the use of medication.)
- Indication of history-taking, physical examination or routine laboratory tests of secondary hypertension
- Chronic renal insufficiency (eGFR<30 mL/min)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Ischemic or valvular heart disease or electrocardiographic evidence of atrial fibrillation
- Transient ischemic attacks and ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
- Systemic inflammation, such as active rheumatoid arthritis
- Body Mass Index > 32 kg/m²
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Any contraindication for MRI: metallic implants, pacemaker, claustrophobia, pregnancy, tattoos in the head/neck region, permanent make-up.
- Contraindications for the gadolinium-containing contrast agent: allergic reaction, eGFR<30 mL/min

Study & Design

Study Type
Observational non invasive
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1. Cerebral blood flow pulsatility index in the small cerebral vessels measured with 7T MRI in hypertensive patients and healthy controls
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Brain tissue integrity (white matter lesions, brain microbleeds, enlarged perivascular spaces, lacunes, blood-barrier disruption, gray matter neuronal activity, tissue integrity/diffusivity), blood perfusion, cardiovascular properties, and cognitive performance.
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