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Cortisol Secretion, Sensitivity and Activity and Hypertension

Recruiting
Conditions
Hypercortisolism
Arterial Hypertension
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Dexamethasone suppression test
Registration Number
NCT05766085
Lead Sponsor
Istituto Auxologico Italiano
Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate, between patients with arterial hypertension and non hypertensive control group,

* the prevalence of hidden hypercortisolism

* the relationship between organ damage and oxidative stress level, cortisol secretion degree, sensitivity and peripheral activity

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
290
Inclusion Criteria
  • Hypertension group: arterial hypertension
  • No hypertension group: absence of arterial hypertension
Exclusion Criteria
  • body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2
  • active smoking (>20 cigarettes/day)
  • pregnancy/lactation
  • hypertension associated with family history of hypertension and cerebrovascular events before 40 years of age
  • sleep apnea
  • hypertension appearance in pre-pubertal age
  • hypokalemia
  • hypertension in the setting of an incidental adrenal mass
  • classic signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism (lunar facies, striae, hypertrichosis, skin atrophy, hump)
  • proven endocrine hypertension (pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism)
  • renovascular hypertension
  • diseases or conditions associated with increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis and/or oxidative stress, such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, severe rheumatic/autoimmune diseases, severe hematological diseases, alcoholism, depressive syndrome, chronic renal failure (GFR <45 ml/min), severe hypovitaminosis D (25OHvitaminD <10 ng/dL)
  • therapies that interfere with the activity of the HPA axis (i.e. glucocorticoids, antidepressants).

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
no hypertensionDexamethasone suppression testThose patients without arterial hypertension
hypertensionDexamethasone suppression testThose patients suffering from arterial hypertension
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Prevalence of hidden hypercortisolism (HidHyCo)At baseline

The presence of HidHyCo will be evaluated through the determination of cortisol levels at 9.00 am after taking 1 mg of dexamethasone the previous evening at 11.00 pm (1mgDST). In case of 1mgDST \>1.8 µg/dL the patient will repeat the test and, if the result is confirmed, the patients is considered to have HidHyCo.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Evaluation of glucocorticoid sensitivityAt baseline

In all subjects, genotyping of the N363S, BclI, ER22/23EK polymorphisms of the GR gene and of the polymorphisms will be performed

Evaluation of organ damageAt baseline

Organ damage will be assessed by performing echocardiography, carotid echo-doppler (arterial stiffness) and microalbuminuria evaluation, which assess hypertensive heart disease, macro-angiopathy and hypertensive nephropathy, respectively

Evaluation of glucocorticoid peripheral activityAt baseline

Urinary free cortisol and urinary free cortisone will be measured in all subjects; their ratio will be used as measure of glucocorticoid peripheral activity

Evaluation of oxidative stress levelAt baseline

The determination of the degree of oxidative stress will be carried out in all patients by evaluating the enzymatic activity of dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (DPP3) in the serum

Evaluation of cortisol secretion degreeAt baseline

The cortisol secretion will be evaluated by measuring morning plasma ACTH and serum cortisol, 24-hour urinary free cortisol, serum cortisol at 09:00 after the administration of

1 mg dexamethasone at 11 PM on the previous day

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS

🇮🇹

Milan, MI, Italy

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