Peripheral chemosensitivity in exercise in human hypertension
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is peripheral chemosensitivity different in exercise between hypertensive versus normotensive humans?
IRAS ID
172814
Contact name
Angus Nightingale
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a significant and growing global health issue. The disease processes that cause high blood pressure to develop are not completely understood. The carotid bodies are two small glands in the neck that are known to be overactive in some patients with high blood pressure. We think that the overactive carotid bodies play a role in the development of hypertension.
This study aims to look at the way carotid bodies function during exercise in people with normal blood pressure and those with high blood pressure. It is known that carotid bodies are overactive in patients with high blood pressure. We also know that during exercise, carotid bodies become more overactive in healthy people but we don’t know what happens in people with high blood pressure. We think that the carotid bodies will become more overactive in patients with high blood pressure during exercise when compared to rest. Overall, we aim to look at different tests assessing carotid body function, which could be helpful in identifying patients that might benefit from therapies targeting the carotid body.
We will recruit both healthy volunteers and people with high blood pressure. The study will consist of 2 separate visits. The first visit is to University Hospitals, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) to undertake a short (less than 10 minutes) exercise test on an upright exercise bike, whilst breathing through a mask. This is known as a maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2 max). The second visit is to the Clinical Research and Imaging Centre (CRIC) Bristol, part of the University of Bristol and UHB to undertake the carotid body activity testing, once at rest (lying on a bed) and once on an upright exercise bike. The study is funded by Cibiem, Inc., a medical device company based in the United States of America.
We will look at the way the body responds to tests that stimulate the carotid body (breathing a gas mix to lower oxygen levels for a short period) and inhibit the carotid body (infusion of a drug, dopamine). We will record the blood pressure, breathing and arm blood flow in response to these different tests. This visit will last approximately 6 hours, including a break. The subjects will be fitted with a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and return this the next day.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0030
Date of REC Opinion
2 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion