We'd like your feedback
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Dr
Thomas
Upton
+44 1173313167
thomas.upton@bristol.ac.uk
More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.
Understanding the relationship between blood pressure and catecholamine rhythms in health and in secretory paraganglioma/phaeochromocytoma
This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.
The purpose of this research is to generate pilot data to demonstrate how we could use detailed information about rhythms of special group of hormones called catecholamines to tell us more about blood pressure changes in health and disease. High blood pressure (hypertension) is common and often leads to poor health especially if it becomes a long-term condition. Even though it is common, in most people, the cause remains unknown. What we do understand is that, in at least some circumstances, abnormal levels of chemical messengers (hormones) can contribute. We also know that many activities in the body including blood pressure and hormones change across the day, in a rhythmic pattern. However, normally it is very difficult to measure hormone dynamics in detail without a complicated hospital admission. We think that understanding the relationships between rhythms of hormones and blood pressure is important because it will help improve our knowledge of what causes hypertension in the first place.
We will use a novel method called U-RHYTHM microdialysis. This allows us to sample hormones very frequently without taking any blood, and allows the person being sampled to continue normal activities, out of hospital, in a more natural setting. As this is a first-of-its kind investigation, we are testing in a small number of people in anticipation of a future, larger trial. We will test healthy people and compare the results with a group of patients with severe hypertension due to a rare disease called phaeochromocytoma, which results from catecholamine excess. We will also compare the results from the U-RHYTHM method with ‘traditional’ tests like blood samples and blood pressure. We believe that the U-RHYTHM method will provide very important new information that could eventually lead to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
You can take part if:
You may not be able to take part if:
1. Inability to attend study visits due to location2. Positive urine drug screen (drugs of abuse – cocaine, methamphetamines etc) as these will alter catecholamine measurements3. History of intravenous drug use - any4. Current pregnancy, breast feeding
Patients:5. Use of medication known to significantly interfere with measurement of metanephrines within 48 hours of or during the microdialysis sampling period
Healthy volunteers:6. Any active medical condition7. Any regular prescribed medication8. Use of any prescribed, over-the-counter, herbal or other medication within or during the 48 hours of microdialysis sampling period, or, at the investigator’s discretion, 9. Significant hypertension at screening (SBP >160/DBP >100)10. Night shift work or international travel (more than 2 time zones) within the previous 60 days 11. Regular intake of alcohol well in excess of recommended weekly consumption
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
Dr
Thomas
Upton
+44 1173313167
thomas.upton@bristol.ac.uk
More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.
The study is sponsored by University of Bristol and funded by Wellcome Trust.
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
Or CPMS 53468
You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.
