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NCT Number: NCT01096654

SPARTACUS: Subtyping Primary Aldosteronism: a Randomized Trial Comparing Adrenal Vein Sampling and Computed Tomography Scan.

Rationale: Primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent form of secondary hypertension. In PA autonomous hypersecretion of aldosterone by one or both adrenal glands causes hypertension that is often refractory to treatment. PA is usually caused by either a unilateral aldosterone-producing (micro)adenoma (APA) or by bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH). Distinction between APA and BAH is critical since the former is treated with the aim of cure by adrenalectomy, and the latter by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. This distinction can be made by adrenal vein sampling (AVS), as recommended by The Endocrine Society 2008 guideline or by CT-scanning, as is common practice in the Netherlands. AVS is invasive, demands great skill, and is expensive, while CT-scanning is non-invasive, easy and cheap, but might be less accurate. However, the advantage of AVS has never been demonstrated in prospective randomized studies. Here we propose to perform a prospective, randomized, multicenter study that compares effectiveness of AVS with effectiveness of CT-scanning for the diagnosis of PA subtype.

Objective: To assess the quantity of antihypertensive medication needed in order to normalize blood pressure in patients who have been managed for PA according to either AVS or CT-scan. Secondary objectives: to assess potassium, costs of management and quality of life.

Study design: Prospective, randomized trial in a multi-centre setting. Two hundred patients will be recruited within two years. Follow-up will be one year after (start of) treatment.

Study population: Adult patients with therapy-resistant hypertension, with or without hypokalemia, caused by PA.

Intervention: Patients will be randomized to undergo either adrenal CT-scanning or AVS (with pre-AVS adrenal CT-scanning for phlebography). The result of either of these tests will determine the course of action: adrenalectomy for adenoma or MRAs for bilateral hyperplasia.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The quantity of antihypertensive drugs patients are using to obtain target blood pressure, expressed in Daily Defined Dosages, is used as the main study parameter. There is no criterion standard for accuracy of the diagnosis of PA-subtype, but we assume that if treatment is based on a more accurate diagnosis, treatment is more effective. The most important secondary endpoints are the costs of the diagnostic course and long-term medical treatment and the quality of life as assessed by a validated questionnaire.

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Key information

Conditions

Hyperaldosteronism Adrenal Cortex Diseases Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms Adrenal Gland Diseases Adrenal Gland Neoplasms Adrenocortical Adenoma Adrenocortical Hyperfunction Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Endocrine System Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

UMC St. radboud

Nijmegen, Gelderland, 6525 GA, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Legally capacitated;
  • ≥ 18 years of age;
  • Diagnosed with hypertension that is difficult to treat (blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg in spite of two antihypertensive drugs in adequate doses), or accompanied by hypokalemia, either spontaneous or induced by use of diuretics;
  • patients must have a positive result on a sodium loading test (as recommended in the Endocrine Society Guideline), i.e. insufficient suppression of aldosterone.
  • Cooperating patient who is willing to undergo adrenal surgery in case of an adenoma or lateralized aldosterone secretion, who is able to comply with the study protocol and who is willing to give written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Unsuitability for or objection to undergo AVS, CT or adrenal surgery.(including pregnancy);
  • Glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism or adrenal carcinoma;
  • Severe or terminal co-morbidity which seriously interferes with possible treatment or health related quality of life;
  • Requirement of certain medication that interacts with the prescribed treatments in this protocol or that can cause hypertension as an important side-effect e.g. glucocorticoids. Patients will only be excluded as the medication cannot be stopped or altered.

Treatment and study plan

Ct-scan or adrenal vein sampling

Other

Patients will be randomized to undergo either adrenal CT-scanning or AVS (with pre-AVS adrenal CT-scanning for phlebography). The result of either of these tests will determine the course of action: adrenalectomy for adenoma or MRAs for bilateral hyperplasia.

Primary outcomes

  1. Daily Defined Doses of antihypertensive medication

    Time frame: assessed after 1 year of follow-up

    The main study parameter is the quantity of antihypertensive drugs patients are using to obtain target blood pressure, expressed in Daily Defined Doses (DDD)16. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It provides a fixed unit of measurement independent of price and dosage form (e.g. tablet strength) enabling the researcher to assess trends in drug consumption and to perform comparisons between population groups.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total cost of diagnosis and management

    Time frame: assessed after 1 year follow-up

    Costs of the diagnostic course and the first year of treatment after determination of subtype of PA will be calculated prospectively and bottom-up for each participant. This includes costs of CT, AVS (hardware, rent of facility, lab determinations, cost of personnel), operation, outpatient clinic visits, medication and lab controls for potassium and creatinine. Long term costs will be extrapolated from the first year's results for an average life expectancy and a predefined discounting rate.

  2. Health Related Quality of Life

    Time frame: assesed before treatment, at 6 months and at 12 months follow-up

    The quality of life in our patients may be influenced in different ways. AVS is more invasive and more burdensome to the patient than CT; the same holds for surgery as compared to medical treatment; on the other hand, more intense and prolonged (lifelong) antihypertensive drug treatment may be associated with more side effects. We suggested to explore these issues, using the . EQ-5D (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions) and the SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey). This will allow for a detailed analysis of the impact of the two strategies on the quality of life of the patients.

  3. Potassium level

    Time frame: assesed before treatment and after 1 year follow-up

    Serum potassium levels will be determined before Adx or start of MRA and one year later. Potassium levels will be compared between the two arms of the study.

  4. Result of a sodium loading test

    Time frame: assessed after 1 year follow-up

    This test, which is the reference test for the existence of PA, will be performed only in patients that have undergone adrenalectomy because in these patients PA is expected to be cured after adrenalectomy with hence a normal result of this test. The test will be performed 1 year after operation after interruption of medication that interferes with the measurement of aldosterone levels. The proportion of patients who were cured (i.e. with normal saline loading test) will be compared between the CT- and the AVS-group.

  5. Post-hoc analysis: medication dosage

    Time frame: assessed after 1 year follow-up

    A post-hoc analysis on medication use will be performed using different outcome measures. Required antihypertensive medication one year after the (start of) treatment, expressed in multiples of the recommended starting dose and fraction of the recommended maximum dose, will be analysed.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Radboud University Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Towards Cost-effective Management of Patients With Hypertension Due to Primary Aldosteronism: Adrenal Vein Sampling or Ct-scan?

Acronym: SPARTACUS

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Mar 31, 2010
Registry last updated
Jul 16, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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