Clinical Laboratory Evaluation of Chronic Autonomic Failure
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2027-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background:
The autonomic nervous system controls automatic body functions. Researchers want to improve
the tests used to diagnose autonomic failure. Orthostatic hypertension is a drop in blood
pressure when a person stands up. Researchers want to focus on this sign of autonomic
failure.
Objective:
To improve testing for conditions that cause autonomic nervous system failure.
Eligibility:
People ages 18 and older in one of these categories:
- Their blood pressure drops when they get up.
- They have had a heart transplant or bilateral endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies or
have had or will have renal sympathetic ablation
Design:
All participants will be screened with:
- Medical history
- Physical exam
- Blood and urine tests
Some participants will be screened with:
- Heart and breathing tests
- IV placement into an arm vein
- Tilt table testing: Participants lie on a table that tilts while an IV is used to draw
their blood.
Participants may stay in the hospital for up to 1 week depending on their tests. Tests may
include repeats of screening tests and:
- Sweat testing: A drug is placed on the skin to cause sweating. Sensors on the skin
measure moisture.
- Lumbar puncture: A needle is inserted between the bones in the back to collect fluid.
- MRI and PET/CT scan: Participants lie on a table that slides into a scanner. For the
PET/CT, a small amount of a radioactive chemical will be injected with a small amount of
a radioactive chemical.
- Bladder catheter placement to collect urine
- Skin biopsies: A punch tool removes a small skin sample.
- Tests to see how the pupils react to light
- Smelling tests
- Thinking and memory tests
- Questionnaires
Participants may have a visit about 2 years later to repeat tests.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)