Effects of Urocortins on Forearm Arterial Blood Flow in Healthy Volunteers - Protocol 4
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Impairment of the heart's pumping capacity (heart failure) remains a major clinical problem
with a poor prognosis and the search for novel treatments remains an important area of
research.
Urocortins are proteins that appear to increase blood flow and heart pumping activity. There
has been particular interest in the role of Urocortins 2 & 3 (subtypes of Urocortins) in
heart failure.
In this study, we will examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (in particular the
onset-offset of action and reproducibility of vasodilator effects) of Urocortins 2 & 3 on
forearm arterial blood flow healthy volunteers.
Utilising the well-established technique of 'forearm venous occlusion plethysmography', we
will be able to focus on the local effects of urocortins on arterial blood flow in forearm
vessels, without affecting this system in the body as a whole.