Mechanism of Hypertension Treatments in Liver Transplant Recipients (BLOCK LTR-HTN)
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2025-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Liver transplantation is a high risk, high-cost intervention that extends life in over 8,000
patients in the US each year. Of those that receive transplants, 1 in 3 will have a
complication related to their heart after transplant. Research has been done to attempt to
reduce the risk of these complications from occurring. High blood pressure, otherwise known
as "hypertension," is an important risk factor for heart complications. Hypertension is found
in 92% of liver transplant recipients within 6 years of their procedure. However, using data
from our transplant patients at Northwestern we recently showed that having a normal blood
pressure in the first year following liver transplant lowered the risk of heart complications
and the risk of death by over half. However, there are no studies investigating the best
medications to lower blood pressure in liver transplant recipients.
There are several types of medications that can be used to treat high blood pressure.
Currently, most transplant providers use a class of medications called calcium channel
blockers as the first medications for hypertension in liver transplant patients. However,
there is little data to support this recommendation. There is some new evidence suggesting
that another class of medications, called thiazide-like diuretics, might be beneficial to
lower blood pressure in liver transplant recipients. The current study will use two different
medications: the calcium channel blocker called amlodipine besylate (at dose of 10mg) and the
thiazide-like diuretic known as chlorthalidone (25mg). Both medications are taken once per
day by mouth and are FDA approved for the treatment of high blood pressure in the general
population.
The main purpose of this study is to determine how well these two medications lower blood
pressure and how they may improve markers of heart function and kidney function in liver
transplant recipients. The long-term goal of this research is to improve heart outcomes in
those that have undergone liver transplant by addressing risk factors that can be modified,
including blood pressure. This study will help determine the size of the needed group for
further studies to ensure proper investigation of which of these two medications may most
benefit liver transplant patients.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Northwestern University
Collaborators:
American Society for Transplantation National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)