Determine whether increasing arterial distensibility by decreasing advanced glycation end-product (AGE) cross-link components of vascular stiffness improves (a) endothelial-mediated vasoreactivity at rest, as assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and (b) endothelial-mediated vasoreactivity after exercise, as assessed by pulse perfusion-mediated vasodilation (PPMV).
* Explore several independent variables as potential independent predictors of vascular stiffness and endothelial function. These parameters include patient age, body mass index, gender, renal disease, history of cardiovascular disease, serum cholesterol, and antihypertensive medication use. * Provide insight into nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function in the setting of increased arterial stiffness by determination of substances in the nitric oxide signaling pathway (specifically, levels of serum cGMP; serum nitrate and nitrite; and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine \[ADMA\], an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase). * Provide insight into changes in AGE levels and collagen metabolism in response to alagebrium therapy \[specifically, AGEs: pentosidine, carboxymethyllysine, carboxyethyllysine, furosine; Collagen markers: procollagen I carboxyterminal propeptide (PICP), procollagen type I N terminal propeptide (PINP), cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of Type I collagen (ICTP), n-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP)\]. * Provide insight into changes in markers of inflammation in response to alagebrium therapy \[specifically, free and total serum matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1), free tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM), P-selectin, von Willebrand factor (vWf), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs CRP)\].
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
25
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Endothelial function
Local distensibility
Arterial stiffening
Augmentation index (AI)
Markers of endothelial function, vascular inflammation and collagen synthesis.
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