MR and Inflammation After Preeclampsia

Early Phase 1Active Not RecruitingNCT07345845

Anna Stanhewicz, PhD40 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this investigation is to examine the role of inappropriate mineralocorticoid receptor activation in endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in otherwise healthy women with a history of preeclampsia. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does overactivation of the mineralocorticoid receptor contribute to reduced endothelial function in women who had preeclampsia? 2. To what extent does the mineralocorticoid receptor mediated exaggerated production of inflammatory cytokines in immune cells from women who had preeclampsia? Participants will visit the research laboratory for 2 experimental visits: * Visit 1: Skin blood flow will be measured using a minimally invasive technique (intradermal microdialysis for the local delivery of pharmaceutical agents) to examine blood vessels in a nickel-sized area of the skin. * Visit 2: Endothelial cells will be collected from an antecubital vein.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Preeclampsia Preeclampsia Postpartum

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * women who had preeclampsia and women who did not have preeclampsia * 12 weeks to 5 years postpartum * 18-45 years old Exclusion Criteria: * history of hypertension or metabolic disease before pregnancy * history of gestational diabetes * history of gestational hypertension without preeclampsia * skin diseases * current tobacco use * current antihypertensive medication * statin or other cholesterol-lowering medication * currently pregnant * body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2 * allergy to materials used during the experiment.(e.g. latex), * known allergy to study drugs or salt-supplement

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in microvascular endothelial function following local eplerenone treatment compared to placebo treatment measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry

Cutaneous vascular vasodilator response (cutaneous conductance; %max) to local heating of the skin; intradermal microdialysis for the local delivery of eplerenone compared to control (Ringer's solution), followed by L-NAME infusion to quantify NO-dependent response

Time frame: post 1 hour of skin perfusion

Secondary Outcomes

Mineralocorticoid receptor expression in endothelial cells

The investigators will quantify expression of the mineralocorticoid receptor in biopsied endothelial cells.

Time frame: a total of 1 time during the study, within ~4 weeks following enrollment

Inflammatory response from isolated immune cells

The investigators will measure inflammatory responses, assessed as inflammatory cytokine release following activation of immune cells in the presence and absence of eplerenone treatment. Cells are collected from a blood draw and treated with eplerenone in a cell culture environment (ex vivo treatment).

Time frame: from a blood draw collected at the start of the experimental visit