Official Title: “Effects of Losartan vs. Nebivolol vs. the Association of Both on the Progression of Aortic Root Dilation in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) With FBN1 Gene Mutations.”

The major clinical problems in patients with Marfan Syndrome (MFS) are aortic root dilation (ARD), dissection and rupture. Although the available treatments (beta-blockers, BBs) improve the evolution of the disease, they do not protect MFS patients from progression of ARD and dissection. A key molecule that negatively influences cell growth, differentiation, survival and death in MFS is TGFb which is antagonised by existing drugs employed in the clinical practice, the Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB).

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study

Study Primary Completion Date: July 2012

Marfan Syndrome is a rare disease (1:5000)(MIM#154700) caused by mutations of the Fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene. The major clinical problem is aortic aneurysm with risk of dissection when root diameter is 5 cm. We designed a clinical trial in which a new generation Beta-Blocker Nebivolol with expected effects on shear stress, heart rate and potential anti-stiffness benefits is compared to Losartan, and Angiotensin receptor blocker anti TGF-beta effects, and to the association of both molecules in patients with Marfan Syndrome. Nebivolol is a patented drug that differs chemically, pharmacologically and therapeutically from all other BBs. Nebivolol shows the highest selectivity for ß1 receptors among the currently available BBs, influences the arterial stiffness through an agonistic effect on ß2-receptors and preserves the arterial compliance. We expect a significantly lower progression of the Aortic Root Dilation in the arm of Nebivolol plus Losartan vs. single drug (primary end-point). We further expect: decrease of arterial stiffness higher in the arm treated with both drugs than in solely Nebivolol or Losartan; a decrease of serum levels of active TGFb in both Losartan arms, a drug & age-dependant variation of the expression of the mutated FBN1 gene.

As for other end-points, the potential results are the improvement of valve function, hard events & delay of surgical timing for the aortic root. The enrolment period will last 12 months, while the overall follow-up period will be of 4 years. An interim analysis for the primary outcome is programmed at month 24.

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• Drug: Losartan
  • Losartan posology: the maximal tolerated dose, not to exceed 100 mg/die in two administrations (50 mg x 2/die) in the adult population and not to exceed 1,4 mg/kg/die in the children population
• Drug: Nebivolol
  • Nebivolol posology: the maximal tolerated dose, not to exceed 10 mg/die in the adult population and not to exceed 0,16 mg/kg/die in the children population
• Drug: Losartan
  • Losartan posology: the maximal tolerated dose, not to exceed 100 mg/die in two administrations (50 mg x 2/die) in the adult population and not to exceed 1,4 mg/kg/die in the children population
• Drug: Nebivolol
  • Nebivolol posology: the maximal tolerated dose, not to exceed 10 mg/die in the adult population and not to exceed 0,16 mg/kg/die in the children population

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• Experimental: 1
  • Losartan
• Experimental: 2
  • Nebivolol
• Experimental: 3
  • Losartan + Nebivolol

Primary Measures

• BSA and age-adjusted aortic root diameter (sinuses of Valsalva)
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No

Secondary Measures

• the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs by age and dosages
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• comparative evaluation of the serum levels of total and active TGFb
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• quantitative assessment of the expression of the mutated gene (FBN1, both 5' and 3')
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• pharmacogenetic bases of drug responsiveness (Losartan: CYP2C9 gene) (Nebivolol: CYP2D6 gene)
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Aortic valve regurgitation severity
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Left ventricular ejection fraction
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Spirometric lung volumes and flows
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• QoL evaluation basing on SF-36 questionnaire
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Arterial stiffness (carotids)
  • Time Frame: every 12 months
    Safety Issue?: No

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of MFS: Ghent criteria and genetically proven defect of the FBN1 gene
• Age: 12 months to 55 years
• BSA-adjusted aortic z score 2.5 measured at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva at baseline or absolute aortic root diameter >38mm for females and >40 mm for males

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior aortic surgery and/or dissection
• Aortic root diameter at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva 5 cm
• Planned aortic surgery within 6 months of enrolment for a rate of ARD progression>5 mm/year even in pts with ARD less than 5 cm
• Clinical or molecular diagnosis of non-MFS connective tissue diseases sharing some features with MFS (Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome or Loeys-Dietz syndromes)
• Un-renounceable therapeutic (systemic hypertension, arrhythmia, ventricular dysfunction, valve regurgitation) use of drugs such as ACE inhibitors, BBs, or calcium-channel blockers
• Known side-effects while taking an ARB or a BB
• Intolerance to ARB that resulted in termination of therapy
• Intolerance to BB that resulted in termination of therapy
• Renal dysfunction (creatinine level more than upper limit of age-related normal values)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Pregnancy or planned pregnancy within 48 months of enrolment
• Technical limitations for the imaging studies including poor acoustic windows with limits the accurate measurement of aortic root
• Asthma.

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 12 Months

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 55 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Lead Sponsor: IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Eloisa Arbustini, MD,FESC,FACC Principal Investigator IRCCS Foundation San Matteo Hospital, Pavia  

Overall Contact: Eloisa Arbustini, MD,FESC,FACC +390382501206 e.arbustini@smatteo.pv.it

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 02, 2009

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00683124

Study ID Number: FARM7KP2PX

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00683124

Health Authority: Italy: Ethics Committee

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