Carbidopa for Afferent Baroreflex Failure in Familial Dysautonomia: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT: Afferent lesions of the arterial baroreflex occur in familial dysautonomia. This leads to excessive blood pressure variability with falls and frequent surges that damage the organs. These hypertensive surges are the result of excess peripheral catecholamine release and have no adequate treatment. Carbidopa is a selective DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitor that suppresses catecholamines production outside the brain. To learn whether carbidopa can inhibit catecholamine-induced hypertensive surges in patients with severe afferent baroreflex failure, we conducted a double-blind randomized crossover trial in which patients with familial dysautonomia received high dose carbidopa (600 mg/day), low-dose carbidopa (300 mg/day), or matching placebo in 3 4-week treatment periods. Among the 22 patients enro

SUBMITTER: Norcliffe-Kaufmann L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7429244 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature