NIFEdipine ER for Reducing High Blood Pressure After Preeclampsia

(REPAIR Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Sadiya Khan, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin

Disqualifiers: Pre-gestational hypertension, Diabetes, ICU admission, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 6 weeks

618 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The long-term goal of our work is to evaluate the effect of intensive postpartum blood pressure control on maternal cardiovascular health, risk of chronic hypertension, and reversal of vascular dysfunction generated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, thus attenuating the lifelong trajectory of cardiovascular disease risk.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug NIFEdipine ER for reducing high blood pressure after preeclampsia?

Research shows that nifedipine, a component of NIFEdipine ER, effectively controls high blood pressure in women with preeclampsia, as it was able to lower blood pressure in most patients and prolong pregnancies. Additionally, it has been found to have a positive effect on platelet counts, which is beneficial in managing preeclampsia. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Nifedipine safe for humans?

Nifedipine has been shown to be generally safe for humans, with studies indicating it effectively controls blood pressure in severe preeclampsia with minor side effects. It is considered a convenient and low-cost treatment option without undesirable side effects. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How does the drug NIFEdipine ER differ from other treatments for high blood pressure after preeclampsia?

NIFEdipine ER is unique because it is an extended-release form of nifedipine, which helps manage high blood pressure more effectively by providing a steady release of medication over time. It is shown to be faster in reducing blood pressure compared to labetalol and is effective in preventing severe hypertension during pregnancy, making it a convenient and low-cost option for managing severe preeclampsia. ^{1 4 7 8 9}

Research Team

Anna Palatnik, MD

Principal Investigator

Medical College of Wisconsin

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for women aged 18-50 who have had high blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy, can communicate in English or Spanish, and are within the first three days after giving birth. It's not for those with pre-pregnancy hypertension or diabetes, planning to transfer hospitals postpartum, allergic to nifedipine, or unable to consent.

Inclusion Criteria

Postpartum day 0-3 and prior to discharge

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria

Pre-gestational hypertension

I had diabetes before getting pregnant.

Intent to transfer postpartum to an outside institution of the participating centers

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Intensive postpartum blood pressure control with nifedipine ER initiation for 6 weeks postpartum

6 weeks

Regular visits for blood pressure monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cardiovascular health, including BP monitoring and cardiovascular function assessment at 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum

12 months

Visits at 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum

Treatment Details

Interventions

• NIFEdipine ER

Trial Overview The study tests whether intensive blood pressure control using NIFEdipine ER after childbirth can improve heart health, lower the risk of long-term high blood pressure, and reverse vascular damage caused by hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Participant Groups

Group I: REPAIR ARM Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Intensive postpartum blood pressure control with nifedipine ER initiation at systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg and maintaining blood pressure \<140/90 mmHg during the first 6 weeks postpartum.

Group II: CONTROL ARM Active Control 1 Intervention

Usual care with nifedipine ER initiation at SBP ≥150 mmHg or DBP ≥100 mmHg and maintaining blood pressure \<150/100 mmHg during the first 6 weeks postpartum.

NIFEdipine ER is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Nifedipine for:

• Hypertension
• Angina pectoris
• Vasospastic angina

Approved in United States as Nifedipine for:

• Hypertension
• Angina pectoris
• Vasospastic angina
• Chronic stable angina

Approved in Canada as Nifedipine for:

• Hypertension
• Angina pectoris
• Vasospastic angina

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical College of Wisconsin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

645

Recruited

1,180,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Findings from Research

In a randomized trial involving 110 participants with preeclampsia, the use of extended-release nifedipine significantly reduced the need for acute hypertension treatment during labor, with a relative risk of 0.62 compared to placebo.

The nifedipine group also had a lower rate of cesarean deliveries (20.8% vs. 34.7%) and fewer admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (29.1% vs. 47.1%), suggesting potential benefits for both maternal and neonatal outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trial of Intrapartum Extended-Release Nifedipine to Prevent Severe Hypertension Among Pregnant Individuals With Preeclampsia With Severe Features. Cleary, EM., Racchi, NW., Patton, KG., et al.[2023]

Nifedipine is more effective than other antihypertensives in controlling blood pressure in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia, based on a meta-analysis of nine trials involving 764 women.

Nifedipine also helps prolong gestation without increasing the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome or perinatal deaths, indicating it is a safe option for managing severe preeclampsia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Clinical efficacy and perinatal outcome of nifedipine for severe preeclampsia: meta-analysis]. Liu, QQ., Yu, YH., Gong, SP., et al.[2013]

Oral nifedipine effectively lowers blood pressure in severely preeclamptic patients during hypertensive emergencies, with significant reductions in mean arterial pressure observed over time in a study of 10 patients.

The treatment resulted in an increase in cardiac index without significantly affecting heart rate or stroke index, indicating a favorable hemodynamic profile during the management of hypertension in preeclampsia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hemodynamic effects of oral nifedipine in preeclamptic hypertensive emergencies. Scardo, JA., Vermillion, ST., Hogg, BB., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 338 women with severe preeclampsia, the combination of nifedipine and phytosterol achieved blood pressure control 13 minutes faster than nifedipine alone and 3 minutes faster than nicardipine, indicating improved efficacy in managing this condition.

The combination treatment of nifedipine and phytosterol resulted in fewer stillbirths and adverse outcomes compared to the nicardipine group, suggesting it may be a safer option for managing severe preeclampsia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oral nifedipine and phytosterol, intravenous nicardipine, and oral nifedipine only: Three-arm, retrospective, cohort study for management of severe preeclampsia. Ma, S., Zhu, L., Zhou, T., et al.[2023]

Nifedipine effectively controlled high blood pressure in 8 out of 10 pregnant women with preeclampsia, reducing their blood pressure from an average of 162/102 mmHg to 142/89 mmHg.

The treatment also significantly increased platelet counts in all participants, suggesting that nifedipine may help reverse thrombocytopenia associated with preeclampsia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nifedipine and platelets in preeclampsia. Rubin, PC., Butters, L., McCabe, R.[2019]

In a study of 50 pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia, long-term treatment with nicardipine effectively reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure across all treatment durations (short-term, medium-term, and long-term).

There were no adverse effects reported for mothers or their fetuses/newborns, indicating that long-term nicardipine treatment is safe and as effective as shorter treatment durations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term treatment with nicardipine for severe pre-eclampsia. Seki, H., Takeda, S., Kinoshita, K.[2019]

Nifedipine effectively controlled blood pressure in 95.8% of patients with severe preeclampsia, compared to 68% for hydralazine, indicating it is a more effective treatment option.

Patients treated with nifedipine had significantly shorter neonatal intensive care unit stays (15.1 days) compared to those treated with hydralazine (32.7 days), suggesting better outcomes for infants and reduced hospitalization costs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nifedipine in the treatment of severe preeclampsia. Fenakel, K., Fenakel, G., Appelman, Z., et al.[2013]

In a study of 14 preeclamptic patients experiencing 55 hypertensive emergencies, oral nifedipine was found to reduce blood pressure more quickly than labetalol, taking an average of 31.30 minutes compared to 53.50 minutes (p = 0.03).

Both medications were safe, with no maternal or fetal adverse events reported, indicating that oral nifedipine is not only faster but also at least as safe as labetalol for treating hypertension in preeclampsia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A trial of oral nifedipine and oral labetalol in preeclampsia hypertensive emergency treatment. Duro-Gómez, J., Rodríguez-Marín, AB., Giménez de Azcárete, M., et al.[2018]

In a study involving 626 patients with preeclampsia, the combination of celastrol and nifedipine significantly reduced the time needed to control hypertension and increased the duration before another hypertensive crisis compared to nifedipine alone.

The combination treatment also required fewer doses to manage hypertension without increasing adverse effects for mothers or newborns, suggesting celastrol is a safe and effective addition to nifedipine therapy for preeclampsia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Celastrol synergizes with oral nifedipine to attenuate hypertension in preeclampsia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, and double blinded trial. Xiao, S., Zhang, M., Liang, Y., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trial of Intrapartum Extended-Release Nifedipine to Prevent Severe Hypertension Among Pregnant Individuals With Preeclampsia With Severe Features. [2023]

2. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Clinical efficacy and perinatal outcome of nifedipine for severe preeclampsia: meta-analysis]. [2013]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hemodynamic effects of oral nifedipine in preeclamptic hypertensive emergencies. [2019]

4. Poland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oral nifedipine and phytosterol, intravenous nicardipine, and oral nifedipine only: Three-arm, retrospective, cohort study for management of severe preeclampsia. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nifedipine and platelets in preeclampsia. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term treatment with nicardipine for severe pre-eclampsia. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nifedipine in the treatment of severe preeclampsia. [2013]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A trial of oral nifedipine and oral labetalol in preeclampsia hypertensive emergency treatment. [2018]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Celastrol synergizes with oral nifedipine to attenuate hypertension in preeclampsia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, and double blinded trial. [2021]