New hope for women's hearts after preeclampsia: drug trial targets hidden damage
NCT ID NCT07238400
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests if the drug eplerenone can improve blood flow to the heart better than another drug (chlorthalidone) in women who had preeclampsia during pregnancy and now have high blood pressure. About 90 women will take one of the two medications daily for 48 weeks. Researchers will use heart scans to measure changes in heart function and structure.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Female with a history of preeclampsia (defined by ACOG criteria) in a singleton pregnancy without pre-gestational chronic hypertension. * Current chronic hypertension (stage 1 or greater). * Evidence of concentric left ventricular (LV) remodeling, defined as relative LV wall thickness \>0.42, with or without LV hypertrophy. * Age 18-65 years at time of randomization. Exclusion Criteria: * Use of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) or amiloride within the past 3 months or more than 30 days within the previous 12 months. * Planned pregnancy, current pregnancy, or lactation. * Systolic BP \>150 mmHg and/or diastolic BP \>95 mmHg while on antihypertensives, or systolic BP \>160 mmHg and/or diastolic BP \>100 mmHg if untreated. * BMI \>45 kg/m². * Clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral artery disease. * Diabetes mellitus. * LV ejection fraction \<40% or history of clinical heart failure (reduced or preserved ejection fraction). * Hypertrophic or other genetic cardiomyopathy. * Any moderate or greater valvular heart disease. * eGFR \<60 mL/min/1.73 m². * Urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio \>300 mg/g at screening. * Abnormal electrolytes, hemoglobin, liver function tests, or TSH at screening or baseline. * Plasma renin activity \<1 mg/mL/hour and aldosterone \>20 ng/dL (suggestive of primary aldosteronism). * Use of oral contraceptives, progestin depot or implant (note: progestin-containing IUD is permitted), or menopausal hormone therapy. * History of hypersensitivity or intolerance to calcium channel blockers, thiazides, or MRAs. * Active substance abuse. * Other serious medical illnesses or concerns about protocol adherence/mortality risk within 15 months. * Participation in another interventional clinical study. * Participants using GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are eligible only if they have received continuous treatment with the same GLP-1RA agent at an unchanged maintenance dose for ≥12 months prior to enrollment. Dose changes, agent switches, or formulation changes within the 12 months preceding enrollment are not permitted. Temporary interruptions of ≤4 consecutive weeks (e.g., due to supply issues or procedural holds) are allowed, provided the same agent and dose are resumed. At the time of enrollment, there must be no planned or anticipated GLP-1RA dose escalation, dose reduction, or discontinuation. Initiation of GLP-1RA therapy after randomization is not permitted. Dose changes during follow-up are discouraged unless clinically required. * Use of allopurinol. * Use of lithium.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Massachusetts General Hospital
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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