The Effect of Beta-Blockers and Aspirin on Hemostasis and Endothelial Function After Acute Mental Stress

Summary

This randomized double-blinded controlled trial uses a factorial design to investigate whether application of beta-blockers (inderal 80 mg) or aspirin (100 mg) or a combination thereof has an effect on the activation of the hemostatic system, the platelets and the endothelium in response to acute mental stress. Specifically we test the hypothesis that inderal attenuates the activation of the hemostatic system as compared to placebo. The second hypothesis is that aspirin attenuates the activation of platelets as compared to placebo. Subjects will be randomly allocated to either of the four following study arms: placebo - inderal - aspirin - inderal plus aspirin. Subjects will receive the study medication for five days prior to the mental stress. The acute mental stress consists of a public speaking session of 10 min duration immediately followed by a mental arithmetic test of 5 min duration. Blood will be collected prior to the stress, immediately thereafter, at 45 min at at 1 hour and 45 min.

Timeline

Start

2003-10

Primary completion

—

Completion

2004-08

Publications

• Background von Kanel R, Mills PJ, Ziegler MG, Dimsdale JE. Effect of beta2-adrenergic receptor functioning and increased norepinephrine on the hypercoagulable state with mental stress. Am Heart J. 2002 Jul;144(1):68-72. doi: 10.1067/mhj.2002.123146.
• Results Mischler K, Fischer JE, Zgraggen L, Kudielka BM, Preckel D, von Kanel R. The effect of repeated acute mental stress on habituation and recovery responses in hemoconcentration and blood cells in healthy men. Life Sci. 2005 Jul 22;77(10):1166-79. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2005.03.006. Epub 2005 Apr 26.
• Results von Kanel R, Kudielka BM, Preckel D, Hanebuth D, Fischer JE. Delayed response and lack of habituation in plasma interleukin-6 to acute mental stress in men. Brain Behav Immun. 2006 Jan;20(1):40-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2005.03.013.
• Results von Kanel R, Preckel D, Zgraggen L, Mischler K, Kudielka BM, Haeberli A, Fischer JE. The effect of natural habituation on coagulation responses to acute mental stress and recovery in men. Thromb Haemost. 2004 Dec;92(6):1327-35. doi: 10.1160/TH04-04-0223.

Drugs

Indications