Introduction:
There is evidence that aldosterone and the activation of its receptor, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), promote cardiac fibrosis and electrical disturbances. clinical data suggest that MRAs could have positive effects on AF burden, but some inconsistent results have been reported.
Therefore, investigators propose to perform a randomized, multicenter, open blinded end-point (PROBE) study to evaluate the efficacy of spironolactone on AF recurrence in hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF.
Materials and methods:
SPONSoR trial will be a multicenter, landmark, randomized, open blinded end-point (PROBE) trial of the MRA, spironolactone, in 580 hypertensive patients referred for AF with preserved LVEF.
580 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either receive oral spironolactone once daily on top of standard therapy or standard therapy alone, started the day of randomization and continued for 12 months. Spironolactone will be start at 25 mg per day initially then titrated to a maximum of 50 mg per day in the absence of contraindication at the 1-month study visit. AF detection will be provided by the use of a wearable optical photoplethysmography (PPG) device (ScanWatch 42mm®, Withings) throughout the duration of the study. These wearables optical PPG devices (ScanWatch 42mm®, Withings).
The trial duration is 3 years (24 months for inclusion with 12 months of follow-up; total duration participation for the patient of 12 months).
Male or female (since spironolactone is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, a highly sensitive pregnancy test (serum HCG) will be systematically carried out in women of childbearing age and information will be given to non-pregnant women at the time of inclusion to instruct them to use an effective method of contraception during all the study period. Effective methods include: combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, intravaginal, transdermal, or progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation : oral, injectable, implantable, or intrauterine device, or intrauterine hormone-releasing system, or bilateral tubal occlusion or vasectomised partner, or sexual abstinence)
Age > 18 years
Hypertension defined as current use of anti-hypertensive drugs for more than 12 months
Paroxysmal or no long-standing persistent AF (as defined by the ESC guidelines) with at least 1 episode within the preceding 6 months
Contraindications to spironolactone therapy: pregnancy, breastfeeding, intolerance, hyperkalemia (>5.0 mmol/L), severe renal dysfunction (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 ml/min/1,73m² (per the CKD-EPI equation). Subjects with serum creatinine ≥2.5 mg/dl are also excluded even if their eGFR is ≥30 ml/min/1,73m²), Severe liver dysfunction.
Patients already treated by other potassium sparing medication (amiloride, triamterene) or MRA (spironolactone, eplerenone, potassium canreonate, finerenone).
Other MRAs indication: aldosteronism, heart failure, cirrhosis ascites, nephrotic syndrome, myasthenia
LVEF < 40% obtained within 6 months prior to V0