Active clinical trials for "Diabetic Nephropathies"

Diabetic nephropathy is a frequent microvascular complication that occurs in approximately 40% of patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States and in the developed world is diabetic nephropathy. Currently, more than half the United States ESRD population has diabetes. More effective therapies to prevent and treat diabetic nephropathy are urgently needed. One way to increase therapeutic effectiveness is to refine treatment targets based on improved understanding of how treatments modulate disease processes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a treatment for diabetic nephropathy, the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan, modifies mediators of kidney injury independent of blood pressure and the relationships to drug dose.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether eplerenone is more effective than doubling the dose of ACE inhibitor in reducing urinary protein (albumin) loss in diabetes mellitus

Patients with type 2 diabetes have a long duration of disease for the development of complications. Among all complications, microangiopathic complications are major causes of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. In Asia, patients with type 2 diabetes are particularly susceptible to the development of kidney disease. Patients with diabetic kidney disease have more adverse metabolic profiles and increased risk of having other complications such as blindness, stroke, heart attack and nerve damage than those without. Despite receiving the best of care, the combined event rate of death, cardiovascular disease and end stage kidney disease in diabetic patients with renal impairment remained as high as 10% per year. Cilostazol reduces platelet aggregation and prevents formation of blood clots. Furthermore, cilostazol treatment has been shown to reduce serum triglyceride concentrations and increase HDL-cholesterol levels. In this randomized placebo-controlled, double-blinded study, the investigators hypothesize that Cilostazol may reduce the rate of decline in renal function in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and mild to moderate renal impairment. Sixty patients will be randomised to receive either Cilostazol 100 mg twice daily or placebo for 12 months. The effect of Cilostazol on the progression of diabetic nephropathy, as defined by rates of decline in glomerular filtration rate, serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion rate will be measured. The results will provide additional insight on the management of diabetic kidney disease which is prevalent among Chinese diabetic patients in Hong Kong.

The aim of the study was to compare the renoprotective effect of a long acting calcium antagonist (nisoldipine) with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (lisinopril)in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic kidney disease. In total, 51 patients were randomised to treatment with one of these drugs for 4 years. Changes in kidney function, blood pressure and urinary excretion of albumin were measured every 6 months

To determine and compare the efficacy of Tacrolimus/Rapa versus Tacrolimus/MMF-based immunosuppression (in conjunction with initial short-term steroids and polyclonal antibody administration) in Type 1-diabetic patients undergoing simultaneous pancreas/kidney allograft transplantation. To evaluate the safety of Tacrolimus/Rapa versus Tacrolimus/MMF in terms of drug-related complications and overimmunosuppression-associated complications, particularly under monitoring of the pharmacokinetic profile of all drugs administered.

Experimental data suggest that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are key players in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In the last few years the investigators were able to establish a method to assess endothelial function of the renal vasculature in humans and started to systematically study a variety of cardiovascular disorders known to be associated with endothelial dysfunction in other vascular beds, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and type-2 diabetes. In patients with type-2 diabetes the investigators could demonstrate that despite unaltered basal and stimulated NO-activity, the renal response to the antioxidant vitamin C was more pronounced compared to control subjects. These data suggest that oxidative stress is increased in the renal vasculature of diabetic patients. Furthermore, NO-activity in diabetic patients appears to be upregulated to compensate for the increase in oxidative stress. This hypothesis is supported by the demonstration of increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in kidney biopsies of diabetic patients. The major focus of the investigators' current research activities is to assess the role of endothelial dysfunction in the very early stages of diabetic nephropathy. To this end, patients with increased fasting glucose or metabolic syndrome will be studied in comparison with an age-matched control group. Endothelial function and the role of oxidative stress will be assessed in the renal vasculature in all groups. In parallel, the investigators will study endothelial function in the forearm by venous occlusion plethysmography and in the retinal vasculature by scanning laser doppler flowmetry to dissect regional differences in the regulation of endothelial function. Further aspects include the role of microalbuminuria, glomerular hyperfiltration, and endogenous inhibitors of NO synthase such as NG,NG-Dimethyl-L-Arginine (ADMA). In a therapeutic approach, the investigators will determine the effects of various antioxidant treatment strategies on endothelial function and their potential role in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether avosentan (SPP301) is effective in decreasing morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Title: Antiproteinuric effect of valsartan, lisinopril and valsartan versus lisinopril in non-diabetic and diabetic renal disease: a randomized (3:3:1), double blind, parallel group, controlled trial, 5 months follow-up. Objective: To evaluate the antiproteinuric effect of high doses of valsartan vs combo treatment in no-diabetic and diabetic patients. Hypothesis: Combo treatment reduces microalbuminuria, proteinuria and the albumin/creatinin ratio more than monotherapies. Design: Multicentric, randomized, double blind, parallel group, active controlled. Dose / regimen Valsartan 320 vs Lisinopril 40 vs Valsartan/lisinopril 160/20

Over 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), increasing risk for early death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite advances in glycemic and blood pressure control, a child diagnosed with T1D is expected to live up to 17 years less than non-diabetic peers. The strongest risk factor for CVD and mortality in T1D is diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Current treatments, such as control of hyperglycemia and hypertension, are beneficial, but only partially protect against DKD. This limited progress may relate to a narrow focus on clinical manifestations of disease, rather than on the initial metabolic derangements underlying the initiation of DKD. Renal hypoxia, stemming from a potential metabolic mismatch between increased renal energy expenditure and impaired substrate utilization, is increasingly proposed as a unifying early pathway in the development of DKD. T1D is impacted by several mechanisms which increase renal adenosine triphosphate (ATP) consumption and decrease ATP generation. Caffeine, a methylxanthine, is known to alter kidney function by several mechanisms including natriuresis, hemodynamics and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In contrast, to other natriuretic agents, caffeine is thought to fully inhibit the local tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) response to increased distal sodium delivery. This observation has broad-ranging implications as caffeine can reduce renal oxygen (O2) consumption without impairing effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). There are also data suggesting that chemicals in coffee besides caffeine may provide important cardio-renal protection. Yet, there are no data examining the impact of coffee-induced natriuresis on intrarenal hemodynamic function and renal energetics in youth-onset T1D. Our overarching hypothesis in the proposed pilot and feasibility trial is that coffee drinking improves renal oxygenation by reducing renal O2 consumption without impairing GFR and ERPF. To address these hypotheses, we will measure GFR, ERPF, renal perfusion and oxygenation in response to 7 days of cold brew coffee (one Starbucks® Cold brew 325ml bottle daily [205mg caffeine]) in an open-label pilot and feasibility trial in 10 adolescents with T1D already enrolled in the CASPER Study (PI: Bjornstad).

This is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-arm controlled study, for which a total of 216 patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (Stage II-IV) will be enrolled. The subjects will be randomized to three groups in 1:1:1 ratio. One group receive Alfacalcidol 0.25ug/day and Irbesartan 150mg/day for 16 consecutive weeks. The second group receive Alfacalcidol 0.25ug/day alone for 16 consecutive weeks. The third group receive Irbesartan 150mg/day alone for 16 consecutive weeks. All subjects will be followed up for 4 weeks after medication is over. A total of 4 visits have been scheduled for this study at week 0, week 8, week 16, week 20.