Active clinical trials for "Kidney Failure, Chronic"

Chronic transplant rejection remains the main cause of late kidney graft loss. We showed previously that patients with pretransplant CD4 helper defects and low in-vitro IL-10 responses demonstrated an extremely low risk of acute rejection and a significantly better 1- and 3-year graft function whereas pretransplant Th1 responses were not predictive (Weimer R et al. 1996 and 1998). In liver transplant recipients, we found CD4 helper function and in-vitro IL-10 responses significantly decreased compared to CsA-treated patients (Zipperle et al. 1997). If the same effect will be demonstrated in renal transplant recipients, Tacrolimus (Tacr) treatment might result in enhanced graft survival compared to CsA, when CD4 helper function and in-vitro IL-10 responses of the individual patient are elevated. Other studies of our group suggest a beneficial role of enhanced T-suppressor activity and of an IL-6 independent B cell/monocyte defect in the maintenance of long-term stable graft function, whereas enhanced monokine secretion (TNF-a, GM-CSF, IL-6) was found in chronic rejection (Weimer et al. 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998). In the current randomized prospective study we will analyze the impact of CsA versus Tacr and of MMF versus azathioprine on Th1, Th2 and monokine responses and their predictive value regarding occurrence of acute and chronic rejection. With a proposed follow-up of 5 years this study might enable a patient-tailored immunosuppressive therapy resulting in prolonged graft survival.

The goal of this observational study is to compare hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. The main questions it mains to answer are: What is the level of physical activity in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients? What is the level of quality of life of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients? Is there any relation between inactivity and quality of life in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients? Participants will answer 2 questionnaires and will do some functional tests.

Peer mentoring is an approach used to support patients through their experience. In the End Stage Kidney Disease community many patients find out about their kidney failure without warning. This study is designed to test the feasibility of a structured peer support program, specifically, patient uptake, engagement and patient and staff perspectives.

In this study, we aimed to determine a specific cut-off value for 1mg DST to prevent false positivity usually seen in CRF patients according to the standard cut-off value of 1.8 mcg/dl.

The duration and adverse events of non-cuffed catheter in patients with hemodialysis will be investigated by multicenter prospective cohort. Totally, 1,400 patients with chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis will be enrolled. 900 patients will be given right internal jugular catheterization, and the other 500 patients unsuitable for right internal jugular catheterization will receive femoral catheterizations. Every patient will be followed-up for six months. During following-up period, the duration time and adverse events of non-cuffed catheter will be recorded in details, including inadequate hemodialysis blood flow, venous stenosis, venous thrombosis, infection, catheter thrombosis and so on. The central vein will be evaluated by CT Angiography to identify its stenosis at last visit after 6 months. This multicentre trial will provide evidence to develop guideline for duration time of using non-cuffed catheter.

Patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) have lost the function to excrete urea and maintain electrolyte balance, which is lethal unless they are given renal replacement therapy (Gibney, Hoste et al. 2008). As one of the initiatives of service improvement, the HA has introduced the haemodialysis public-private partnership (HD PPP) programme to shorten the waiting time for patients with ESRF needing HD treatment. HD PPP programme is a new service provision model that purchases healthcare services from non-Government healthcare organizations. The evaluation on the quality of care (QOC) is an essential part of the programme in order to inform future policy. The Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care of the University of Hong Kong has been appointed by the HA to carry out the evaluation of the QOC of the programme. The Action Learning and Audit Spiral methodologies to measure whether the target standard of care intended by the HD PPP programme is achieved. Each HD PPP participating hospitals and centers will be invited to complete a structure evaluation questionnaire. Sixty patients who have agreed to join HD PPP and 60 control patients who have refused to take part in HD PPP will be included. The participants will be followed up by telephone to evaluate the effect of the programme on quality of life (QOL), patient enablement, and global rating of change in health condition. Data on the process of care and clinical outcomes of care will be retrieved from the HA medical records. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes are the proportion of participants who have received the planned process of care and adequate haemodialysis (HD) measured by the Kt/V Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics on proportions meeting the QOC criteria will be calculated. The outcomes of HD PPP subjects will be compared at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months by paired sample t-test. The outcomes between HD PPP subjects and control group will be compared by independent sample t-test or Chi-square test. Results: The QOC of the HD PPP programme will be determined. Areas of deficiency and possible areas for quality enhancement will be identified. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide empirical evidence on whether the HD PPP can achieve equivalent QOC as the usual HA care in order to guide service planning and policy decision making for patients with ESRF.

Patients will be randomly assigned to perform the training program in center or home-based . The training program will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine. All training sessions will be preceded by stretching of large muscle groups and heating (5 minutes) and at the end by cool down and stretching (5 minutes). The program will consist of 24 weeks with three sessions per week on alternate days. The aerobic training will be continuous, with an increment of 10 minutes in duration every 4 weeks. The intensity will be prescribed according to ventilatory threshold, characterized by the highest intensity of physical exertion fully maintained by aerobic energy pathways. The intensity control was done by means of the heart rate value obtained at ventilatory threshold. Both groups receive the same intervention. However, a group exercise held in the center on a treadmill with the direct supervision of a physical education teacher. The other group will exercise at home with telephone follow-up weekly and once a month will be held at the training center under the supervision of a physical education teacher. It will also constituted a control group remain without performing any activity during the study period. After 24 weeks patients receive the same advice the team conducting the training at home.

Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 (CKD5) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis are at an increased risk for developing bloodstream infections. Vancomycin is traditionally used as first-line therapy for treating these infections, but the emergence of less-susceptible bacterial strains necessitates the consideration of alternative antibiotic therapy. Telavancin is a new antibiotic that has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, including vancomycin-intermediate staphylococcus aureus. While dosing recommendations for telavancin are available for patients with normal kidney function, there are no published recommendations for CKD5 patients receiving hemodialysis. A pharmacokinetic study is needed to characterize the pharmacokinetic parameters of telavancin in these patients to determine the extent of drug removal by hemodialysis and to establish dosing recommendations for CKD5 patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

This study is a prospective, single center, single blind (patient and laboratory), randomized, cross-over, two week investigation of intradialytic acid-base kinetics and physiology associated with use of two commercial acid dialysate concentrates in prevalent hemodialysis patients.

The purpose of this research is to develop a patient decision aid in paper and web formats to help patients with chronic kidney disease make informed dialysis treatment decisions.