Active clinical trials for "Kidney Diseases"

This study will test the effectiveness of mailed, smartphone urinalysis kits to improve albuminuria screening compliance and detection of albuminuria.

Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit an excessive risk for cardiac arrhythmias, in particular sudden cardiac death (SCD). Hypoglycemia is a frequent problem in insulin-treated patients, especially in those with CKD, and various studies have shown that hypoglycemic episodes are strong predictors of cardiovascular mortality in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Experimental data and small clinical studies link hypoglycemia with ECG changes and SCD, but little is known about the direct association of hypoglycemic events and/or rapid swings in blood glucose with arrhythmias in this high risk population. Ideally, an algorithm should help to identify patients at risk for hypoglycemia-associated arrhythmias and SCD, but hitherto systematic analyses of blood glucose values and 12-channel ECGs are lacking in these patients.

In this genomic medicine implementation pilot project, the investigators aim to conduct a randomized trial in a network of community health centers and primary care facilities to study processes, effects and challenges of incorporating information for apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1)-attributable genetic risk for end stage kidney disease in patients of African ancestry with hypertension .

The routine administration of 75 mg of intravenous aminophylline in patients with severe chronic kidney disease undergoing a nuclear stress test with regadenoson (Lexiscan®) can reduce or eliminate the incidence of diarrhea and other side effects related to regadenoson.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether eplerenone is effective in the treatment of blood pressure, heart function, renal function in elderly hypertensive stage1 (eGFR>=90ml/min/1.73m2) and stage2 (eGFR 60-89ml/min/1.73m2) chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have very low physical function and high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. The objective of the proposed research is to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with a pomegranate extract, that contains high amounts of antioxidants, on physical function and CVD risk. Patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease that are NOT yet on dialysis tend to have significantly reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease (and other disorders) compared to dialysis patients. This includes significantly reduced systemic markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. As a result, therapies designed to reduce the risk of CKD co-morbidities may differ significantly in dialysis and pre-dialysis patients. For example, dialysis patients are recommended to INCREASE their intake of dietary protein, while pre-dialysis patients are recommended to DECREASE their protein intake, due to differences in the pathophysiology of the two conditions. The investigators have decided to recruit pre-dialysis patients in addition to dialysis patients in this study because the investigators believe this will help us determine if the efficacy of pomegranate differs between patients with different stages of CKD.

The main clinical study will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, long term study involving a 100 week treatment period. The purpose of this study is to test for superiority of treatment with belimumab 10 mg/kg plus supportive therapy compared to placebo plus supportive therapy in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The purpose of this study is also to investigate the effect of initiating earlier treatment with belimumab compared to delayed treatment with current immunosuppressive treatment regimens. The study will also determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of belimumab and further explore the mechanism of action of Belimumab as well as effects on quality of life. All subjects (on either active treatment or placebo) will receive background supportive therapy throughout the main clinical study, which includes angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and/or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) unless contraindicated and may include statins, diuretics, dietary salt restriction but excludes immunosuppressants (except low dose corticosteroids). Screening will be done within 5 to 2 weeks before the first scheduled dose of study treatment. A total of 94 evaluable subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio such that 47 subjects receive intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg and 47 receive intravenous placebo. Subjects will be dosed on Days 0, 14, 28 and then every 4 weeks through to, and including, Week 100, resulting in a total of 27 doses (giving 104 weeks of drug exposure). The dosing frequency will be adjusted to every 2 weeks if the subject's proteinuria as assessed by urinary protein creatinine ratio (PCR) is greater than 1000mg/mmol (greater than 10 g/24 h), to compensate for loss of belimumab in the urine. Subjects who are withdrawn from study treatment at any time during the study, eg for rescue therapy, will participate in follow-up visits every 12 weeks up to week 104. A subject will be regarded as having completed the main clinical study if they complete all phases of the main clinical study (screening, treatment period, 4 week and 16 week post last dose short term safety follow-up). Subjects who complete the main clinical study will therefore participate in the main clinical study for approximately 28 months. After the main clinical study, there will be a 5 year (long term) follow-up phase to assess long term outcomes.

Forced blockade of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) by using direct renin inhibition (DRI) has long been propagated to effectuate beneficial outcomes. However, recent large clinical trials have outlined harmful effects for DRI in combination with other forms of RAS blockade. To date, information regarding DRI as RAS-blocking monotherapy is very limited. Furthermore, it remains to be elucidated how DRI and angiotensin receptor blockers affect the so-called 'classical' and 'alternative' RAS molecularly. As components of the 'alternative' RAS (e.g. Ang 1-7) have moved into research focus, it would be of importance to determine angiotensin regulation with medical RAS blockade. In this prospective, single-center randomized trial over 10 weeks, 24 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage III-IV (eGFR 15-59 ml/min) will be randomized to take either aliskiren (up to 300 mg per day) or candesartan (up to 16 mg per day) after a two week run-in phase where all RAS-blockers are eliminated. The investigators will then employ a novel mass spectrometry-based quantification method (after run-in and 10 weeks) to capture the concentrations of ten different angiotensin peptides (including angiotensin I and II, angiotensin 1-7 and angiotensin 1-5). The investigators hypothesize that significant differences exist between angiotensin levels in CKD patients with DRI compared to angiotensin receptor blockers. Specifically, the investigators expect to determine the regulation of the alternative RAS represented by angiotensin 1-7 with proximal versus distal blockade of the system. Our data might contribute to a more profound understanding of results from registries and clinical trials beyond the clinical effects of RAS blockade. Further, the study's results might help to individualize and optimize RAS-blocking therapy strategies in CKD patients.

Home based renal replacement therapy (RRT), including peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis(HHD), offers enhanced quality of life and clinical advantages compared to conventional in-center hemodialysis. Patients with end stage renal disease, that is failure of the kidneys such that dialysis is required, are at high risk for adverse health events especially during a period of transition following a change in care settings. The investigators aim to implement a Home Dialysis Virtual Ward (HDVW) strategy of telephone follow-up, which is targeted to minimize gaps of care during transitions in care. The investigators aim to have clinicians follow patients by telephone if they meet one of the following four criteria; Discharge from hospital. Having an interventional procedure. Prescription of an antibiotic. Completion of Home Dialysis training. The major goal of this HDVW initiative is to provide appropriate and effective supports to medically complex patients in a targeted window of vulnerability.

Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is becoming a global health concern that affects largely the elderly population. Despite advances in pharmacological and management strategies, DKD remain associated with high morbidity and mortality. Patients living with such chronic disease, are expected, on daily basis to manage their self-care activities. Patients' non-adherence to the treatment is thought to be the major cause for the poor control and the occurrence of complications. Previous researchers have shown that multidisciplinary management of chronic disease can improve patients' self-care and outcomes. However, none of these programs was centered on self-care and targeted patients with DKD. A multidisciplinary self-care management program could improve the outcomes of patients with DKD, and delay the progression of the disease. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of a multidisciplinary self-care management program on self-care behavior, quality of life, medication adherence, glycemic control and renal function, in adults with DKD. The study will use a cross-over design. 32 adult with DKD, will be randomly recruited from the Vaud University Medical Center, nephrology department and will be enrolled in the program for 12 month. All variables will be measured at baseline, three, six, nine and 12 month. We will measure the patients' self-care behavior, quality of life, adherence to the anti-hypertensive medication taking using, the Revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire, the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of life questionnaire and the Medication Events Monitoring System. We will assess the patients' glycemic control by measuring the glycated hemoglobin and the renal function by measuring the serum creatinine and the microalbumin creatinine ratio. The study will clearly show if a multidisciplinary self-care management program will improve the health outcomes of patients with DKD and will allow us to recommend the establishment of such a program.