Active clinical trials for "Kidney Diseases"

The purpose of this study is to determine if one CT contrast agent (medication injected into a vein; used in CT examinations to help produce clearer images) is safer to use than another. This study will compare the safety of two widely-used, U.S. FDA approved contrast agents, Isovue and Omnipaque. The investigators hypothesize that there is no significant difference in the rates of contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) between these agents when the overall population consists of low-risk patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether hydration with sodium bicarbonate is more effective than hydration with sodium chloride to prevent contrast induced nephropathy in patients undergoing Primary Coronary Intervention for Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

To assess equivalence in the rates of functional graft survival at 12 months after transplantation in patients receiving induction therapy with cyclosporin (CsA, Neoral) and Rapamune® followed by CsA dose reduction and concentration-controlled Rapamune® versus induction with CsA and Rapamune® followed by discontinuation of CsA and concentration-controlled Rapamune®.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the commonest cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Reasons for the greater incidence of CVD in this group include traditional CVD risk factors of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes but more importantly also include non-traditional risk factors such as calcium and phosphate imbalance. The latter is thought most likely to contribute to vascular calcification, especially for those on dialysis, and this in turn leads to arterial stiffness and left ventricular hypertrophy, the two commonest cardiovascular complications. Arterial stiffness and calcification have been found to be independent predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in CKD. Few studies, though, have looked at both structural and functional changes associated with calcification and there have been very few interventional studies addressing this issue. Control of calcium and phosphate levels in CKD can occur with the use of medications that reduce elevated serum phosphate (phosphate binders, mostly calcium-based) and those to treat hyperparathyroidism (vitamin D and more recently calcium sensing receptor agonists called calcimimetics). These pharmacological managements addressing calcium and phosphate imbalance reduce vascular calcification and CVD. Bisphosphonate therapy may also have a role in reduction of calcification. Low bone mineral density (BMD) is common in CKD patients and predicts increased fracture risk similar to the general population. Bisphosphonate therapy improves BMD and lowers the fracture risk. Bisphosphonates may also have a role in secondary hyperparathyroidism to reduce hypercalcemia and allow for more aggressive calcitriol treatment. Recent studies have addressed the possibility of bisphosphonates reducing the progression of vascular calcification in CKD and revealed that the extent of calcification may be suppressed in association with a reduction in chronic inflammatory responses. The investigators aim to perform a prospective, randomised study assessing the impact of alendronate on cardiovascular and bone mineral parameters. This will be a single-centre study involving subjects with CKD Stage 3 (those patients with GFR between 30 and 59ml/min). Arterial stiffness (by pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity) and vascular calcification (using CT scans through superficial femoral artery) will be followed as well as serum markers of calcium, phosphate and PTH. Differences in these end-points will be compared between participants taking alendronate and those not. The study will be conducted over a 12 month period and the investigators aim to recruit about 50 patients (25 on alendronate and 25 control).

Treatment with growth hormone (GH; a hormone made by the body that stimulates growth) has been shown to be helpful in treating children with chronic kidney disease who fail to grow. The amount of growth that is seen in children treated with growth hormone varies widely for unknown reasons. Growth hormone works by producing another hormone in the liver called insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1 for short. IGF-1 stimulates the bones to grow. The amount of IGF-1 in the blood may directly affect the amount of growth in each child. At this time, growth hormone therapy in children depends on giving a certain dose of growth hormone for each child based on his or her weight. If after 3-6 months on this dose of growth hormone the change in height is not enough, then the dose of growth hormone is increased until enough growth is seen. This method of dosing of growth hormone may take a long time and is complicated and time-consuming. The purpose of this study is to measure the amount of IGF-1 produced by the body as a result of giving 2 different doses of growth hormone in children for 7 days only. The study investigator hopes to find the most favorable level of IGF-1 generated after 7 days of growth hormone that correlates with good growth of children with kidney disease. Then instead of dosing growth hormone by weight, like is done now, researchers can dose growth hormone by the amount of IGF-1 that the body produces. Being able to dose more effectively will save valuable time for the child to grow and will shorten the overall duration of growth hormone therapy. The investigators will also determine the effect of inflammatory cytokines Il-6 and TNF-alpha on growth hormone insensitivity and hence IGF-1 generation test in the same population.

The purpose of this study is to compare omega-3 fatty acids with placebo for efficacy in retardation of increase of serum creatinine(SCr) in IgA Nephropathy

This is a randomised controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of preventive regimen of hydration with high dose oral N-acetylcysteine and intravenous sodium bicarbonate pretreatment in patients with stable advanced renal insufficiency (CKD stage 3 and 4:GFR 15-60ml/min/1.73m2 calculated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation (MDRD formula)) undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Several studies demonstrated a significant reduction of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN; definition: increase in serum creatinine of >=0.5mg/dl and/or >=25% increase within 48h after contrast-medium) by acetylcysteine (A) or theophylline (T). However, the results are contradictory. Therefore, it was the aim of our double-blind study to compare the effects of A, T, a combination of A and T (A+T), and placebo (P).

There is a rising incidence of kidney failure in the US, with poor outcomes and high cost. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) affects almost 375,000 individuals in the US at a cost of more than $14 billion per year. Despite advances in dialysis and transplantation therapies, kidney failure leads to poor outcomes, poor prognosis and high health care costs. Malnutrition and the underlying systemic inflammatory response developed during the course of chronic kidney disease, worsen during ESRD, and lead to adverse outcomes, increased morbidity and mortality. Muscle wasting, impaired functional capacity and poor quality of life are the most important factors associated with malnutrition and inflammation in renal failure. We have shown in pre dialysis patients with moderate chronic renal insufficiency that the anabolic effects of resistance exercise training result in significant improvements in protein utilization, nutritional status and functional capacity even in the context of anorexia and prescribed low protein diets. Therefore, we propose to develop, test and implement a progressive resistance exercise routine for ESRD patients during the hemodialysis session. By implementing such intervention, we hope to offer a therapeutic strategy that can be incorporated to the standard of care of ESRD patients by working in conjunction with the dialysis unit staff.

The purpose of the study is to compare the incidence of contrast induced nephrotoxicity following the administration of Isovue or Visipaque in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment who undergo a clinically indicated IV contrast-enhanced (multidetector computed tomography) MDCT of the liver or MDCT angiography of the lower extremities. Serum Creatinine (SCr) will be measured before and up to 48-72 hours post dose.