Active clinical trials for "Kidney Diseases"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether L5, one of the Low Density Lipoproteins, is an effective predicting factor for cardiovascular disease in chronic renal and hemodialytic patients.

This study will follow 2500 prevalent Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients with Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) from 15-45 ml/min for 30 months with serial measurements every 6 months and subsequent annual chart review up to 60 months. This observational study will analyze the demographics, clinical status, medications and blood and urine samples of these patients and study the conventional biochemical, hormonal and metabolic parameters assessing which underlying biomarkers reflect the processes involved with disease progression.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) that results in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major international health problem. Many clinical markers such as urine protein or eGFR(evaluated glomerular filtration rate),can estimate the renal function, but not sensitive. As well-known, the crucial role of angiotensin II (AngII), the major effector of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), in the development of renal fibrosis that results in ESRD is widely recognized.Abundant researches find that intrarenal RAS takes an important role on the progression of CKD. At present, no clinical marker is available to evaluate intrarenal AngII activity because it is difficult to measure it directly in patients. So find and establish a bio-marker of local renal RAS activation maybe a breakthrough in early detection and treatment of CKD. Angiotensinogen(AGT) is the only known substrate for renin and the level of AGT in humans is close to Km value for renin. Thus , changes in AGT levels can control the activity of the RAS, and its up-regulation may lead to activity of Ang levels. Then we hypothesis that the AGT is a early bio-marker of local renal RAS activation as well as CKD.

This study involves Chronic Kidney Disease patients that must choose the type of dialysis therapy they ultimately wish to perform. These patients receive education regarding dialysis types from nurses and Nephrologists at a Kidney Function Program. The investigators have developed a web-based Interactive Health Communication Application that could provide more education and support to patients about their dialysis choices. The investigators will compare patients that will receive usual care dialysis education versus patients that will receive additional education through this web-based application. The investigators feel that this tool may increase the proportion of patients who start home dialysis, which offers advantages such as improvement in quality of life and deceased overall healthcare costs, over hospital hemodialysis.

Sclerostin, the product of the SOST gene, located on chromosome 17, locus q11.2 in humans, was originally believed to be a non-classical Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist.Sclerostin was recently identified as a component of parathyroid hormone (PTH) signal transduction. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with abnormalities in bone and mineral metabolism.New advances in the pathogenesis of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) change the perspective from which many of its features and treatment are viewed. Calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D have been shown to be important determinants of survival associated with kidney diseases. Now ROD dependent and independent of these factors is linked to survival more than just skeletal frailty.Furthermore, ROD is shown to be an underappreciated factor in the level of the serum phosphorus in CKD. The discovery and the elucidation of the mechanism of hyperphosphatemia as a cardiovascular risk in CKD change the view of ROD. Emerging current data suggests a promising role for serum measurements of sclerostin in addition to iPTH in the diagnosis of high bone turnover in chronic kidney disease-5D patients (dialysis patients). Because of the close relationship between ROD and cardiovascular disease, the aim of this study is to investigate the association between sclerostin, arteriovenous fistula thrombosis, echocardiography and carpal tunnel syndrome in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

The study will be conducted at Assiut University Hospital. Eligible subjects will be screened for vascular calcification by Doppler ultrasound examination. A correation between the level of serum Osteopontin (OPN) level and the extent of vascular calcification will be evaluated.

This is prospective cohort study with the purpose of improving our understanding of morbidity and mortality risk in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

The patients with chronic kidney disease suffer from many oral problems affecting the quality of life. The aim of our study is to assess their oral health to provide the proper management and increase their awareness

This study evaluates possible barriers to physical activity/exercise training for patients with chronic kidney disease in Europe. The study's aim is to investigate structural problems and attitudes at different levels of care. Both a systemic and individual approach are applied. Barriers due to health care organisation and reimbursement policies will be investigated in the health care system and at the renal unit. Perceived benefits of physical activity and personal attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle will be investigated in nephrologists and renal nurses. Patients' health related quality of life, attitudes and perceived availability will be explored.

This study aims to understand the onset an functional consequences of left ventricular interstitial fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (stage 2 to 5), as well as assess whether transplantation results in a regression of cardiac fibrosis.Thus all patients will undergo: 1) a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to assess cardiac function and measure left ventricular interstitial fibrosis; 2) a cardiopulmonary stress echocardiogram to understand the functional consequences of fibrosis and rule out any underlying ischaemic heart disease; 3) a 24 hour holter monitor and electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess whether these patients are at higher risk of arrhythmia.