Role of PACAP in Nehprotic Syndrome
Nephrotic SyndromeThis study will identify the role of PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) deficiency in patients with nephrotic syndrome. PACAP is a neuropeptide that has a putative role as an inhibitor of megakaryopoiesis and platelet function. Patients with nephrotic syndrome show decreased PACAP plasma levels, due to urinary loss. We hypothesize that in severe nephrotic syndrome, plasma deficiency of PACAP enhances megakaryopoiesis and causes blood platelet activation, which contribute to the increased rate of thromboembolic disease in these patients. To test our hypothesis, the role of PACAP deficiency on pro-thrombotic state in patients with nephrotic syndrome will be studied using patient blood and urine samples.
Study of 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Children With Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome...
Idiopathic Nephrotic SyndromeThe purpose of this study is to determine whether 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine safely induces immune responses and immunological memory in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in remission.
Effectiveness and Safety of Danshen Injection for Acute Kidney Injury in Primary Nephrotic Syndrome...
Acute Kidney InjuryNephrotic Syndrome1 moreThe goal of this real-world observational study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Chinese herbal-derived therapeutic Danshen injection following immunosuppressive therapy and prophylactic anticoagulation with low molecular heparin for acute kidney injury in primary nephrotic syndrome. The main questions to answer are: Whether or not Danshen injection is beneficial for acute kidney injury patients in primary nephrotic syndrome patients. Whether or not Danshen injection will increase the bleeding risk in primary nephrotic syndrome patients receiving low molecular heparin. Participants' information will be retrieved from hospital files stored in medical records and the electronic patient data registry. Participants received Danshen injection will be compared with control group to evaluate the recovery of renal function and side effects.
Kidney Disease Biomarkers
Kidney DiseaseGlomerular Disease3 moreKidney Disease Biomarkers Summary: This study will identify biomarkers (proteins and other molecules in the blood or urine) that may help scientists predict what kidney disease a patient has and whether a given patient would respond to particular therapies. The study will look for biomarkers in the blood and urine of patients with various kidney diseases and study of the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) on biomarkers. Blood and urine from healthy volunteers will be studied for comparison. Healthy people and the following patients may be eligible for this study: adults with diabetic nephropathy 18 years of age and older; children with newly diagnosed clinical idiopathic nephrotic syndrome between 2 and 18 year of age; children and adults with glomerular disease (minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or collapsing glomerulopathy). Participants undergo tests and procedures as follows: Glomerular Disease: Adults with glomerular disease provide about four to six blood and urine samples over the course of 6 to 12 months. The samples are collected at the time of regularly scheduled visits for the NIH treatment protocol in which they are participating. Children provide only blood samples. Chronic Kidney Disease: Patients with chronic kidney disease provide a blood and urine sample every 6 months for 3 years or more. Angiotensin Antagonism: Patients with chronic kidney disease who are taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs stop their medicines for 4 weeks, while those who are not taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs begin one of the medicines. In general, patients just starting on the medications continue them after the study is completed, since they are beneficial for chronic kidney disease. Medication withdrawal group: Patients come to NIH for 2 successive days at the beginning of the study for blood and urine tests (including one 24-hour urine collection) and to receive iothalamate (a chemical used to measure kidney function). Iothalamate is delivered over 24 hours through a needle placed in the abdomen (or elsewhere) via a pump similar to pumps that some diabetics use to deliver insulin. Patients then stop taking their ACE inhibitor or ARB medication. They monitor their blood pressure every day and return to NIH after 1, 2 and 4 weeks for blood tests. During week 4, the iothalamate infusion is repeated, and blood and urine samples are collected as at the beginning of the study. Patients then resume taking their ACE inhibitor or ARB once a day with the dose being increased at 2-week intervals. They come to NIH weekly after 1 week and then every other week for blood tests. Four weeks after reaching the highest FDA-recommended dose of medication tolerated, the iothalamate infusion and blood and urine collections are repeated. Medication induction group: At the beginning of the study, patients have the iothalamate infusion and blood and urine collections described above and then begin to take either an ACE inhibitor or ARB. The dose is increased after 2 weeks. Patients monitor their blood pressure every day. After being on the highest dose for 4 weeks, patients repeat the iothalamate infusion and blood and urine collections. The study is then complete and they are provided a 2-month supply of medicine to take home. Information is gathered on symptoms, treatments, and results of past laboratory tests of all patients. Healthy volunteers provide blood and urine sample collections every month or every other month for up to four collections to be used for biomarker studies and the screen for common chronic diseases.
The Efficacy of Huaiqihuang Granule in Children With Primary Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic SyndromeThis is a multisite, open-label, prospective and registered study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Huai-Qi-Huang granule in children with primary nephrotic syndrome.
Glucocorticoid-induced Osteopenia in Children
Crohn's DiseaseNephrotic SyndromeThe purpose of this study is to characterize the skeletal deficits and risk factors for impaired skeletal development in children requiring glucocorticoid therapy. We will compare the bone health of children treated with prednisone for nephrotic syndrome (NS with those treated with prednisone for Crohn's Disease (CD). Childhood NS usually responds to prednisone and is not characterized by pathologies that can impact on bone. In contrast, CD is treated with prednisone, but is independently associated with poor growth and maturation, nutritional deficiencies and inflammation. Due to the differences in the diseases, this comparison will allow us to distinguish between the prednisone-related and disease-related effects on bone in the two disease states.
Steroid Treatment of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome
Nephrotic SyndromeIdiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most frequent glomerular disease in childhood. Currently, all children with INS are treated at onset with steroids. The optimal duration and dosage of steroid therapy is debated. For each patient, the challenge is to minimise potential side effects of steroids, while achieving a good clinical response. The aim of our study is to assess the benefits and potential adverse effects of a prolonged initial corticosteroid regimen, for the treatment of the initial episode. The results will be compared with data obtained retrospectively. In addition genetic studies will be undertaken with the aim of evaluating pharmacodynamics of steroid treatment with the ultimate goal to individualise treatment in single patients. Study group: children aged 6 months - 18 years, diagnosed with an initial episode of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome Control group: data of children with a onset INS between January 2007 and December 2009 from the same area of the study group and treated with a short steroid regimen will be retrospectively analysed and compared
Efficacy of a Gluten-free Diet in Difficult to Manage Nephrotic Syndrome: Utility of Plasma Zonulin...
Nephrotic SyndromeElevated plasma zonulin levels, which are supportive of a diagnosis of CD (celiac disease) in children with gastrointestinal symptoms, may indicate patients with difficult-to-manage NS who will benefit from initiation of a GFD (gluten free diet). This pilot study will determine whether high plasma zonulin levels can be used as a screening tool to identify patients with NS (nephrotic syndrome) who are likely to demonstrate a beneficial response to a GFD. It will provide important information about the feasibility of testing the efficacy of a GFD for this condition and assist in the design and sample size calculation for a definitive trial to test the beneficial effect of this dietary intervention. Although NS is a rare condition in childhood, it is a chronic disease that can lead to short- and long-term disability especially in those with difficult-to-manage disease. There is an urgent need to develop safe and effective new therapies in this subgroup. This project may indicate the utility of a common dietary modification, a GFD, to treat these patients. The growing medical use of and greater access to gluten-free food items underscore the feasibility and timeliness of this approach.
Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Nephrotic Syndrome
Thyroid DysfunctionThis study is to evaluate Thyroid Hormone profile in patients with Nephrotic syndrome to identify clinical predictor of Thyroid dysfunction in patients with Nephrotic syndrome
Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis in the Pediatric Population - Canadian Incidence Study
Acute Lymphoblastic LeukemiaNephrotic Syndrome1 moreTo determine the magnitude and rate of bone mass deficits following initiation of glucocorticoid therapy for the treatment of pediatric leukemia, rheumatic conditions and nephrotic syndrome, we propose a 6 year, prospective study in 12 academic, tertiary care centres across Canada. The investigators hypothesize that glucocorticoid-treated children with leukemia, rheumatic conditions and nephrotic syndrome will fail to accrue bone mass at a normal rate, and that deficits in mineral accrual will occur in a glucocorticoid dose- and duration-dependent fashion. We also hypothesize that the fracture incidence will increase with concomitant reductions in bone mass.