Active clinical trials for "Vascular Calcification"

The VICTORIA Study (Vascular CalcIfiCation and sTiffness induced by ORal antIcoAgulation) is a comparative, parallel, prospective, controlled and randomized study of the structural and functional impact of rivaroxaban versus anti-vitamin K drugs on the arterial vasculature.

Kidney disease is a fundamental part of medicine because of its prominence in Western society. Common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney infections can all progress to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) also known as Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD 5). Once ESRD has begun, kidney function is poor at best, thus the body is unable to effectively clear harmful toxins from the blood. A common feature of ESRD is vascular calcification, a process where blood vessels (especially arteries) attract deposits of the mineral calcium. Over time, these deposits harden and thicken in the layers of blood vessels, which limit blood flow to body tissues and can produce significant disease including hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Although the process of vascular calcification is unknown, there is mounting evidence that it is mediated by cellular events that are similar to those seen in bone formation with in the body (osteogenesis). With this point in mind, it has been suggested that agents medicine employs to limit excess bone formation will reduce the rate of vascular calcification in CKD Stage 5. This study will employ one group of drugs called bisphosphonates which have been used to limit bone formation. It will study their effect on vascular calcification in adult dialysis patients.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in the hemodialysis population and calcification of the major arteries (coronary, aorta, and carotid) are a play a central role in this process. The major causes of the calcification are many, including high levels of phosphorus, low levels of inhibitors of calcification, positive calcium balance, and oxidative stress. Once vascular calcification is present, it is usually progressive. There is no known treatment to reverse established vascular calcification. Sodium thiosulfate has been used extensively and safely to treat calcific uremic arteriopathy (a disease, in part due to calcification of small arteries) in dialysis patients. It increases the solubility of calcium by up to 100,000 fold and is also a potent anti-oxidant. It therefore has to potential to also decrease the amount of calcium in large arteries in dialysis patients and, hence improve survival. We will study hemodialysis (HD) patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease and death by obtaining a multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) Scan of the coronary arteries, carotid arteries and aorta and an assessment of coronary artery stenoses by a simultaneous intravenous infusion of contrast. At the same setting, we will perform tests of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)studies. In those patients at high risk for cardiovascular death, defined as a coronary artery calcification score (CACS)of greater than 50, sodium thiosulfate at a dose of 12.5-25 gm/1.73 M2 will be infused over 15-30 minutes after each dialysis treatment for 5 months. The above studies will then be repeated.

This prospective, randomized, controlled study aims to investigate the effects of atorvastatin treatment in hemodialysis patients concerning progression of coronary artery calcification, progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness, endothelial function, and inflammation.

50 patients will be randomized and treated with MCO or highflux dialysis for six months (24 weeks) after a run-in phase of 4 weeks Highflux treatment. Serum samples will be drawn at baseline, after 4, 8 and 24 weeks. Later, calcifiying vascular smooth muscle cells will be incubated with these serum samples and calcification will be assessed with Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin staining. Primary endpoint: In vitro Calcification of coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (Alkaline Phosphatase/ WST8) after six months Calcifiying vascular smooth muscle cells will be incubated with serum samples obtained after six months of MCO/HF dialysis and calcification will be assessed with Alkaline phosphatase and WST8. Secondary Endpoints: Aortic Pulse wave velocity after 6 months Calcification propensity after 6 months Physical activity level after 6 months Cell culture: Incubation of VSMC with serum samples obtained after 6 months Alizarin staining/WST-8 Measurement of calcification inhibitors Osteopontin and Matrix Gla Protein in Supernatants Apoptosis The treatment regimen of the patients will not be altered, hence blood flow, dialysate flow as well as dialysis time will remain constant.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether cinacalcet + low dose vitamin D attenuates the progression of vascular calcification over one year, compared with a treatment regimen that includes flexible vitamin D dosing in the absence of cinacalcet, in subjects with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis

Vascular calcification is a frequent complication in dialysis patients and is strongly associated with mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex and involves a series of markers that act on the vascular microenvironment. There is evidence that aldosterone is one of the biomarkers and may have a role in osteoinductive pathways.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spironolactone, an inhibitor of mineralocorticoid receptor, in the progression of coronary calcification in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Vascular calcification is the leading cause of death in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in hemodialysis. The protein matrix Gla vitamin K dependent (MGP) is a potent inhibitor of the vascular calcification. Objective: To evaluate the effect of vitamin K2 on vascular calcification in patients on hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study will be performed. The study subjects will be divided into a control (1000 µl of saline) or treated group (1000 µl containing 2000 µg of Vitamin K2). Vitamin K2 will be administered three times a week intravenously at the end of each dialysis session. Blood samples for biochemical determinations and vascular calcification will be assessed before and after 6 months of treatment through carotid Doppler ultrasound.

The purpose of this study is to test whether active vitamin D (calcitriol) protects bones from weakening and protects blood vessels from calcium deposits over the first year of kidney transplantation.

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).