Chronic Kidney Diseases Clinical Trials

This two-arm, parallel randomized trial study will assess the efficacy of a 6-month (26 weeks) community-based program in reducing kidney injury (as Urine Albumin to Creatinine ratio, uACR), cardiovascular risk (as Hemoglobin A1C and blood pressure), mental health (as PHQ-8) and diet quality (as fruits and vegetables intake and Healthy Eating Index) in community-dwelling, low-income adults diagnosed with early chronic kidney disease (stages 2 or 3 and not on kidney replacement therapies) compared to educational materials and usual care alone. Read Less

Recent breakthroughs in medical genetics have discovered that a portion of kidney failure affecting the Black community is mediated by coding variants in a gene called apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) - and that genetic variants, not race - account for increased risk. For APOL1 genetic testing to be applied in a manner that improves patient care and outcomes, more information is needed regarding associations of genotype with clinical parameters related to kidney health. Further, understanding patient perceptions about knowledge of the results of APOL1 genetic testing, and how that impacts patient engagement with management of hypertension and other renal risk factors, is urgently needed. * In a Phase 1 pilot study, we offered APOL1 genetic testing to Black patients seen in our Hypertension and Nephrology clinics at Saint Louis University, an academic medical center that serves the local urban community, and surveyed patients on attitudes and concerns about APOL1 genetic testing. 144 participants were enrolled in Phase 1. * In the Phase 2 study, we will advance this important work in our community by offering participation to a broader patient base, including patients seen in Internal and Family Medicine clinics, SLU Hospital, as well as to first-degree relatives and spouses of SLUCare participants. This expansion seeks to advance understanding of environment-gene interactions, improve risk prediction, and target management of potentially modifiable risk factors. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine if the drug, baricitinib, is safe and effective in reducing high levels of albumin in the urine (albuminuria) in African American/Blacks with APOL1- associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and non-diabetic APOL1-associated chronic kidney disease due to hypertension (HTN-CKD). Read Less

The purpose of this study is to see if 6 months of home-based walking will improve memory, and brain structure and function, compared to health education in older adults that have chronic kidney disease and mild cognitive impairment. Read Less

This study will test whether mindfulness meditation (MM) improves sympathetic function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) optimizes the sympatho-inhibitory effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) and restores autonomic balance in CKD patients. Read Less

The overall goal of the study is to determine if treatment of a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) improves the outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We showed that MDD is present in 25% of CKD patients and independently associated with progression to End-Stage Kidney Disease, hospitalization, and death. Depression is also associated with lower quality of life (QOL), fatigue, poor sleep, and non-adherence to diet and medications. However, evidence for efficacy and tolerability of commonly-used antidepressant medications or nonpharmacologic treatments are limited in CKD patients. Our group was the first to conduct a double-blind randomized controlled trial for MDD treatment in 201 patients with non-dialysis CKD, and showed that sertraline, a commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was no more efficacious than placebo for improving depressive symptoms. It becomes imperative to test novel strategies to treat MDD in CKD. We propose to compare with a control group, the efficacy and tolerability of two novel treatment strategies - (1) Behavioral Activation Teletherapy (BAT) for 16 weeks, with the addition of bupropion, a non-SSRI antidepressant, at 8 weeks for patients whose depression has not remitted (non-remitters); and (2) bupropion for 16 weeks, with the addition of BAT at 8 weeks for non-remitters. In Aim 1, we will investigate the efficacy and tolerability of these 2 strategies vs. control for improvement in a primary endpoint of depressive symptoms in 201 patients (67 per group) with non-dialysis CKD stages 3b-5 and MDD at 2 sites, randomized 1:1:1 to either strategy or a control group of Clinical Management plus placebo. We hypothesize that either approach vs. control will result in a minimal clinically important difference of 2 points improvement in depressive symptoms, as ascertained blindly by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. In Aim 2 we will investigate the efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks of (1) single-blind BAT plus placebo or (2) double-blind bupropion plus Clinical Management vs. control for improvement in depressive symptoms. In Aim 3, we will compare the efficacy of these 2 treatments strategies vs. control for improvement in CKD patient-centered outcomes including a. adherence to medications and healthcare visits; b. fatigue; c. sleep; and d. overall functioning. A clinical trial is urgently needed to address the evidence gap that exists for MDD treatment in CKD patients. Read Less

The goal of this study is to learn if a clinical trial of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) is possible in youth with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The investigators also plan to explore whether treatment with SGLT2i (Empagliflozin) helps improve risk factors for worsening kidney and heart disease. The main questions are: 1. Is enrolling 40 youth with CKD into a clinical trial of empagliflozin feasible (ie achievable)? 2. Does taking empagliflozin for 3 months result in positive changes in blood, urine, and heart function tests? Participants will be randomly selected (like flipping a coin) to either receive empagliflozin or not start treatment with empagliflozin and remain on their usual care. Study Procedures Include * For participants randomly selected for treatment, take empagliflozin once daily for 3 months * Phone calls with researchers every 2 weeks for check-ins * For participants taking empagliflozin, clinic visits 4 and 8 weeks after starting for check-ups and tests * All study participants will have clinic visits at the beginning and end (3 months) where researchers will collect information about their health and perform tests Read Less

In this pilot trial, investigators will pilot test a cognitive behavioral intervention for acceptability and proof of concept for a larger future trial to be submitted for federal funding. This is a one-group design with qualitative and quantitative data collection integrated into the intervention. Read Less

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to evaluate a culturally tailored computerized education program in hospitalized African-American patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The main question it aims to answer are: does computerized adaptive education (CAE) increase patients' knowledge about CKD self-care and renal replacement therapy (RRT) options compared to usual care (UC) and will CAE will be increase patients' intent to participate in CKD self-care and RRT preparation compared to UC Read Less

Infants born preterm and of low birth weight are known to be at increased risk for early onset of cardiovascular and renal disease in adult life. This has been related to low nephron mass due to inadequate or early termination of glomerulogenesis in utero and during the perinatal period. Risks for subsequent development of hypertension and kidney disease include proteinuria, excessive weight gain during early life with insulin resistance and supplemental high calorie feedings. The long-term goal is for early diagnosis of those infants who are at risk for future development of hypertension and kidney disease so that the investigators might intervene to potentially avert progression to adult disease. The objective of this clinical trial is to acquire data on the natural history of neonatal kidney function and size in infants born preterm during the first 2 years of life. This will be done through the use of standard serum and urine markers as well as non-invasive ultrasound technology. The central hypothesis of this clinical trial is that a subgroup of patients born preterm and of low birth weight will demonstrate early markers of kidney injury including elevated serum cystatin C, proteinuria and low kidney size. This hypothesis has been formulated on the basis of preliminary data from our group studying this question retrospectively in older children born prematurely who have developed overt kidney disease. The rationale for the proposed research is to develop early serum and demographic markers of pre-clinical kidney disease so that early intervention can occur. The proposed clinical trial is innovative because it will investigate the risk factors for kidney dysfunction at a pre-clinical stage with the idea of gaining more knowledge regarding therapeutic interventions. In addition, the study will assess serum cystatin C as a surrogate test for glomerular filtration rate which could indicate worsening kidney function at an earlier stage than serum creatinine. The proposed research is significant because it is expected to identify at-risk patients for future renal impairment and to prospectively monitor the persistence of proteinuria and its effect on kidney function in the short term. Read Less

The overarching goal of this proposal is to test the feasibility of a basic needs navigation intervention on improving clinical outcomes, self-care behaviors and quality of life in low-income African Americans with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) experiencing multidimensional adversity. The study objective will be achieved with the following aims: Aim 1: To determine the feasibility of a basic needs navigation intervention as measured by recruitment, session attendance and retention in low-income Africans Americans with DKD experiencing multidimensional adversity. Aim 2: To determine the frequency and compounding nature of different basic needs in Africans Americans with DKD experiencing multidimensional adversity to help refine the basic needs navigation intervention. Aim 3: To evaluate the change and variability in the clinical outcomes (hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, lipids) at 6 months of follow-up to plan for larger trial. Read Less

Calciphylaxis, a vascular calcification disorder, is a rare and serious disorder characterized by calcification of dermal arterioles. There are significant gaps in the understanding of the pathophysiology and risk factors for calciphylaxis. At present, there is no effective treatment. Uncertain pathobiology, rare incidence and lack of collaborative approach have been some of the major limiting factors towards treating calciphylaxis. The Partners Calciphylaxis Biorepository (PCB) aims to address these gaps within calciphylaxis research by utilizing existing and, when necessary, developing new infrastructure to support the consent of patients and the collection of dedicated samples for a calciphylaxis repository. Read Less