Kidney Failure, Chronic

This study looks at how the physical and emotional health of people changes while they wait for a kidney transplant. Waiting for an organ can take a long time. During this period, some patients become "frail." This means they lose strength and are at a higher risk for health problems. The main goal is to follow these patients over time to better understand their needs. Researchers will use a mobile application to collect Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) directly from patients about how they feel and their quality of life. The study will also include personal interviews to learn about the patients' experiences and any difficulties they face when using technology. The results of this study will help to: • Identify early which patients are losing strength or health. • Improve the support that nurses provide during the transplant waiting period. • Make sure that digital health tools are easy for everyone to use. In short, this work aims to help patients reach the day of their surgery in the best possible condition.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a temporary reprogramming of the immune system can help highly sensitized (hyperimmunized) patients with end-stage kidney disease safely receive a compatible kidney transplant. Patients who are highly sensitized have developed an extremely high level of antibodies against human leukocyte antigens (HLA), often due to previous transplants, pregnancies, or blood transfusions. This condition makes it nearly impossible for them to find a compatible organ donor, leaving them stuck on dialysis indefinitely. This study tests an innovative strategy using Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT). The procedure involves an intensive conditioning regimen using a combination of medications (cyclophosphamide, thymoglobulin, and rituximab) to deeply clear out the patient's existing mature immune cells. This is followed by the reinfusion of the patient's own previously collected and purified blood stem cells (CD34+ cells) to rebuild the immune system from scratch. The investigators hypothesize that this procedure will eliminate the "immunological memory" cells responsible for producing the problematic anti-HLA antibodies, resetting the immune system to a "naive" or inactive state. This immune reset is expected to eliminate or significantly lower circulating HLA antibodies, creating a critical window of opportunity for these patients to successfully receive a compatible kidney transplant from the deceased-donor waiting list.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of royal jelly on inflammation and cellular senescence in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis (HD).

Within few years the peritoneal membrane of adult peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients undergoes substantial morphological transformation, including progressive fibrosis, vasculopathy and neoangiogenesis. Ultrafiltration capacity steadily declines and ultimately results in PD failure. In children, peritoneal biopsies demonstrating PD associated alterations have not yet been obtained. They, however, should be particularly informative, since secondary tissue and vascular pathology related to ageing or diabetes is absent. An international, prospective peritoneal membrane biopsy study in children on PD will therefore be performed. Biopsies will be obtained at time of PD catheter insertion, on occasion of intercurrent abdominal surgery (e.g. hernia repair, catheter exchange) and at time of renal transplantation. Quantitative histomorphometry and tissue protein expression analyses will be correlated with time integrated PD treatment modalities and functional characteristics as well as inflammatory and cardiovascular comorbidity surrogate parameter. Blood will be obtained during clinical routine sampling. Biopsies will be obtained during clinically indicated operations, without substantially increasing operation time and associated surgical risks. The detailed histomorphometry of the PD membrane will give additional information, potentially impacting on the individual PD regime. 3/2018: The analyses of the pediatric PD biopsy demonstrated early and major transformation of the peritoneal membrane with neutral pH low GDP fluids, and significant vasculopathy already in children with CKD stage 5, further progressing with PD. The underlying mechanisms are partly understood, only. In view of these major findings and the numerous open questions, collection of biosamples will be continued in children and also in adult PD patients. The following questions will be addressed: Molecular counterparts of peritoneal semi-permeability, solute and water transport (beyond AQP1), pathomechanisms and molecular and functional impact of peritoneal transformation with low and high GDP fluids, and the respective pathomechanisms and molecular and functional impact of vascular disease in CKD and with different PD fluids. The impact of renal transplantation following PD will be assessed in a subgroup of patients with tenckhoff catheter removal several weeks after transplantation and a functioning graft.

Background and problem Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a large share of adults worldwide and is a growing public-health concern. People with advanced CKD can develop "uremia", a dangerous build-up of waste products in the blood that the failing kidneys cannot remove. Even when patients receive regular dialysis, many so-called "uremic toxins" remain in the body because some of these substances bind tightly to blood proteins and are poorly removed by dialysis. Over 100 uremic toxins have been identified and classified and protein-bound toxins such as Indoxylsulfate and p-Cresylsulfate are especially difficult to clear by dialysis. Some uremic toxins are linked to heart and blood-vessel disease, inflammation, and worse outcomes in dialysis patients. For example, Indoxylsulfate has been associated with higher mortality, vascular calcification, vessel stiffness and heart failure. Reducing these toxins might therefore improve quality of life and lower cardiovascular risk in people on dialysis. Purpose of the study The study will test whether adding inner, fermentable pea fiber (a natural prebiotic) to the daily diet of hemodialysis patients can lower blood levels of uremic toxins-especially Indoxylsulfate-and improve related markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk. The investigators hypothesize that fermentable fibers change gut bacterial composition so that less toxin-forming bacterial metabolism (from amino acids like tryptophan) occurs, thereby reducing the amount of harmful metabolites that reach the blood. Type of study: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with two groups. Duration: 8 weeks of intervention. Intervention: Participants will receive daily baked goods (bread, rolls, muffins, scones, pizza bread) that together provide 20 g of pea fiber per day; the control group will receive identical foods without added pea fiber. The fiber mix uses commercially available inner pea-fiber products. Blood and stool sampling: Blood samples are taken before the intervention, at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks to measure Indoxylsulfate and other toxins, inflammation markers, vitamin D metabolites and cardiovascular risk markers. A subgroup will also provide stool samples to study changes in the gut microbiome. Who can join Adults aged 18-89 who have been on chronic hemodialysis for at least three months and receive dialysis two to three times per week are eligible. The study excludes people with recent serious infections, advanced liver disease, active cancer, recent blood transfusion, pregnancy, certain food intolerances or inability to consent. Each study arm will include 36 participants. Primary and secondary outcomes Primary outcome: Change in blood Indoxylsulfate concentration between the pea-fiber group and the control group. Secondary outcomes: Levels of other uremic toxins, routine kidney-related blood tests (creatinine, urea, uric acid), electrolytes, vitamin D metabolites, inflammatory markers, lipid markers, FGF23, short-chain fatty acids, sKlotho, and the effect of patient serum on cytokine production in a standard immune cell line. Stool analyses in a subgroup will examine shifts in bacterial groups and metabolic networks. How the intervention is delivered and monitored Foods are prepared in a certified bakery and coded so neither participants nor study staff know who receives pea fiber or placebo. To improve adherence, participants choose from a variety of pre-portioned baked items and are advised to spread intake across the day. Unused portions are returned and logged. Dietary recalls and symptom questionnaires are collected to monitor changes in overall diet, appetite and gastrointestinal side effects. Blood draws are timed before dialysis after the long interdialytic interval to standardize measurements. Potential impact and limitations If fermentable inner pea fibers lower Indoxylsulfate and related toxins, this would support a simple, food-based strategy to reduce toxin burden and possibly cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients. However, previous studies show mixed results depending on the type of fiber used: fermentable fibers (like amylose-rich starch or inulin) have produced beneficial changes in some trials, while non-fermentable fibers did not. Since evidence high-quality randomized trials in dialysis patients is still limited there is the need for this study.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how well the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) works and how safe it is in adults with kidney failure who are waiting for a kidney transplant, including those who later receive a transplant. The study also aims to find out whether giving an extra (third) dose of the vaccine after transplant improves protection. The main questions it aims to answer are: How strong is the body's immune response to the vaccine at different time points (about 1 month, 2 years, and 3 years after vaccination) in people waiting for a kidney transplant? Does a third dose of the vaccine after transplant improve the immune response compared to not receiving a third dose? How long does protection from the vaccine last before and after transplant? How safe is the vaccine in this group, including whether it affects transplant-related immune markers? Researchers will compare people who receive a third dose of the vaccine after transplant to those who do not receive a third dose, as well as to results from similar groups studied in the past, to see if the extra dose improves immune protection. Participants will: Be screened to see if they can take part in the study Attend about 3 to 6 study visits over approximately 30 to 37 months Receive two doses of the shingles vaccine if they have not already been vaccinated, or complete study assessments if they were vaccinated before joining If they receive a kidney transplant during the study, be randomly assigned (by chance) to receive either a third dose of the vaccine or no additional dose Complete questionnaires, have physical exams if needed, and provide blood (and urine, if applicable) samples at study visits Take part in follow-up visits to check immune response and safety, with the option to allow samples to be stored for future research Shingrix is approved for adults aged 50 and older and for younger adults with weakened immune systems. However, giving a third dose after a kidney transplant is not standard practice and is being studied in this trial.

Powerful new drugs that can prevent or delay end stage kidney disease (ESKD) - so called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) - are now available for patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether these drugs have similar effects in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unknown because of the few studies in this population, due to concerns about the increase in risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA, a serious, potentially fatal acute complication of diabetes due to the accumulation of substances called ketone bodies) observed with SGLT2i therapy in T1D. One of the few T1D studies conducted to date showed that implementing an enhanced DKA prevention plan can reduce the risk of DKA associated with the SGLT2i sotagliflozin (SOTA) to very low levels. In the present study, a similar DKA prevention program will be used to carry-out a 3-year trial to test the kidney benefit of SOTA in 150 persons with T1D and moderate to advanced DKD. After a 2-month period, during which diabetes care will be standardized and education on monitoring and minimizing DKA implemented, eligible study subjects will be randomly assigned (50/50) to take one tablet of SOTA (200 mg) or a similarly looking inactive tablet (placebo) every day for 3 years followed by 2-months without treatment. Neither the participants nor the study staff will know whether a person was assigned to taking SOTA or the inactive tablet. Kidney function at the end of the study will be compared between the two treatment groups to see whether SOTA prevented kidney function loss in those treated with this drug as compared to those who took the inactive tablet. The DKA prevention program will include participant education, close follow-up with study staff, continuous glucose monitoring, and systematic ketone body self-monitoring with a meter provided by the study. If successful, this study will provide efficacy and safety data that could be used to seek FDA approval of SOTA for the prevention of kidney function decline in patients with T1D and DKD.

The purpose of the study is to assess the amount of Eloralintide (LY3841136) that reaches the bloodstream and the time it takes for the body to get rid of it when given to participants with renal (kidney) impairment and to healthy participants. The study drug will be administered subcutaneously (SC) (under the skin). For each participant, the study will last about 14 weeks, excluding screening.

The primary objective is to assess the safety of the addition of venetoclax to reduced intensity conditioning for HLA-matched and haploidentical combined HSC and kidney transplantation as measured by stable full donor hematopoiesis and absence of CTCAE grade IV or V toxicity attributable to venetoclax.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the health effects of expanded hemodialysis in patients receiving hemodialysis. The main question it aims to answer is: 1\) Does expanded hemodialysis reduce the risk of death from any cause? Researchers will compare expanded hemodialysis to conventional hemodialysis (the treatment currently used for the majority of patients receiving hemodialysis) to see if expanded hemodialysis works to improve patient outcomes. Participants will continue to receive their regularly scheduled hemodialysis treatments using either a super high-flux/expanded dialysis filter or a high-flux/conventional dialysis filter. All other aspects of treatments remain the same. No additional tests or visits are required. Data will be obtained using administrative healthcare databases and medical record review (at a subset of participating locations).

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common and serious condition in hospitalized patients, especially when it reaches stages 2 or 3 according to the KDIGO classification. These severe forms are associated with high mortality, a risk of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD), and frequent cardiovascular complications. However, current data on how nephrologists manage these patients during hospitalization-and how these practices influence long-term outcomes-are limited and heterogeneous. The FAKIR study (French AKI Registry) is a prospective, multicenter, non-interventional observational study designed to describe the clinical management of patients admitted to nephrology departments for AKI stage 2 or 3 and to assess their renal and cardiovascular outcomes up to one year. The study hypothesizes that better characterization of in-hospital practices and patient trajectories will help identify predictors of renal recovery, progression to end-stage renal disease, and major cardiovascular events. Patients will be followed during hospitalization and at 3, 6, and 12 months to assess renal function, mortality, cardiovascular events, and rehospitalizations. This registry aims to provide real-life, multicenter data to support future guidelines and the development of structured post-AKI care pathways.

The use of contrast media (CM) poses a risk of post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI), especially among patients chronic kidney disease (CKD). International guidelines recommend intravenous (IV) hydration with isotonic 0.9% NaCl for three-four hours pre-contrast and four-six hours post-contrast. Recent studies have proven that oral hydration or no hydration is non-inferior to IV hydration in patients with mild to moderate CKD (eGFR 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m2). However, no randomized controlled trials have evaluated alternative hydration methods against the guideline-recommended hydration protocol for the prevention of PC-AKI in high-risk patients with severe CKD (eGFR \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2). Thus, the main focus of this trial is to evaluate IV hydration vs. oral hydration for their efficacy to prevent of PC-AKI in patients with severe CKD, who are scheduled for an elective contrast-enhanced CT-scan (CECT) with IV contrast-administration. Our research hypotheses consist of the following: 1. Oral hydration with bottled tap water is non-inferior to IV-hydration with isotonic 0.9% NaCl as renal prophylaxis to prevent PC-AKI in patients with severe CKD referred for an elective IV CECT. 2. NGAL and cfDNA are early and precise plasma and urinary biomarkers of PC-AKI with excellent diagnostic and prognostic accuracy for PC-AKI, dialysis, renal adverse events, hospitalization, progression in CKD-symptoms, and all-cause mortality.

The goal of this first-in-human clinical trial is to examine the safety and efficacy of treatment with a new peritoneal dialysis (PD) device called WEAKID (WEarable Artificial KIDney for peritoneal dialysis). This device, unlike conventional PD, allows for continuous flow of dialysate inside the abdominal cavity combined with continuous regeneration of spent dialysate thanks to sorbents that remove toxins from the fluid. The study will include PD patients of 18 years or older with a well-functioning peritoneal catheter and no history of a PD-related infection for at least eight weeks prior to enrolment. The main purpose of this study is to assess the (short-term) safety of the WEAKID system in a limited number (n=12) of patients and sessions. Participants will undergo six treatment sessions (of four or eight hours) in total over a period of two weeks, either with or without a sorbent chamber. Participants will be asked to collect urine and dialysate the week before the first treatment and during the treatment days. In addition, blood samples will be collected before and during the treatment weeks in order to compare the effects of conventional PD with that of WEAKID treatment. A peritoneal equilibrium test will also be done before and after the treatment weeks to test the function of the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneal membrane).

During end-stage kidney disease, clinical guidelines suggest reducing elevated phosphate levels in the blood. However, the effect of lowering blood phosphate levels on important patient-centred outcomes has never been tested. This trial will evaluate whether compared to high levels, lowering blood phosphate levels would reduce death or major events due to heart disease, improve physical health, and be cost-effective.

Patients with kidney failure who require hemodialysis often suffer from anemia (low red blood cell count), heart and blood vessel problems, and a condition involving poor nutrition, inflammation, and hardening of the arteries (called MIA syndrome). Standard treatments for anemia often involve injections and iron supplements. This study aims to see if a newer oral medication, Roxadustat, works better than these standard treatments not only for anemia but also for improving cardiovascular health and the MIA syndrome. Participants in the study will be randomly assigned (like by chance) to one of two groups. One group will receive Roxadustat, while the other group will continue with their conventional anemia treatment. Researchers will compare the effects on heart function, markers of nutrition and inflammation, and anemia levels in both groups over a 6-month period.

A central goal of this data repository is to collect data from a large population of subjects with a variety of renal disease states. Cohorts will include subjects with diabetes, inflammatory/autoimmune and transplant related renal conditions. Additionally, the repository will have the capacity to store biospecimens and electronic data in control subjects without established renal disease. This initiative will provide an opportunity to compare data from various disease states and controls with the objective of determining clinical and biological factors that predict disease progression, response to therapy and identify discriminating noninvasive clinical and biological features that predict renal biopsy findings.

This study is research to find out if the drug pentoxifylline can help prevent or lessen the problem of blood vessel hardening (vascular calcification) in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). People with CKD are at higher risk for heart problems and blood vessel hardening. Vascular calcification happens when calcium builds up in the blood vessels, making them stiff. Pentoxifylline is a drug that might have helpful effects that could reduce this hardening. In this study, some CKD patients will receive pentoxifylline in addition to their usual medications, while others will only receive their usual medications. The researchers will then compare the amount of vascular calcification in both groups over 6 months to see if pentoxifylline makes a difference. The goal is to learn if pentoxifylline could be a new way to protect the blood vessels of people with chronic kidney disease.

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a virtual reality (VR)-guided mindfulness intervention for caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Thirty ESKD caregivers will be randomly assigned to either a 6-week VR-guided mindfulness intervention or a sham VR control group. The study will assess changes in caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and mindfulness using validated questionnaires. Feasibility outcomes, including recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant experiences, will also be evaluated. The findings will inform the design of a future larger-scale trial and may lead to the development of an accessible, technology-based support option for ESKD caregivers.

This is a multi-center, two-part study; Part A and Part B. Part A of the study is an open-label, single-dose pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluation of 100 mg RVX000222 on dialysis and non-dialysis days in eight (8) End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients who receive hemodialysis as standard of care. Part B of the study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in up to thirty six (36) ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis using a sequential cross-over design with RVX000222 at a daily oral dose of 100 mg b.i.d. (200 mg per day) or matching placebo in combination with SoC. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate if treatment with RVX000222 in combination with standard of care (SoC) decreases plasma alkaline phosphatase in comparison to placebo and SoC.

RBC transfusion (RBCT) after kidney transplantation(KT) is about 50%. Anemia is common after kidney transplant surgery due to intraoperative blood loss, delayed graft function, and side effects of immunosuppressive drugs. However, due to exposure to non-self human leukocyte antigens (HLA) from blood transfusion, there is a risk of sensitization to HLA through the production of anti-HLA antibodies. In renal transplant patients, exposure to non-self HLA antigens due to RBCT can lead to the generation of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) against renal allograft donors. Patients who have undergone KT are frequently exposed to RBCT, and immunologic damage resulting from this can be an important cause of loss of graft kidney function. Therefore, there should be a more careful review of the risk associated with RBCT on KT recipients. Of the 16,191 Koreans who underwent KT between 2008 and 2017, 59.7% received transplant-related blood transfusions. As a result of analyzing 13,871 Koreans who underwent KT between 2007 and 2015, the overall graft failure rate was 15.5%, and the hazard ratio of survival rate according to RBCT before and after KT increased as the amount of transfusion increased. RBCT before and after KT was independently associated with graft failure and death. Therefore, research on treatment methods that can effectively reduce blood transfusion in transplant patients is absolutely necessary. About 30-60% of patients undergoing major surgery show preoperative anemia, which causes blood transfusions, complications during hospitalization, prolonged hospitalization, and delayed recovery. The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. In particular, an increase in hepcidin, a major regulator of iron metabolism, reduces intestinal iron absorption and promotes iron sequestering by macrophages, resulting in a state of functional iron deficiency. Therefore, oral iron intake as a treatment for anemia in surgical patients is not effective. Although the safety and clinical superiority of high-dose intravenous iron therapy have been demonstrated in patients with chronic renal failure, the effect of this drug on blood transfusion of pre- and post-kidney transplant surgery has not been studied. Therefore, this study aims to verify the effectiveness and stability of the combined administration of intravenous(IV) iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents(ESA) before and after KT for patients who perform KT for end-stage kidney disease(ESKD). The investigators will analyze hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, ferritin changes, and transfusion requirements according to the combined administration of IV iron and ESA before and after surgery of kidney transplant patients. Also, the investigators evaluate whether a treatment combining IV iron and ESA will be possible as an alternative blood transfusion treatment and its effect on the clinical prognosis of KT recipients. In particular, the effect on the function of the graft kidney, immunological outcomes-DSA, antibody-mediated rejection, and survival rate will be analyzed. Also, the investigators will analyze the change in expression of hepcidin and oxidative stress markers before and after kidney transplantation and the mechanism of expression according to the combined administration of IV iron and ESA. This study is a multicenter(including 3 centers), open-label, prospective, and randomized clinical trial. 302 patients undergoing living-donor KT for ESKD are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an experimental group actively using IV iron and ESA, and a control group receiving conventional anemia treatment for 42 months from the time of IRB approval. Participants selected for the experimental group will be given a total of 1000 mg of IV Monofer(iron isomaltoside); each 200 mg dose on 28, 21, and 7 days before kidney transplantation, on the day of surgery, and 7 days after surgery. In the case of ESA, it is freely used according to the criteria up to 7 days before transplantation and subcutaneously injected with 120 mcg of Mircera(methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta) between 7 days before surgery and a day before surgery. In the control group, IV Monofer is administered only 28 days before surgery according to the set criteria. Mircera is also freely used in the control group according to the criteria up to 7 days before KT but not used between 7 days before surgery and a day before surgery.