Proteinuria and Renal Perfusion in Renal Transplant Recipients

Sponsor
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT06051812
Collaborator
(none)
25
1
40
0.6

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the major cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients, with the rate of cardiac death 10-times higher than that of the general population. An independent association between post-transplant proteinuria and cardiovascular risk has been previously reported. Diseased native kidneys with residual urine output or the transplanted kidney could be the source of proteinuria following renal transplantation. A clear differentiation of the source of proteinuria (native kidneys versus allograft) could be important for appropriate management.

Proteinuria from native kidneys falls rapidly after renal transplantation, and persistent or worsening proteinuria is usually indicative of allograft pathology. The mechanisms behind the resolution of proteinuria of native kidney origin in the early post-transplant period are not well described.

An association between vascular parameters of the macrocirculation and post-transplant proteinuria has been described. To the best of our knowledge no data is available describing a link between post-transplant proteinuria and vascular parameters of the microcirculation.

In this study our goal is to analyze in a clinical trial in patients with end stage renal disease and residual urine output the relationship between proteinuria and renal perfusion of native kidneys before and after renal transplantation. In addition the investigators analyse if pre or post-transplant proteinuria is associated vascular and circulatory changes in the retinal circulation.

Our hypothesis is that renal perfusion of native kidneys correlates with early post-transplant proteinuria. Moreover the investigators hypothesize that post-transplant proteinuria is associated with vascular remodeling processes of the microcirculation 2 and 4 to 12 months after transplantation. To prove this hypothesis the investigators aim to include 25 pre kidney transplant patients of our living donor kidney transplantation program.

Total duration of this study for each patient is 5-12 months with total 4 visits, of which all are performed at the Clinical Research Center of the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. This study is important to better understand the mechanisms behind the fall of proteinuria after renal transplantation and the association between post-transplant proteinuria and cardiovascular risk.

Detailed Description

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Although renal transplantation is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality compared to chronic dialysis, cardiovascular disease remains one of the major cause of mortality in this population, with the rate of cardiac death 10-times higher than that of the general population. Proteinuria is not only considered as a diagnostic marker of renal disease in both native as well as the transplanted kidney, but also is widely described as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in general population. Analogous to its impact in the general population, an independent association between post-transplant proteinuria and cardiovascular risk has been previously reported. The prevalence of proteinuria in renal transplant recipients is reported between 10% and 45%. Fernandez-Fresnedo et al. demonstrated that persistent proteinuria doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients. Diseased native kidneys with residual urine output or the transplanted kidney could be the source of proteinuria following renal transplantation. A clear differentiation of the source of proteinuria (native kidneys versus allograft) is important for appropriate management.

Proteinuria from native kidneys falls rapidly after renal transplantation, and persistent or worsening proteinuria is usually indicative of allograft pathology. The mechanisms behind the resolution of proteinuria of native kidney origin in the early post-transplant period are not well described. CNI-induced renal vasoconstriction causing reduction in urine output from the native kidneys may be an explanation for the early resolution of native kidney proteinuria. However, the resolution of proteinuria of native kidney origin post-transplant have been reported in the pre-cyclosporine era.

An association between vascular parameters of the macrocirculation and post-transplant proteinuria has been described. High-grade post-transplant proteinuria has been found to be associated with higher pulse wave velocity, which is a marker of arterial stiffness of large arteries. Up to our knowledge no data is available describing a link between post-transplant proteinuria and vascular parameters of the microcirculation. In this study our goal is to analyze in a clinical trial in patients with end stage renal disease and residual urine output the relationship between proteinuria and renal perfusion of native kidneys before and after renal transplantation. In addition the investigators analyse if pre- or post-transplant proteinuria is associated with vascular and circulatory changes in the retinal circulation.

This study is a single-centre clinical study with 25 pre-kidney transplant patients of our living donor kidney transplantation program. This is an exploratory and non-confirmatory study, in which the investigators analyse renal perfusion of native kidneys in patients with end stage renal disease before and after kidney transplantation. Our hypothesis is that renal perfusion of native kidneys correlates with early post-transplant proteinuria. Moreover the investigators hypothesize that post-transplant proteinuria is associated with vascular remodeling processes of the microcirculation 2 and 4-12 months after transplantation.

Study Design

Study Type:
Observational
Anticipated Enrollment :
25 participants
Observational Model:
Cohort
Time Perspective:
Prospective
Official Title:
A Prospective, Observational, Non-interventional, Single-center Study to Analyze the Relationship Between Proteinuria and Renal Perfusion in Renal Transplant Recipients
Actual Study Start Date :
Sep 2, 2021
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Sep 30, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Dec 31, 2024

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Perfusion of native kidneys measured by ASL-MRI [change from baseline perfusion of native kidneys at 2 months after renal transplantation]

    The primary objective of the study is to analyze is to measure renal perfusion of native kidneys before and after renal transplantation

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Perfusion of transplant kidney measured by ASL-MRI [2 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze perfusion of renal transplant

  2. Wall to lumen ratio of retinal arterioles by SLDF measurement [change from baseline Wall to lumen ratio of retinal arterioles at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze wall to lumen ratio of retinal arterioles before and after renal transplant

  3. Retinal capillary flow determined by SLDF measurement [change from baseline retinal capillary flow at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze retinal capillary flow before and after renal transplant

  4. Central systolic pressure assessed by Sphygmocor XCEL [change from baseline central systolic pressure at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze central systolic pressure before and after renal transplant

  5. Pulse pressure assessed by Sphygmocor XCEL [change from baseline pulse pressure at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze pulse pressure before and after renal transplant

  6. Pulse wave velocity assessed by Sphygmocor XCEL [change from baseline pulse wave velocity at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze pulse wave velocity before and after renal transplant

  7. estimated glomerular filtration rate assessed in our central lab [change from baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze estimated glomerular filtration rate before and after renal transplant

  8. Cystatin C assessed in our central lab [change from baseline Cystatin C at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze Cystatin C before and after renal transplant

  9. Urinary albumin creatinine ratio assessed in our central lab [change from baseline urinary albumine creatinine ratio at 2 months and 12 months after renal transplantation]

    analyze Urinary albumin creatinine ratio before and after renal transplant in both spot and 24-h urine

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Age of 18 - 75 years

  • Male and Female patients

  • Patients evaluated and accepted for living donor kidney transplantation with residual urine output of at least 500 ml/24 hours

  • Informed consent has to be given in written form

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Patients in unstable conditions due to any kind of serious disease, that infers with the conduction of the trial

  • active Drug or alcohol abuse

  • Pregnant and breast-feeding patients

  • Body mass index > 35 kg/m²

  • Subjects who do not give written consent, that pseudonymous data will be transferred in line with the duty of documentation and the duty of notification according to § 12 and § 13 GCP-V

  • Implanted pacemakers or defibrillators

  • Other implanted metallic devices, which are not MRI compatible

  • Claustrophobia

  • Any other relevant clinical contraindication of MRI examination

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Clinical Research Center, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Erlangen Germany 91054

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Investigators

None specified.

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Additional Information:

Publications

Responsible Party:
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT06051812
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • TxASL2020
First Posted:
Sep 25, 2023
Last Update Posted:
Sep 25, 2023
Last Verified:
Jul 1, 2023
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Sep 25, 2023