Controlled Trials on Chronic Kidney Disease: An Insight into Future for Treatments

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that is characterized by a gradual loss of the function of kidney. If kidney disease gets worse, bodily wastes can accumulate to high levels in the blood. This may cause complications such as high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor health and damage of the nerves.

About 30 million American adults suffer with CKD and several millions of people are at high risk of developing the disease. Heart disease is the major reason of death for all people who have CKD. People who are at high risk include those suffering with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney failure.

Depending on the underlying cause of the condition, sometimes kidney disease can be treated. But generally, chronic kidney disease has no cure. If the kidneys become severely damaged, it is generally not possible to cure them. You will then be recommended for an end-stage treatment of the kidney disease. Read about kidney anatomy and functioning.

The effect and safety of the seasonal trivalent Influenza vaccine in Chronic Kidney Disease patients who are not on dialysis is being studies in a clinical investigation. Several studies revealed that the current influenza vaccine might be of minimal effectiveness and had a smaller effect on reducing morbidity and mortality in the end-stage renal disease population than previously thought. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antibody response to each of the three influenza vaccine strains included in the licensed seasonal flu vaccine.

Read about dialysis side effects.

The link between pseudoexfoliation and chronic kidney disease is evaluated in a clinical study. Pseudoexfoliation is characterised by the deposition of fibrillar material in eye structures and many other parts of the body including kidneys and blood vessels. As both PEX and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, there might be a risk of PEX in patients with CKD. The results have not been disclosed as yet though the study has been completed. Patients above the age of 40 with the diagnosis of CKD were considered for the study. Chronic kidney disease was diagnosed as decreased glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m². Demographic properties and the rate of PEX were assesses and compared between the various groups.

Inspiratory muscle training in CKD will also be studied in a trial by Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre. The study is recruiting participants currently. The research will be taken up in the hemodialysis unit of the Santa Clara hospital of Santa Casa de Misericórdia. The selected participants will be randomized into control groups. The patients will first be evaluated, and then the patients in the IMTG will be trained six times per week (three times at hemodialysis unit and three times at home) for five weeks using a linear pressure load device. The overload will be adjusted weekly, beginning with 50% of maximum inspiratory pressure and increasing until 70% along the protocol period. At the end of follow-up, both groups will be compared.

Functional electrical stimulation in Chronic Kidney Disease is being studies in yet another study that is being conducted by Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre. Hemodialysis replaces some level of kidney function, but patients may suffer some alterations such as motor neuropathy and/or autonomic neuropathy, cardiac or musculoskeletal myopathies, peripheral vascular changes, etc. The adoption of physical exercise is therefore recommended. However, it is not known that the ability to exercise the subject in hemodialysis is low and keeping in mind the weakness of the muscular system in these individuals. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on muscle architecture of patients with chronic kidney disease hemodialysis.

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