Clinical Research Directory

Exercise and Cardiac Stunning During HD

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a 12-week cycling during hemodialysis program on hemodialysis-induced myocardial stunning in adult individuals receiving hemodialysis.

Staged Kidney Transplantation During Combined Heart/Kidney Transplantation

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ex vivo machine perfusion with staged implantation of kidney allografts during combined heart/kidney transplantation.

Symptom Management in Patients on Dialysis

This is a parallel arm, pilot study used to examine the feasibility of electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePROMs) for symptom assessment and monitoring as well as a linked self-management support and decision support information hub (https://symptomcare.org) to facilitate symptom management for patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Two dialysis centers will be included in the study, with one center receiving SUPPORT-Dialysis (intervention arm) and the other receiving standard care (control arm).

The Effect of Increasing Dialysate Calcium on T50 in Subjects With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and ESKD

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. High parathyroid hormone (PTH) from secondary hyperparathyroidism leads to increased efflux of phosphate and calcium from bone, which exacerbates vascular calcification and increases the risk of bone fractures. The main driving factor for secondary hyperparathyroidism is hypocalcaemia caused by low levels of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and pharmacological supplementation with activated vitamin D and oral calcium-containing phosphate-binders are used to control secondary hyperparathyroidism. The amount of calcium used in this context is controversial, as higher calcium load in blood may theoretically increase vascular calcification. Conversely, by alleviating the efflux of phosphate and calcium from bone due to secondary hyperparathyroidism, increasing the load of calcium might actually prevent vascular calcification. To study this further, we wish to conduct a randomised double-blinded controlled clinical trial of increasing dialysate Ca from 1.25 mmol/L (standard dialysate concentration) to 1.50 mmol/L in patients with ESKD and secondary hyperparathyroidism on maintenance haemodialysis (HD). The overall effect of increased dialysate calcium will be gauged by its effect on serum calcification propensity (T50) and on markers of bone turnover.

Percutaneous Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Insertion (PREDICT)

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the most frequent modality of home dialysis for patients with kidney failure. Most PD catheters are placed using a laparoscopic technique. This approach requires the availability of a qualified surgeon, time in the operating theater and general anaesthesia for the patient. Thus, the laparoscopic technique is less suitable for patients with severe heart failure or multimorbidity where general anaesthesia is not possible. PD catheters can also be inserted using a percutaneous strategy using a modified Seldinger technique. This strategy can be performed bedside under local anaesthesia, by the nephrologist, radiologist, a surgeon, physician assistant or qualified nurse. The availability of the percutaneous implantation strategy of a PD catheter in a nephrology center may accomodate more patients to receive a PD catheter insertion, including those who have a contraindication to general anaesthesia or need urgent PD. The PREDICT project aims to increase knowledge and competencies on percutaneous PD catheter insertions by training centers for this technique. By establisching a prospective registry, the outcomes of percutaneously inserted PD catheters, both in experienced and newly trained centers, will be assessed.