Clinical Research Directory

Pathogenesis of Glomerulosclerosis

The present protocol seeks to advance our understanding of sclerosing glomerular and tubulointerstitial kidney diseases, including but not limited to variants of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). This protocol will encompass studies of the natural history, pathogenesis and treatment of these chronic kidney disorders. It will also allow us to: (1) provide second opinions to referring physicians about management of subjects with these relatively rare kidney diseases; (2) collect research samples (e.g., blood), urine, and kidney tissue obtained from clinically-indicated or from research renal biopsies); (3) and treat these subjects with standard or other approved therapies; or (4) invite selected subjects patients to participate in limited pilot studies of novel combinations of standard therapeutic agents, such as rituximab and cyclosporine. (5) Agricultural worker chronic kidney disease of undetermined etiology (CKDu) is a growing problem in tropical countries in the Americas and Asia, including Sri Lanka where collaborators are located. We will receive kidney tissue from 25 CKDu cases for pathologic examination and transcriptional profiling and blood, plasma, serum, urine for metabolomic and genetic analysis from 50 cases and controls. Subjects were consented and samples were collected under a protocol approved by the University of Colombo IRB. These studies may provide the opportunity to generate new hypotheses regarding pathogenesis and treatment that would be candidates for testing in other research protocols. Subjects with known or suspected forms of sclerosing glomerular or chronic, fibrosing tubulointerstitial kidney diseases will undergo routine medical evaluation, laboratory testing, imaging procedures and kidney biopsies as medically indicated. Selected subjects will be invited to provide informed consent to undergo a kidney biopsy for research purposes. Blood, urine, and tissue samples will be evaluated both for standard diagnostic purposes and for research purposes using specialized molecular methods that may provide insights into specific disease pathogenesis. Subjects may elect to receive the results of their kidney disease evaluation, NIH treatment recommendations, and return to the care of their referring physicians. Other subjects may be treated with either conventional or approved agents, or (with separate consent) with a novel combination of conventional therapies (rituximab and cyclosporine) as part of pilot studies that would involve long-term follow-up care at the NIH.

Rituximab Plus Cyclosporine in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Background: * Membranous nephropathy is associated with damage to the walls of the glomeruli, the small blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste products from the blood. This damage causes leakage of blood proteins into the urine and is associated with low blood protein levels, high blood cholesterol values, and swelling of the legs. These problems can decrease or go away without treatment in about 25 percent of patients, but if they persist, some patients may experience impaired (or loss of) kidney function, blood vessel and heart disease, and a risk of forming blood clots in veins. * Kidney biopsies that show that antibodies have been deposited along the glomeruli suggest that specialized cells of the immune system, called B and T cells, are causing damage to the kidneys through their increased activity. To suppress the action of B and T cells and to decrease the harmful deposits in the kidneys, drug treatments are required. * Patients with membranous nephropathy are often treated with immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine or cytoxan plus steroids that attempt to reduce or suppress the activity of the immune system, decrease antibody production, and reduce antibody deposits in the kidney. However, not everyone responds to these medications and the kidney disease can return in some patients when the drugs are stopped. Also, there are side effects associated with long term usage of these medications. Rituximab, a different immunosuppressant, has also been used for this purpose. Although cyclosporine and Rituximab have been used separately, they have not been tried in combination as a possible treatment for membranous nephropathy. Objectives: \- To determine the safety and effectiveness of combining rituximab and cyclosporine to treat membranous nephropathy. Eligibility: \- Individuals 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with membranous nephropathy based on a kidney biopsy done within the preceding 24 months, and who have had excess levels of protein in the urine for at least 6 months based on urine and blood tests. Design: * Potential participants will be screened with an initial clinic evaluation and full medical history. * Before the treatment, there will be a run-in period that will last up to 2 months. During this time, participants will be placed on a blood pressure lowering medication and will not take any other immunosuppressant medications. * Participants will visit the NIH clinical center for a baseline evaluation, four intravenous infusions of rituximab, and also at 1- to 6-month intervals throughout the study. * Active treatment period will involve a 6-month course of cyclosporine and a total of four doses of rituximab. Participants will take cyclosporine tablets twice daily, and have two infusions of rituximab given 2 weeks apart, After 6 months, the cyclosporine dose will slowly be decreased over several weeks and then completely discontinued. Participants will then receive another course (two doses 2 weeks apart) of rituximab, depending on results of blood work. * Participants will have frequent blood and urine tests performed to monitor the results of treatment and reduce the chance of side effects.

Open-label Extension Study of Zigakibart in Adults With IgA Nephropathy.

The purpose of this study is to determine if zigakibart is safe and effective for long-term use in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). This is an extension study for patients who have already completed an another zigakibart study.

Efficacy and Safety Study of HS-10542 for IgA Nephropathy

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study and is being conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HS-10542 capsules for primary IgA nephropathy.

Interview Study of Adult and Child Patients and Parents of Children With Swelling Due to Nephrotic Syndrome.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and Northwestern University are studying people's experiences with swelling caused by Nephrotic Syndrome. Interviews with patients (child and adult) and parents of young children will be conducted. The information collected from the interviews will be used to develop a survey to use when testing new medications for Nephrotic Syndrome. Please consider participating in a 1-hour long interview with the Prepare-NS research study to discuss children and adults experiences with swelling.

The Impact of Glomerular Disorders on Bone Quality and Strength

The primary objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the impact of glomerular disease on bone strength and (2) investigate the pathophysiologic underpinnings of impaired bone strength in glomerular disease.

KOrea Renal Biobank NEtwoRk System TOward NExt-generation Analysis

Glomerulonephritis (GN) generates an enormous individual and social economic burden. However, the therapeutic options are largely based on clinical and pathological parameters and the individual response to therapy or prognosis is uncertain. Recently, along with advances in molecular analysis and computational bioinformatics, genomic data from human renal biopsies could provide a strong foundation for the future of precision medicine in nephrology. In response to a request for applications by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea for the creation of Clinical Research Registry, multi-center N network has been established for prospective cohort with kidney biopsy samples (KORNERSTONE). Through this Network the investigators hope to understand the fundamental biology of glomerulonephritis and aim to bank long-term observational data and corresponding biological data including genomic data from kidney tissues, and kidney pathologic data which is digitalized This database is archived to a web-based platform to access easily and further enrich for researchers.