Clinical Research Directory

The RENAL LIFECYCLE Trial: A RCT to Assess the Effect of Dapagliflozin on Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Severe CKD

Rationale: Sodium glucose co transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a relatively new class of agents, originally developed as oral antihyperglycemic drugs. SGLT2 inhibitors are clinically available since 2012 for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Later, SGLT2 inhibitors appeared to have also specific reno- and cardioprotective effects. Remarkably, the trials that have been performed thus far excluded patients with an eGFR below 25 mL/min/1.73m2 at inclusion, prevalent dialysis patients, and kidney transplant recipients. This is unfortunate, because especially these patients are at high risk of reaching kidney failure requiring dialysis, cardiovascular complications and mortality, whereas there are only few proven effective therapies. There is emerging evidence from experimental studies and post hoc-analyses of randomized clinical trials that SGLT2 inhibitors may also be effective in preventing cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in these patients with severe CKD, including patients receiving dialysis or living with a kidney transplant. For instance, subgroup analysis of the DAPA-CKD trial comparing 624 patients with an eGFR\<30 to the remainder of the trial population with better kidney function, demonstrated that the efficacy of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in reducing cardiovascular, heart failure and renal outcomes persisted in the population with impaired kidney function. Furthermore, in the DAPA-CKD trial patients continued to use dapagliflozin or placebo when dialysis was initiated. In the subgroup of patients who initiated dialysis, dapagliflozin was associated with a relative risk reduction for mortality of 21%. Finally, in kidney transplant recipients, SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to be effective in lowering HbA1c, body weight, blood pressure and stabilize kidney function, and these agents were well tolerated and safe. Taken these findings together there is a sound rationale to study the long-term reno- and cardioprotective efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with severe CKD. There are two cardiac sub-studies: the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sub-study and the echocardiography sub-study. The echocardiography sub-study is referred to as the "SGLT-2-inhibitors to Target Heart Failure in Peritoneal Dialysis" (STOP-HF-in-PD) study.

The Use of Urinary Dickkopf 3 (u DKK3) as a New Biomarker Which Can Identify Patients at High Risk of Renal Allograft Dysfunction, Earlier That the Current Established Tests.

Kidney function after a renal transplant is monitored closely, particularly in the first year, as the risk of deterioration in graft function is worrying. Graft dysfunction can lead to chronic kidney failure and graft loss. Currently, renal transplant function is mainly monitored using creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). However, these tests are not sensitive enough to detect small changes in graft function. A new test which can detect graft dysfunction in an early phase would be useful as this would help optimise treatment and prolong survival. Dickkopf -3 (DKK3) is a protein which is released by kidney cells in response to injury. High levels of the DKK3 protein in urine has been shown to have the potential to predict decline in graft function, earlier than the currently available tests, although the results show a mixed picture. Before this test is used routinely, further studies need to be carried out. We want to analyse this protein in multiple urine samples collected over 12 months in our cohort of renal transplant recipients. We will be comparing the urine DKK3 test with our currently available tests to investigate whether this test can identify patients who are at risk of graft dysfunction earlier.

" SAVE Study (Switch AdVagraf® to Envarsus®) for Fast Metabolizers Kidney Transplant Recipients"

The use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) in kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment to prevent episodes of rejection. Nevertheless, CNIs have side effects and are in particular nephrotoxic for the kidney transplant. Monitoring CNI dosages is fundamental for the clinician, in order to find the right balance between toxicity and prevention of rejection. Several recent studies suggest that a Radio Residual Concentration / Dosage (C0 / D) less than 1.05 (patients with rapid metabolizers) is associated with poor graft function (eGFR) and decreased kidney transplant survival. LCPT prolonged-release tacrolimus (Novel Once-Daily Extended-Release Tacrolimus. Prolonged-release tacrolimus: Envarsus®) is a marketed form of tacrolimus with interesting pharmacokinetic properties: daily intake, reduction of the absorption peak (Meltodose® technology ) and reduction of the total CNI dose by 30% to obtain an equivalent CO compared to other molecules on the market (Advagraf®, Prograf®). Thus, the use of LCPT in patients rapid metabolisers in relay of Advagraf® or Prograf® could make it possible to decrease renal toxicity while preserving rejection, by increasing the C0 / D ratio. The investigators propose a pilot study aiming to study a prospective cohort of rapid metabolisers patients put on Envarsus at one month of transplant compared to a historical cohort, in terms of C0 / D ratio, function and survival of the renal graft.

Expanding the Scope of Post-transplant HLA-specific Antibody Detection and Monitoring in Renal Transplant Recipients

The purpose of this study is to assess a new test to detect antibodies which may form following kidney transplant. These antibodies can be difficult to detect as they do not cause any symptoms but can lead to kidney damage. A new blood test will be performed alongside existing antibody tests to see how well the test functions in comparison and to see how well it is able to distinguish between inflammation caused by antibodies and other sorts of inflammation such as a urinary tract infection. The investigators also want to determine whether it is predictable whom will develop antibodies after a transplant and use these results to change the current way patients are monitored for antibodies after receiving a transplant. In addition to this, the investigators want to establish if patients over 60 years of age are relatively protected against immunological events such as rejection compared to patients who are under 60 years of age. The results could potentially lead to using a different immunosuppression regime based on which population age group patients belong to and lowering the risks associated with these drugs.