5 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The overarching goal of this study is to determine the role of chronic kidney disease and the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system during hemodialysis on the development of mitochondrial dysfunction; the investigators will measure mitochondrial function using the gold standard method, 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The investigators will test the hypothesis that endogenous bradykinin promotes mitochondrial dysfunction in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The investigators will first perform a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study measuring the effect of Icatibant (HOE-140), a bradykinin B2 receptor blocker, on mitochondrial function.
Self-management intervention may decrease symptom burden and improve functioning over time.
A majority of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on in-center hemodialysis (HD) require several hours to recover from fatigue after an HD session. Evidence for practical interventions to improve this recovery time from conventional in-center HD is lacking. This study investigates the effects of reducing HD blood flow rates on patients' self-reported post-dialysis fatigue.
Depression is present in about 20-30% of hemodialysis patients and is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, depression is inadequately diagnosed and treated among dialysis patients. This is due in part to the overlap between depressive symptoms (e.g. appetite change, trouble sleeping, feeling tired) and symptoms related to persistent metabolic derangements in hemodialysis patients (e.g. nausea, nocturnal cramps, feeling washed out after treatment). The overlap between depressive symptoms and dialysis-related complications makes it difficult to diagnose and therefore to treat depression. In addition, prescription of antidepressant medication may increase an already high pill burden and result in poor adherence. Moreover, the evidence base to guide depression treatment among hemodialysis patients is limited. In the investigators' previous work, they developed methods to use latent variables and structural equation modeling to isolate depressive symptoms. Other investigators have demonstrated that directly observed treatment enhances the effectiveness of tuberculosis and HIV treatment. Investigators now propose a cross-sectional study (Phase 1) followed by a single-arm clinical trial (Phase 2) at 17 dialysis facilities. The cross-sectional study will involve assessments of depressive symptoms (using the PHQ-9 screening instrument) as well as dialysis-related complications, anxiety, and quality of life (Quality of Life Questionnaire) in about 1083 patients. Investigators will then use structural equation modeling to develop and validate a hemodialysis-specific PHQ-9 (hdPHQ-9) that will isolate depressive symptoms. The trial will involve 96 patients with confirmed depression who will be assigned to directly observed weekly antidepressant treatment with fluoxetine. The primary outcome of the trial will be remission of depression at 12 weeks. The trial results will also be used to compare the responsiveness of the PHQ-9 and the hdPHQ-9. Investigators anticipate that the hdPHQ-9 will be a valid and responsive instrument that will isolate depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients and ultimately improve the screening and diagnosis of depression. Investigators also expect that directly observed weekly fluoxetine treatment will be an effective way to manage depression among hemodialysis patients.
Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at significantly higher risk for death due to cardiovascular disease. Those with paradoxical increases in blood pressure (BP) during hemodialysis (HD), defined as intradialytic hypertension (IDH), are at even greater risk of cardiovascular mortality. This study seeks to determine the mechanisms that underlie IDH, and whether mindfulness meditation might improve BP during dialysis in these patients. The investigators will first determine if increased adrenaline levels during volume removal contributes to IDH. The investigators will then determine lack of suppression of adrenaline levels in the setting of a high BP also contributes to IDH. This will be done by manipulating blood pressure by using small amounts of vasoactive drugs, and determining if an appropriate response in adrenaline levels occurs. Lastly, the investigators will determine if an intradialytic mindfulness meditation program improves BP and adrenaline levels in ESRD patients with IDH.