Queen's University Investigation of Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Kidney disease is a fundamental part of medicine because of its prominence in Western
society. Common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney infections can all
progress to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) also known as Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD
5). Once ESRD has begun, kidney function is poor at best, thus the body is unable to
effectively clear harmful toxins from the blood.
A common feature of ESRD is vascular calcification, a process where blood vessels (especially
arteries) attract deposits of the mineral calcium. Over time, these deposits harden and
thicken in the layers of blood vessels, which limit blood flow to body tissues and can
produce significant disease including hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Although the
process of vascular calcification is unknown, there is mounting evidence that it is mediated
by cellular events that are similar to those seen in bone formation with in the body
(osteogenesis). With this point in mind, it has been suggested that agents medicine employs
to limit excess bone formation will reduce the rate of vascular calcification in CKD Stage 5.
This study will employ one group of drugs called bisphosphonates which have been used to
limit bone formation. It will study their effect on vascular calcification in adult dialysis
patients.