Clinical Research Directory

Fluid Balance Guided by Modified Venous Excess Ultrasonography Versus Standard Care in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to compare the cumulative fluid balance over the first 72 h following inclusion guided by mVExUS versus standard of care in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury receiving CRKT . It will also compare the proportion of CRRT-related complications-including intradialytic hypotension and arrhythmias-between patients managed with mVExUS-guided fluid management and those receiving standard care. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does fluid removal rate guided by mVExUS will reduce cumulative fluid balance over the course of the first 72 h of CRRT in ICU patients compared to standard care Participants will: Get fluid assessment by mVExUS protocol or a strandard care every 8 hours for 72 hours

Efficacy and Safety of SP16 in Preventing Acute Kidney Injury in At-risk Subjects With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery Using the Heart-lung-machine

This clinical study investigates the safety and potential effectiveness of the investigational drug SP16 in preventing acute kidney injury in patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease who are undergoing cardiac surgery involving the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung machine). SP16 is an investigational medicinal product that has not yet been approved for clinical use. To date, it has been studied in 28 individuals. The sponsor aims to evaluate whether SP16 can safely reduce or prevent kidney damage associated with the inflammatory and ischemia-reperfusion processes that may occur during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Participation in the study extends over a period of slightly more than five months. Screening procedures are performed within approximately seven weeks to two days before the scheduled surgery to determine eligibility for participation. During the hospitalization for cardiac surgery, which is expected to last approximately 10 days, a total of 11 study visits are conducted. Follow-up assessments include a telephone contact approximately one month after hospital discharge and a final on-site study visit approximately three months after discharge. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either SP16 or a placebo, which contains no active ingredient. Neither the participants nor the investigators know which treatment has been assigned during the study period. Based on previous preclinical and early clinical findings, SP16 may have the potential to reduce or mitigate kidney injury caused by the use of the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery. However, since the efficacy of SP16 has not yet been proven, no clinical benefit can be guaranteed. Participants receiving placebo are not expected to derive a direct therapeutic benefit from study treatment.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, Impact on Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay

This large national cohort study, including over 500,000 patients, where around 5% are treated with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) , aims to evaluate the association between time to initiation of CRRT and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS).

Urine Output Response to Fluid and Diuretic Therapy in Cardiac ICU Patients Monitored With FIZE kUO®

This prospective observational study evaluates the real-time urine output response to fluid therapy and diuretics in cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU) patients monitored with the FIZE kUO® device. The study aims to assess how continuous urine output monitoring can inform fluid management and improve patient outcomes post-cardiac surgery.

Venous Return Pressure Gradient as a Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication in the ICU. Current diagnostic indicators (such as creatinine and urine output) exhibit significant lag, and specific hemodynamic predictive markers are lacking. The venous return pressure gradient (Pmsf-CVP), based on Guyton's theory, reflects the driving pressure for venous return; however, its value in the early warning of AKI remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of the venous return pressure gradient for the onset and progression of AKI in ICU patients, and to clarify its effectiveness as an AKI risk warning indicator. Patients admitted to the ICU within 48 hours with risk factors for AKI (including sepsis, shock, major surgery, underlying diseases, etc.) who have radial artery catheterization and can undergo hemodynamic monitoring will be enrolled. Those undergoing maintenance dialysis/CRRT, ECMO support, or with missing core data precluding calculation of Pmsf-CVP or AKI assessment will be excluded. The venous return pressure gradient (Pmsf-CVP, mmHg) will be measured within 48 hours of ICU admission using the transient stop-flow arm arterial-venous equilibrium pressure method. The primary outcome is to evaluate the association between the venous return pressure gradient level and AKI occurrence. Secondary outcomes include correlation analyses between the venous return pressure gradient level and serum creatinine and urine output within 48 hours of ICU admission, among others.

Tailored MgSO4 Supplementation to Reduce Complications in Pediatric Heart Surgery

Lay Summary This study tests two ways of measuring blood magnesium after heart surgery. Children who need heart surgery may have heart and kidney problems after surgery. The right amount of magnesium in blood reduces this risk. This study will test the best way to measure magnesium. This will let doctors choose the right dose of MgSO4. MgSO4 is a magnesium supplement. Taking MgSO4 after heart surgery helps children. For each child, it is best to personalize MgSO4 dose. This is based on the amount of magnesium in blood. This study will test two ways of personalizing MgSO4 dose. In the blood, there are two kinds of magnesium. Usually, blood magnesium tests measure both forms together. This does not say anything about active magnesium. This study will measure the two forms separately. Then, MgSO4 will be given based on either the active or whole magnesium. Measuring active magnesium is good. Active magnesium levels change faster than total. That means active magnesium tests may better protect children. Also, active magnesium has more of an impact on heart and kidney function. Focusing on the active form will help these organs stay healthy. To test how well the MgSO4 is working, heart and kidneys will be examined. After surgery, certain harmful heart rhythms can occur. The types and number of harmful rhythms will be studied. Kidney problems can also happen after heart surgery. Kidney health will be studied. To help understand how active magnesium works, further tests will be done. These tests will look for evidence of poor health in the cells that make up the heart, kidney, and blood.

The Relationship Between Measured Creatinine Clearance and Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients

With this study, the investigators want to find out how well different stages of acute kidney injury (AKI), match with the actual filtering ability of the kidneys in very sick adults in the intensive care unit (ICU). Kidney function will be measured using a urine test that estimates how much waste the kidneys can clear from the blood. The investigators will also compare two ways of diagnosing and staging AKI: one based on how much urine a person makes, and the other based on blood creatinine levels (a waste product that rises when kidney function worsens). In addition, the investigators will examine how factors that can be changed (such as treatments or medications) and factors that cannot be changed (such as age or existing health conditions) may affect this relationship. Finally, the investigators will look at whether drops in kidney function are linked to problems like high potassium levels in the blood and a buildup of acid in the body.

rhBNP for Prevention of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (CSA-AKI)

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a common and serious perioperative complication, independently associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased mortality, and progression to chronic kidney disease. Despite advances in surgical techniques and postoperative care, no widely accepted pharmacological prevention strategy exists. Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) exerts vasodilatory, diuretic, and natriuretic effects, reduces cardiac preload and afterload, and has demonstrated safety and efficacy in treating congestive heart failure. Preliminary studies suggest rhBNP may reduce postoperative serum creatinine, increase urine output, and improve renal outcomes; however, large-scale randomized controlled evidence is lacking. The PROTECT-CS trial is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of perioperative continuous intravenous rhBNP infusion (0.01 μg/kg/min for 48 ± 2 hours) for prevention of AKI in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. A total of 694 participants will be enrolled across 7 centers in China.

Quasi-Randomized Evaluation of the UCLA Next Day Clinic (NDC)

The Next Day Clinic (NDC) is a quality improvement initiative that will be launched and operated by UCLA Health starting July 22, 2024. Its goals are to improve patient care and safety and to maximize cost effectiveness. The way it does this is by identifying patients in the ED who would normally be admitted for low-acuity conditions, and diverting them to a high-acuity clinic the following day called the NDC. This will help decompress the ED and the hospital, and allow for overall higher quality care. The Health System has partnered with UCLA's Healthcare Value Analytics and Solutions \[UVAS\] group which specializes in these types of program evaluations. The analysis conducted by the study team will be used to directly inform NDC operations, scaling, and future plans.

Personalized Two-stage Regional Citrate Anticoagulation for CRRT in Patients With Citrate Metabolism Impairment

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of an individualized two-stage calcium supplementation method versus a conventional commercial RCA-CRRT module in RCA-CRRT for patients with citrate metabolism disorders.

Perioperative Homocysteine and Postoperative Complications/All-Cause Mortality in Elderly Non-Cardiac Surgery Patients

This study aims to explore the association between perioperative homocysteine (Hcy) levels and their pre-to-postoperative changes with postoperative complications and all-cause mortality in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Besides, the dynamic changes in Hcy levels may reflect metabolic shifts, highlighting their potential value in predicting adverse postoperative outcomes. These findings suggest that monitoring perioperative Hcy levels and their changes could help identify high-risk patients and inform postoperative management strategies.

Outpatient Recovery From Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis - 2

Providing additional information to patients with acute kidney injury who continue dialysis after hospital discharge and to the accepting kidney doctor (nephrologist) who manages their dialysis may be feasible and beneficial. This study will pilot measuring the patient's residual kidney function at the time of discharge and communicating that result to the accepting nephrologist and the patient, along with information on recommended recovery monitoring frequency and criteria for consideration of a twice-weekly hemodialysis schedule.

Post-Marketing Study to Assess the Safety & Efficacy of RenalGuard® Therapy for Prevention CSA-AKI

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effect of RenalGuard Therapy in reducing the rates of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) within 72 hours after cardiac surgery in patients at risk of developing Cardiac Surgery Associated AKI (CSA-AKI) compared to standard-of-care (SoC). Participants will be randomized (1:1) to one of the two study groups. The Treatment study group will be managed with the RenalGuard System. The RenalGuard treatment will start after induction of anesthesiology and will run during surgery and for 6-7 hours in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The treatment will aim to achieve a urine rate above a predefined urine rate threshold. Patients in the control group will be managed based on the usual clinical practice in cardiac surgery centres as detailed in the recommendations for CSA-AKI prevention by accepted clinical guidelines. For both study groups general anaesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) run and overall patient care will be based on SoC for cardiac surgery. Patients will be followed up for up to 7 days post surgery or until discharge, which ever comes first. Long-term follow up will be performed at 90 days post surgery.

Renal Histopathology and Transcriptomic Analysis in Hepatorenal Syndrome During Liver Transplantation

Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication that can occur in patients with liver cirrhosis, characterised by kidney dysfunction, or acute kidney failure (AKI). While it has traditionally been thought that HRS affects structurally normal kidneys and is completely reversible with liver transplantation, recent evidence suggests this may not always be the case. The purpose of this study is to examine the actual structural changes in the kidneys of patients with HRS through tissue biopsy and advanced molecular analysis. This may help us better understand the disease mechanism and potentially improve treatment approaches. We aim to challenge the current understanding that HRS always occurs in structurally normal kidneys and is always reversible after liver transplantation. This study will provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of HRS and may lead to improved diagnostic and treatment strategies in the future. This is a 3-year single center prospective, non-randomised, open label study at Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong. All consecutive patients accepted on the liver transplant waiting list will be invited to participate. Patient will undergo several procedures related to liver transplant and kidney assessment, and receive liver transplantation and renal biopsy.

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Super-resolution Imaging Predict Renal Function Outcome After Nephrectomy

The goal of this prospective cohort study is to evaluate the predictive value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) and Super-Resolution Imaging (SRI) technologies regarding renal function outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can quantitative parameters of renal microcirculation and microvascular structure derived from CEUS and SRI predict long-term renal function (defined as New Baseline eGFR for radical nephrectomy and Recovery from Ischemia for partial nephrectomy)? Can these imaging parameters accurately predict the occurrence, severity, and early recovery of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI)? Researchers will monitor the dynamic evolution of renal blood flow and microvascular density by comparing the affected kidney to the contralateral healthy kidney before and after surgery to see if these biomarkers correlate with clinical outcomes. Participants will: Undergo CEUS and SRI examinations before surgery and at specific time points after surgery (e.g., within 7 days) to visualize renal microvasculature. Provide blood and urine samples for standard laboratory tests (such as serum creatinine and Cystatin C) to assess kidney function during hospitalization. Attend follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-surgery to monitor long-term renal recovery and complete necessary imaging assessments (CT or Ultrasound).

Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Intravenous Administration of Human Albumin Versus Saline Solution in Patients With descompénsate Cirrhosis Grade 1B or Higher Renal Failure

This is a phase IV, unicentric, open-label. Patients eligible for this study will be patients with AKI 1B or greater and decompensated cirrhosis from the hospital participating in the study

To Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Using oXiris and M100 During CRRT

The purpose of this study aimed to compare the efficacy of Oxiris (Baxter) and M100 filters on IL-6 as primary outcomes and other blood cell counts, blood biochemistry (serum urea, creatinine, potassium, sodium), inflammation indicators (CRP, PCT), as secondary outcomes and safety (28 days mortality as a primary outcome and coagulopathy, lifespan of filter, usage of vasopressor, clinical conditions (ventilator-free days, ICU and hospital- length of stay) as a secondary outcome), clinical conditions (ventilator-free days, ICU and hospital- length of stay), and mortality of patients with pneumonia-related AKI.

The Efficacy of Intravenous Amino Acids in Reducing the Occurrence of AKI After Live Donor Liver Transplant

This prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous amino acid infusion in reducing AKI after LDLT. Eligible adult patients undergoing LDLT will be randomized into two groups: one receiving Continuous infusion of a L-amino acids mixture in a dose of 2 g/kg dry body weight/day (to a maximum 100 g/day) after induction of anesthesia and insertion of CVP line till 72 hours after treatment initiation, and the other receiving standard management. The primary outcome is the incidence of AKI as per KDIGO criteria within 7 days of transplant.

A Comparison of Renal vs Limb NIRS for Predicting Cardiac Surgery Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of cardiac surgery that can affect outcome. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a technology that uses light to determine how well oxygenated tissues are. This technology is routinely used in cardiac surgery to measure the oxygen level in the brain by placing a sensor sticker on the forehead. The purpose of the study is to determine whether NIRS sensor stickers placed on the skin over the kidney can predict AKI better than when sensors are placed on the skin over the participant's limbs. This study is being conducted by investigators from the department of anesthesiology at the University of Utah.

Safety & Efficacy of RenalGuard® Therapy in the Prevention of Cardiac Surgery Associated Acute Kidney Injury

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effect of RenalGuard Therapy in reducing the rates of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) within 72 hours after cardiac surgery in patients at risk of developing Cardiac Surgery Associated AKI (CSA-AKI) compared to standard-of-care (SoC). The study is planned to be conducted in 2 clinical sites in the Malaysia - Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and Institut Jantung Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to one of the two study groups. The Treatment study group will be managed with the RenalGuard System. The RenalGuard treatment will start after induction of anesthesiology and will run during surgery and for 6-7 hours in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The treatment will aim to achieve a urine rate above a predefined urine rate threshold. Patients in the control group will be managed based on the usual clinical practice in cardiac surgery centres as detailed in the recommendations for CSA-AKI prevention by accepted clinical guidelines. For both study groups general anaesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) run and overall patient care will be based on SoC for cardiac surgery. Patients will be followed up for up to 7 days post surgery or until discharge, which ever comes first. Long-term follow up will be performed at 90 days post surgery.

Perfusion Related Evaluation of Systemic and Renal Vulnerability to Events in CABG

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether high abdominal pressure or low blood flow pressure to the kidneys is linked to kidney injury after heart surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does high abdominal pressure increase the risk of kidney injury after cardiac surgery? Can low blood flow pressure to the kidneys help predict who may develop kidney problems? Participants in this study are adults undergoing heart surgery, such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or valve surgery. Researchers will measure abdominal pressure and blood pressure continuously before and after surgery using medical devices that are already part of routine care. This study does not involve any changes to standard treatment. Participants will: Have their abdominal and blood pressures continuously monitored using existing devices Have blood and urine tests to check kidney function Be followed during their hospital stay and up to 30 days after surgery to assess outcomes like length of stay, readmission, and survival This study takes place at two hospitals-one in Poland and one in the United States. Researchers hope the findings will help identify early warning signs of kidney injury and improve monitoring practices after heart surgery.

Prophylactic Methylprednisolone for Renal Protection in Cardiac Surgeries With Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The aim of the planned study is to assess the prophylactic effect of intraoperative administration of a single dose of methylprednisolone 2 (mg/kg) in decreasing the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury after cardiac surgeries with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Renal Perfusion and the Development of AKI Following Traumatic Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of traumatic haemorrhagic shock (THS) and together these conditions increase mortality risk. Although septic shock patients who develop severe AKI are known to develop hypoperfusion of the renal cortex, little is known regarding intra-renal perfusion changes in THS. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of THS on renal microcirculatory perfusion.

Efficacy and Safety of Citrate Anticoagulation in CRRT for Patients With Liver Failure/DysfuncTION, the CAUTION Trial! A Retrospective Study on Etiology of Liver Failure and Their Complications

Study design A retrospective cohort study will be conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of citrate anticoagulation in CRRT among patients with liver failure/dysfunction and severe shock. Objectives 1. Primary Objective: To determine if the etiology of liver failure impacts the incidence of citrate-related complications in patients undergoing CRRT. 2. Secondary Objectives: To compare the efficacy of citrate anticoagulation in terms of renal recovery, filter lifespan, and patient survival between those with liver failure/dysfunction and severe shock.