Clinical Research Directory

Aldosterone bloCkade for Health Improvement EValuation in End-stage Renal Disease

Individuals receiving dialysis are at risk of heart failure and heart related death. There is an urgent need for treatments that reduce the risk of these problems in patients that require dialysis. Spironolactone is a pill used to prevent heart failure and related deaths in patients that do not require dialysis. It works by blocking a hormone (aldosterone) in your body that causes high blood pressure and can damage the heart. Although spironolactone is very effective in patients that do not require dialysis, we do not know if spironolactone is effective in dialysis patients. Our research will help determine if spironolactone reduces heart failure and heart related deaths in dialysis patients. The purpose of this study is to determine if spironolactone reduces death or hospitalization for heart failure and is well tolerated in patients that require dialysis.

Effect of Apiban Therapy on AVF Maturation in ESRD Patients

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing global health burden, and the creation of a native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the gold standard for vascular access in patients requiring hemodialysis \[1\]. AVFs offer superior longevity, fewer infectious complications, and lower mortality rates compared to central venous catheters or synthetic grafts \[2\]. However, a significant limitation to their widespread success is the high rate of early failure, primarily due to failure to mature (FTM). FTM occurs in 20-40% of AVFs, rendering them unusable for dialysis \[3\]. Apixaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, offers a potential advantage by providing sustained anticoagulation throughout the critical maturation period \[7\]. Its predictable pharmacokinetics, oral administration, and favorable safety profile make it an attractive agent for short-term use in this setting \[8\]. By reducing microthrombotic events during the first 4-6 weeks following AVF creation, apixaban could potentially improve maturation rates. However, this potential benefit must be weighed against the increased risk of bleeding, hematoma formation, and wound complications that could negatively impact fistula maturation \[9\].