Calcitriol in the Treatment of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2007-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is the most common type of primary glomerulonephritis in the world. A wealth of literature suggests that vitamin D and its analogs have profound effects on immune system function and glomerular mesangial cell proliferation. Calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D, is commonly used for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with advanced chronic kidney diseases. Therefore, the investigators plan to conduct a open-label single-arm study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of calcitriol in the treatment of IgA nephropathy. Ten patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and persistent proteinuria despite conventional therapy will be recruited. They will be treated with calcitriol for 12 weeks. Proteinuria, renal function, serum and urinary inflammatory markers will be monitored. This study will explore the potential anti-proteinuric and anti-inflammatory effects of calcitriol in the treatment of IgA nephropathy, which is a major cause of dialysis-dependent renal failure.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Treatments: Antibodies; Calcitriol; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulins

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 18-65 years

• biopsy-confirmed IgA nephropathy

• proteinuria > 1 g/day (or proteinuria > 1 g/g-Cr) in 2 consecutive samples within 12 weeks despite ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker treatment (ramipril 5 mg daily, lisinopril 10 mg daily, or valsartan 80 mg daily) for at least 3 months

• estimated glomerular filtration rate 15 to 60 ml/min/1.73m2

• corrected serum calcium level M 2.45 mmol/l

• willingness to give written consent and comply with the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy, lactating or childbearing potential without effective method of birth control

• Severe gastrointestinal disorders that interfere with their ability to receive or absorb oral medication

• History of malignancy, including leukemia and lymphoma within the past 2 years

• Systemic infection requiring therapy at study entry

• Any other severe coexisting disease such as, but not limited to, chronic liver disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, malignant hypertension

• History of drug or alcohol abuse within past 2 years

• Participation in any previous trial on vitamin D analogue

• Patients receiving treatment of vitamin D and/or its analogue for other medical reasons within the past 3 months

• Patients receiving treatment of corticosteroid

• On other investigational drugs within last 30 days

• History of a psychological illness or condition such as to interfere with the patient's ability to understand the requirement of the study

• History of non-compliance

• Known history of sensitivity or allergy to vitamin D analogs