Losartan for Sickle Cell Kidney Disease

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2016-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Sickle cell nephropathy (SCN) is a progressive complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) that begins in childhood and results in renal (kidney) failure and early mortality in nearly 12% of adults with hemoglobin SS (HbSS). The potential for prevention and reversal of kidney damage in SCD is not known. Albuminuria is a commonly used biomarker of glomerular damage; however the correlations of albuminuria with specific measurements of glomerular function and pathophysiology have not been determined. The investigators hypothesize that in patients with persistent albuminuria despite treatment of SCD with hydroxyurea, losartan will reverse kidney dysfunction in early stage nephropathy and ameliorate progressive kidney dysfunction in more advanced nephropathy. The primary aim is to study the acute and longer-term effects of losartan (study drug) on specific glomerular functions in children and adults with SCD who have persistent albuminuria. Research glomerular function tests will be done at study entry (prior to taking losartan), 1 month, and 1 to 2 years after starting losartan therapy (participants may take losartan for up to 24 months). In addition, participants are seen each month in clinic and assessed by their regular clinical team. The second aim is to assess the correlation of changes in albuminuria after 1 month of losartan with changes in direct measurements of glomerular function at 12-24 months, thus determining if the magnitude of the initial decrease in albuminuria in response to losartan predicts sustained improvements in renal function.

• Phase: Early Phase 1
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Emory University
• Treatments: Losartan

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• SCD genotype HbSS or HbS/beta-0-thalassemia

• Age greater than or equal to 9 years old

• Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) greater than or equal to 30 mg/gram creatinine on greater than or equal to 2 occasions separated by one month or more

• Current treatment with hydroxyurea and a sustained hematologic response for 6 months or more prior to enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• End-stage renal failure (estimated GFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2)

• Known co-existent medical conditions that could affect the kidneys, such as diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive

• Chronic therapy (daily use for ≥8 weeks) with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Females who are pregnant

• Pre-existing hyperkalemia (serum potassium > 5.5 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L))

• Current chronic transfusion therapy