MASH: MicroRNA associated with HSP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
MASH: MicroRNA associated with HSP; Non-invasive biomarkers of HSP compared to IgA nephropathy
IRAS ID
240497
Contact name
Ben Reynolds
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an uncommon disease causing small blood vessel inflammation (a vasculitis) mainly affecting the kidneys, joints, gut, and skin. 90% of cases are children under the age of 10 years. It affects about 200 per million children. Most children get better completely but approximately 1% will be left with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD of all causes is a major public health issue, affecting approximately 5% of the population. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the commonest glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney filtering units) in the world, affecting about 1 in 1400 people in their lifetime. About 1/3 of patients will progress to end stage kidney disease and require either dialysis or a transplant. IgAN affects patients of all ages.
If a small sample of kidney (a kidney biopsy) is examined with a microscope, the appearance is identical for patients with HSP and IGAN. This suggests a similar disease process. We do not understand why children with HSP tend to get better, whilst children and adults with IGAN tend to get worse.
A small proportion of patients with HSP develop more serious kidney disease and progress. We do not know which factors affect this, nor do we have any tests that help predict which patients will progress.We have developed tests for small proteins in the blood and urine called microRNAs. These microRNAs have been shown to correlate with the amount of kidney scarring in adults with CKD of various causes, including IGAN. We do not know if these microRNAs will prove useful to guide how HSP should be monitored or treated in routine clinical practice. We would like to measure these in patients who are having blood or urine tests taken as part of their usual HSP follow-up, to look for similarities with IGAN patients.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0280
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion