MEND AKI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Microcirculation endothelial glycocalyx damage in acute kidney injury: a study in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery
IRAS ID
260627
Contact name
Jennifer Joslin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The kidney contains millions of blood vessels, which can become injured during heart surgery. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs when kidney function suddenly deteriorates and can lead to long-term health problems including chronic kidney disease. New ways to study damage to the lining of blood vessels may allow us to identify which patients are at risk of developing AKI after heart surgery and allow us to develop new treatments.
I will perform a study taking several blood and urine samples from patients having heart surgery before, during and after their operations. I will also use a new way to study tiny blood vessels: taking videos of blood flow in vessels under the tongue. I will measure damage markers that are released into the blood and compare them with blood flow during heart surgery in patients who do and do not develop AKI. I have successfully done a smaller test study, and patients are happy to take part. Their treatment does not change.
I will also use some of blood samples in further laboratory tests to investigate why blood vessel lining damage may reduce blood flow, and look in more detail at why the damage occurs.
I believe that more information about blood vessel lining changes in patients with AKI will help us understand how kidney damage occurs. I propose that the damage markers will be more useful than current tests to predict who is at risk of developing AKI. As a kidney doctor I know that being able to identify which patients are at risk could lead to better short-term management, and fewer long-term complications.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0954
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion