Prognostic imaging biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can imaging biomarkers improve the prediction of diabetic kidney disease progression?
IRAS ID
219542
Contact name
Steven Sourbron
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
20 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common complication of diabetes, and is now the most common form of chronic kidney disease. DKD is the leading cause of kidney disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation, and its global incidence and prevalence have reached epidemic levels. While the risk of developing DKD can be ameliorated by tight blood glucose and blood pressure control, it is not fully preventable and once established DKD cannot be cured. Therefore many patients are left with poor and worsening health and with increased mortality risk. Developing new ways to treat DKD requires healthcare professionals to be able to identify those patients most in need of treatment.
One promising approach for identifying patients that are at risk is the use of imaging measurements (called “biomarkers”) derived from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) of the kidneys. Evidence from early studies shows that such imaging biomarkers can identify underlying problems in DKD such as blood supply, oxygen supply, kidney scarring and kidney function, in ways that are better than those currently available.We think that imaging biomarkers will improve the identification of patients who are likely to decline from DKD in the short term. The changes found by imaging may even happen before effects on the blood and urine.
We plan to test this by performing a study observing 500 patients with early stage DKD, recruited in 5 sites across Europe including Leeds. All patients will have detailed assessment at the start of their involvement, including clinical assessment, blood and urine samples, and MRI and US scans. We will look at whether imaging biomarkers are associated with other measures that predict progression in DKD (eg. eGFR slope, Urine Albumin), and follow patients every year for 4 years to see if the imaging biomarkers predict worsening DKD.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0077
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion