Renal Involvement in Acid Base Balance in CF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A case-controlled prospective pilot study examining the kidneys involvement in the acid-base status of patients with cystic fibrosis during a pulmonary exacerbation.
IRAS ID
158374
Contact name
Giles Fitch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Research and Development
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
It has been suggested that the metabolic status of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) differs to that of the general population. Metabolic alkalosis means a lower than normal level of acid in the blood. It has been well recognised children with CF but only more recently recognised in the adult population. However the evidence we do have for the adult population is based largely on case series and studies involving very small numbers of CF patients and all are retrospective in nature.
In one of these small studies of stable CF patients compared to non-CF patients, metabolic alkalosis was found to be much more common in the CF group 86% versus 33% p=0.04. The same has been shown in CF patients during an exacerbation. Some of this research has suggested that this metabolic alkalosis (low acid in the blood) contributes to the development of respiratory failure. This is possible because the level of acid in your blood has a controlling mechanism over the respiratory centres which control your rate and depth of breathing.
From our own retrospective analysis of 120 CF patients we found a rate of 50% with a metabolic alkalosis. The cause of this metabolic alkalosis in CF is not yet understood. In our prospective study (this is the pilot phase) we aim to collect blood gas data at the beginning, middle and end of an exacerbation in CF and control participants. At the same time we will collect urine samples to determine if the kidneys of CF patients are behaving differently to the control group. This data should help us better understand what the cause of a metabolic alkalosis in the CF group is and therefore how it can be best treated.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1197
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion