An investigation into why people with kidney disease lose muscle and feel weak

ISRCTN ISRCTN18221837
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18221837
IRAS number 187619
Submission date
30/11/2015
Registration date
10/02/2016
Last edited
18/09/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Urological and Genital Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys do not work properly. In a healthy person, the kidneys are vital for filtering out the waste products and excess water in the blood, and converting them into urine. In patients suffering from CKD, the kidneys are unable to do this, and so the body is unable to get rid of the waste products building up in the blood. A common feature of CKD is muscle wasting (when the muscles waste away). This can start early on in the disease, and is thought to play an important role in the way the disease progresses, and even the patients’ ultimate chance of survival. It inevitably leads to a poor quality of life and an inactive (sedentary) lifestyle, which in itself can be bad for general health. Currently, the exact cause of muscle wasting in CKD is not really known, and so further research is needed so that it can be better understood and treated. The aim of this study is to grow small pieces of muscle taken from the legs of adult CKD sufferers and healthy adults in the laboratory, in order to find out what is different in the muscle of CKD patients and what the cause of their muscle loss may be. These muscles will also be stretched in the lab to simulate exercise, in order to find out if exercise could have any positive effects.

Who can participate?
Adults suffering from severe CKD and healthy adults of the same age, sex and race.

What does the study involve?
All participants have a small sample of muscle tissue taken from their thigh (biopsy) using a needle. They also provide a blood sample and a urine sample at this time. Information about their condition is gathered using a questionnaire at the start of the study, and then again at 6, 12 and 24 months.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits for participants taking part in this study. The muscle biopsy carries with it a small risk of bleeding and infection, but to minimise these risks participants taking blood thinners are not able to take part and the procedure will be performed under sterile conditions. The area will ache for a day or so afterwards.

Where is the study run from?
Leicester General Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2015 to May 2016

Who is funding the study?
Kidney Research UK (UK)

Who is the main contact?
1. Dr Alice Smith (Scientific)
aa50@le.ac.uk
2. Dr Emma Watson (Scientific)
ec174@le.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Alice Smith
Scientific

Leicester Kidney Exercise Team
University of Leicester Academic Unit
Leicester General Hospital
Leicester
LE5 5PW
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-9234-9060
Phone +44 (0)1162 584346
Email aa50@le.ac.uk
Dr Emma Watson
Scientific

Lab 117/119 MSB
University Road
University of Leicester
Leicester
LE1 9HN
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-3869-8972
Phone +44 (0)1162 525033
Email ec174@le.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMechanistic observational laboratory-based study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designMechanistic observational laboratory-based study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titleMechanisms of muscle wasting in advanced chronic kidney disease
Study acronymExplore CKD
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of muscle wasting in human CKD and their potential to be manipulated by exercise.

Main research questions:
1. How is the molecular control of muscle protein synthesis and degradation modified in CKD and affected by exercise?
2. How is the process of myogenesis modified in CKD and affected by exercise?
3. Is there a molecular role of microRNA in muscle loss in CKD?
Ethics approval(s)NHS East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee, 28/11/2015, ref: 15/EM/0467
ConditionChronic kidney disease
InterventionA one-off muscle sample will be collected from the leg of CKD patients and matched controls as well as a blood and urine sample. These samples will be used in laboratory experiments to understand the mechanisms of muscle loss in this disease. We will also collect clinical information at 6, 12 and 24 months.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMuscle fibre size is measured using immunohistochemistry.
Secondary outcome measures1. Differences in the processes of myogenesis measured using flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and PCR
2. Differences in protein turnover measured using uptake and release labelling experiments
3. MicroRNA expression and involvement in any dysregulation seen above measured using next generation sequencing and PCR
4. Amino acid transport and intracellular concentrations
5. Muscle architecture
6. Metabolic flexibility and mitochondrial function measured using high resolution respirometry at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months
7. Differences in physical activity levels between groups determined using patient questionnaires at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months
Overall study start date01/01/2016
Overall study end date02/11/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Mixed
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants7
Total final enrolment73
Participant inclusion criteriaCKD patients:
1. Over 18 years of age
2. Diagnosed CKD stage 3b-5
3. If diabetic, good control - HbA1c <9%

Matched controls - will be matched to CKD patients for age, sex and race.
1. Over 18 years of age
2. Kidney function < 80mL/min/1.73m2
3. Good general health
Participant exclusion criteriaCKD patients:
1. Aged under 18 years
2. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c >9%)
3. Inability to give consent for any reason

Matched controls:
1. Aged under 18 years
2. Presence of CKD (eGFR>80mL/min/1.73m2)
3. Presence of other diseases known to cause muscle wasting (some cancers, sepsis, burns and HIV)
4. Inability to give informed consent for any reason.
Recruitment start date01/01/2015
Recruitment end date02/11/2020

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Leicester General Hospital
Gwendolen Road
Leicester
LE5 4PW
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University Hospitals of Leicester (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre

R&I Office
Leicester General Hospital
Gwendolen Road
Leicester
LE5 4PW
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02fha3693

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Kidney Research UK
Private sector organisation / Other non-profit organizations
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2016
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication of study results in a peer reviewed journal as well as presentation at national and international conferences.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No
Plain English results 18/09/2023 18/09/2023 No Yes
Results article 25/04/2022 18/09/2023 Yes No
Results article 06/12/2019 18/09/2023 Yes No
Results article 14/01/2022 18/09/2023 Yes No

Additional files

ISRCTN18221837_PlainEnglishResults.pdf

Editorial Notes

18/09/2023: Publication references, IRAS number, plain English results and total final enrolment added.