Clinical trial locations
- France
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- Poland
Study of Desmopressin for Prevention of Bleeding After Kidney Biopsy in Patients with Rare Glomerulonephritis
This study, conducted in Poland, focuses on preventing bleeding complications during kidney biopsy procedures in patients with rare forms of the condition. A kidney biopsy is an important diagnostic procedure, but it carries some risk of bleeding.
Main focus: The trial evaluates whether desmopressin, a medication that helps blood clot more effectively, can reduce bleeding complications after kidney biopsy. Participants receive either desmopressin (brand name Minirin) or a placebo as a single intravenous injection before their biopsy procedure. The study monitors patients for 24 and 48 hours after the procedure to check for bleeding events and changes in blood sodium levels.
Who can participate: Adults aged 18 to 65 years who need a kidney biopsy as determined by their kidney specialist. Participants must have blood hemoglobin levels above 8g/dl, platelet counts above 100,000 per microliter, normal blood clotting test results, and controlled blood pressure below 160 mmHg. The biopsy site must be free from infection or inflammation.
Who cannot participate: People with known bleeding disorders, those taking blood-thinning medications other than aspirin or heparin, individuals with uncontrolled high blood pressure, those with a history of severe allergic reactions to desmopressin, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with active infections, those with severe kidney dysfunction requiring dialysis, and individuals with heart failure or significant heart problems.
Investigational drug: Desmopressin is a synthetic hormone that helps control bleeding by temporarily increasing blood clotting factors in the bloodstream. It works by stimulating the release of von Willebrand factor and Factor VIII from blood vessel walls, which are important for blood clotting.
Study on the Effects of Belimumab and Rituximab for Patients with Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This study in the Netherlands examines treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation affecting the kidneys and other organs. Kidney involvement in lupus can lead to a form of the condition.
Main focus: The trial tests whether combining two medications, belimumab (given as a subcutaneous injection under the skin) and rituximab (given as an intravenous infusion), is more effective than standard treatments like mycophenolate and steroids. The study lasts about two years and monitors how well the combination reduces disease activity and affects the immune system over time.
Who can participate: Adults aged 18 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of severe, active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Participants must have a disease activity score of 12 or more on the SLEDAI index or worsening symptoms affecting major organs. They should have ongoing or worsening disease despite using standard immune-suppressing treatments, and must test positive for specific antibodies related to lupus. Female participants must not be pregnant or nursing and must use effective birth control.
Who cannot participate: Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with a history of severe allergic reactions to the study medications, those with active infections requiring treatment, individuals with other autoimmune diseases that might interfere with the study, those who have received certain lupus treatments recently, people with significant heart, liver, or kidney problems, recent participants in other clinical trials, those with a history of cancer (except certain skin cancers), and individuals with a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
Investigational drugs: Belimumab targets and reduces the activity of B-cells, a type of immune cell, by inhibiting a protein called B-lymphocyte stimulator. Rituximab works by depleting B-cells through targeting the CD20 protein on their surface. Both are monoclonal antibodies used to control the autoimmune activity in lupus.
Summary
These four clinical trials represent diverse approaches to treating the condition and related kidney diseases. The studies are concentrated in European countries, with Poland hosting two trials and France, Lithuania, and the Netherlands each hosting one study.
The trials address different aspects of kidney disease management, from preventing complications during diagnostic procedures to treating the underlying inflammatory and immune processes. Two studies focus on specific rare forms of the condition, while others address related autoimmune conditions that can affect the kidneys.
The investigational treatments being tested include desmopressin for bleeding prevention, combination therapy with belimumab and rituximab for lupus-related kidney disease, OMS906 for C3 Glomerulopathy and immune complex-mediated disease, and peginterferon alfa-2a for extramembranous forms. These diverse approaches reflect the complexity of kidney diseases and the need for targeted therapies for different patient populations.
Most trials require participants to have stable doses of existing medications and meet specific diagnostic criteria, emphasizing the importance of careful patient selection in studying these conditions. Vaccination requirements and pregnancy prevention measures are common across several studies, highlighting safety considerations in immunomodulatory research.