Clinical Trial: Modulation of Vascular Calcification in Chronic Dialysis Patients

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional




Official Title: Modulation of Vascular Calcification in Chronic Dialysis Patients

Brief Summary:

50 patients will be randomized and treated with MCO or highflux dialysis for six months (24 weeks) after a run-in phase of 4 weeks Highflux treatment.

Serum samples will be drawn at baseline, after 4, 8 and 24 weeks.

Later, calcifiying vascular smooth muscle cells will be incubated with these serum samples and calcification will be assessed with Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin staining.

Primary endpoint:

In vitro Calcification of coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (Alkaline Phosphatase/ WST8) after six months

Calcifiying vascular smooth muscle cells will be incubated with serum samples obtained after six months of MCO/HF dialysis and calcification will be assessed with Alkaline phosphatase and WST8.

Secondary Endpoints:

Aortic Pulse wave velocity after 6 months Calcification propensity after 6 months Physical activity level after 6 months

Cell culture: Incubation of VSMC with serum samples obtained after 6 months

  • Alizarin staining/WST-8
  • Measurement of calcification inhibitors Osteopontin and Matrix Gla Protein in Supernatants
  • Apoptosis

The treatment regimen of the patients will not be altered, hence blood flow, dialysate flow as well as dialysis time will remain constant.