News and notices Pānui
Unique research opportunity for BOP patients with polycystic kidney disease
20 November 2024
Bay of Plenty residents with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are being called to take part in a unique clinical trial run by the Health New Zealand Bay of Plenty Renal Service.
In collaboration with the Bay of Plenty Clinical Trials Unit and the University of Otago, IMPEDE-PKD is a non-commercial trial looking at whether metformin (a medication) can reduce the rate of kidney function decline, for people who have ADPKD.
ADPKD is the most common genetic kidney disease and can cause advanced kidney failure which may require patients to start dialysis or require a transplant.
This international study aims to include 80 people in New Zealand. The Bay of Plenty, the first active site in New Zealand to enrol a patient in the trial, is now actively recruiting for more patients.
“This is an exciting opportunity for people with ADPKD as there are very few treatment options for patients. They often end up on dialysis or needing a transplant, so if we can prevent or slow this process down it is a big success,” says Nephrologist & General Physician, Scott Crawford.
“If metformin is proven to have an effect, the medication is already readily available and well tolerated, making it an accessible and equitable treatment for people in the long-term. The study could have significant impact for ADPKD patients, helping to reduce the rate of kidney function decline and preventing renal failure requiring them to start dialysis or need a transplant,” he says.
Terry Jennings, a Renal Nurse Practitioner who is working actively with patients on the trial, says it’s a significant achievement to have the trial underway for people in the Bay of Plenty.
The trial is unique in that whanau Māori will be partnered with a kaiārahi Māori navigator, together with the Renal Services Tauwhiro / Kaupapa Māori Social Worker to provide culturally specific support while participating in IMPEDE-PKD.
Currently, apart from good blood pressure control, reducing salt intake and drinking enough water, there is only one treatment for ADPKD that may prevent new cysts called tolvaptan. This study aims to broaden the evidence base for possible future treatments.
Eligibility and further information
People with ADPKD and who have kidney function (GFR) between 38 and 90 ml/min and who have large kidney size or a decrease in kidney function over the last year (of 5%) or 3% a year over each of the last 5 years may be able to take part. The research team will review each patient wanting to take part to see if they meet the research eligibility criteria.
As part of the randomised control trial, patients will be asked to take either metformin or a dummy pill (inactive pill) for two years with kidney function follow up that is very similar to standard care.
If you are interested in further information or keen to participate, please email IMPEDE.RENALBOP@bopdhb.govt.nz.
If you know someone from outside Bay of Plenty who is interested to see if they can participate in this piece of research, they can contact the national research team at impede-pkd.nz@otago.ac.nz.