Steroid Hormone Metabolism and Muscle Loss in Chronic Kidney Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of cortisol and steroid hormone metabolism for sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease; a cross-sectional study.
IRAS ID
288991
Contact name
Lorraine Harper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop muscle loss as a complication of their disease. Not only do they experience weakness and fatigue as a result, but they are also at greater risk of injury from falls, admissions to hospital, needing care and early death. We do not fully understand what causes muscle loss in kidney disease. This has made it difficult to develop treatments and other ways to help people with this problem.
In kidney disease, muscles do not respond normally to exercise to maintain their size, strength and function. We know that kidney disease causes problems with the way in which our cells generate energy through the process of metabolism. Specifically, it means that the muscles generate energy less efficiently, and thus are not able to maintain muscle mass and strength. Previous research suggests that excessive signalling of the hormone cortisol plays an important role in this disease process. The aim of our study is to learn about hormone changes that occur in chronic kidney disease and their role for muscle loss. The findings from this study will help us to understand why patients with kidney disease experience muscle loss and guide the development of new treatments for these patients.The study will invite adults with chronic kidney disease and healthy volunteers to participate. Participation will involve a single research visit for sharing information on health and lifestyle, testing muscle function and donating blood, urine and muscle tissue samples. Samples will then be tested in the laboratory to study how metabolism changes in kidney disease.
This study has been reviewed for its scientific merits and received funding from the Medical Research Council. It will take place at University Hospital Birmingham and at the University of Birmingham.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0360
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion