The effect of Darbepoetin alfa on forearm blood flow (OPERA-CKD)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An observational, open-label pilot study to evaluate the effect of standard-of-care erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (Darbepoetin alfa) on forearm blood flow in nondialysis-dependent subjects with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease (OPERA-CKD)
IRAS ID
214909
Contact name
Joseph Cheriyan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) anaemia is a common problem and is often treated with EPO (Erythropoietin). The form of EPO we use in Addenbrookes is Darbepoetin (Aranesp®). EPO is safe to use but it has been associated with a rise in blood pressure (BP) in some individuals. The reasons for this are not clear. To try to explain this we want to study how EPO affects certain substances in the blood that influence how blood vessels contract and relax. We will conduct this by infusing small amounts of Acetylcholine, BQ123 and Noradrenaline into the arm vessels of volunteers using an established method called Forearm blood flow (plethysmography). Volunteers recruited for this study will include CKD patients undergoing therapy with Darbepoetin as part of their normal NHS care as well as healthy people not on treatment, who will act as controls. This is an observational pilot study of changes in physiology before and after Darbepoetin. It will provide valuable data for a later study comparing Darbepoetin to a novel agent, daprodustat, which works via different pathways to treat anaemia.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0455
Date of REC Opinion
28 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion