Kids Kidney Research

Young people with chronic renal failure (CRF) have a 700-fold increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than the general population.

In CRF, the kidney loses its ability to remove phosphate from the body resulting in high levels in the blood. The drugs used to control blood phosphate levels are mainly calcium based. In the body’s attempt to regulate high calcium and phosphate levels, an excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) occurs.  As a result of this, the blood levels of calcium, phosphate and PTH are often all high. The excess calcium is deposited in the blood vessels causing premature hardening and narrowing of the vessels. This results in a greater strain on the heart.

Using non-invasive techniques (based on ultrasound and CT scan) will enable detection of early signs of calcium deposition in blood vessels before any signs of heart disease develop. These will be correlated with the blood levels of calcium, phosphate and PTH or drugs that are used to control them so as to identify possible links between the two.  It is hoped that this will lead to a better understanding and hence the development of future therapies to decrease the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in young people with chronic renal failure.