Effects Of Darbepoetin On Vascular Repair Mechanisms In Kidney Disease The DARBEPC Study
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00396123 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : November 6, 2006
Last Update Posted : June 5, 2017
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Humans have cells in their blood stream called endothelial progenitor cells or EPCs. These are thought to be important in keeping blood vessels healthy. People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have low numbers of these cells. People with cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease also have low numbers. Patients with CKD have more cardiovascular disease then any other group.Erythropoietin is a hormone made by the kidneys. It is essential for making red blood cells and also activates EPCs. It is low in people with kidney disease.
As part of your regular medical care for correcting your low red blood cell count, you will be receiving a medication that acts like erythropoietin. It is called darbepoetin.
The purpose of this study is to see if darbepoetin treatment affects EPC numbers and function.
Condition or disease |
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Chronic Kidney Disease Anemia |
The majority of patients with kidney disease, an estimated 20 million adults in the U.S., will die of cardiovascular disease. Further, the risk for cardiovascular events is 2-3 fold higher than in the general population and increases with the severity of renal impairment [1]. Reasons for this accelerated atherosclerotic process are unclear. Recent evidence suggests that endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are critical to maintaining vascular integrity [2]. Patient populations with low circulating EPCs, including patients with kidney disease, have excess vascular disease burden. The hematopoietic cytokine, erythropoietin, is a key regulator of EPCs and is reduced in patients with kidney disease [3]. Therefore, we hypothesize that supplementation with the erythropoietin analog, darbepoetin, enhances EPC function leading to improvement in vascular repair mechanisms in patients with chronic (CKD).
To begin to explore this hypothesis, we will pursue the following specific aims.
- Determine the effects of darbepoetin on EPC number in patients with anemia related to CKD
- Determine the effects of darbepoetin on EPC function in patients with anemia related to CKD
- Determine the effects of darbepoetin on proangiogenic factors in patients with anemia related to CKD
These studies will expand our understanding and potentially guide therapy aimed at reducing the excess cardiovascular disease burden in high risk populations.
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 12 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Only |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Effects Of Darbepoetin On Vascular Repair Mechanisms In Kidney Disease The DARBEPC Study |
Study Start Date : | November 2006 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | July 25, 2008 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | July 25, 2008 |


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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Enrolled in University of Michigan's Nephrology Anemia Clinic
- 18 years old or older
- Have kidney disease but are not on dialysis
Exclusion Criteria:
- Not enrolled in University of Michigan's Nephrology Anemia Clinic
- Less than 18 years of age
- Hematocrit that is less than 28.5%
- Currently participating in a clinical trial with an intervention
- Planning to change their tobacco use habits during the study period
- Have had dose changes of certain medications for cholesterol or diabetes within one month of study enrollment
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Are currently receiving:
- darbepoetin
- erythopoietin
- medications to lower your immune system
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Have had problems within the last 3 months with:
- Bleeding
- Heart attack or stroke
- Heart or blood vessel procedures
- Are pregnant or lactating

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00396123
United States, Michigan | |
University of Michigan | |
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109 |
Principal Investigator: | Crystal A Gadegbeku, MD | University of Michigan/Internal Medicine/Nephrology |
Responsible Party: | Crystal A. Gadegbeku, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, University of Michigan |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00396123 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
HUM 7825 |
First Posted: | November 6, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 5, 2017 |
Last Verified: | June 2017 |
Chronic Kidney Disease Anemia |
Kidney Diseases Renal Insufficiency, Chronic Urologic Diseases Renal Insufficiency |