Inaxaplin for Proteinuric Kidney Disease in Persons with Two APOL1 Variants.

BACKGROUND: Persons with toxic gain-of-function variants in the gene encoding apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) are at greater risk for the development of rapidly progressive, proteinuric nephropathy. Despite the known genetic cause, therapies targeting proteinuric kidney disease in persons with two APOL1 variants (G1 or G2) are lacking. METHODS: We used tetracycline-inducible APOL1 human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells to assess the ability of a small-molecule compound, inaxaplin, to inhibit APOL1 channel function. An APOL1 G2-homologous transgenic mouse model of proteinuric kidney disease was used to assess inaxaplin treatment for proteinuria. We then conducted a single-group, open-label, phase 2a clinical study in which inaxaplin was administered to participants who had two APOL1 variants, biopsy-proven focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and proteinuria (urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of ≥0.7 to <10 [with protein and creatinine both measured in grams] and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥27 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area). Participants received inaxaplin daily for 13 weeks (15 mg for 2 weeks and 45 mg for 11 weeks) along with standard care. The primary outcome was the percent change from the baseline urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio at week 13 in participants who had at least 80% adherence to inaxaplin therapy. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: In preclinical studies, inaxaplin selectively inhibited APOL1 channel function in vitro and reduced proteinuria in the mouse model. Sixteen participants were enrolled in the phase 2a study. Among the 13 participants who were treated with inaxaplin and met the adherence threshold, the mean change from the baseline urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio at week 13 was -47.6% (95% confidence interval, -60.0 to -31.3). In an analysis that included all the participants regardless of adherence to inaxaplin therapy, reductions similar to those in the primary analysis were observed in all but 1 participant. Adverse events were mild or moderate in severity; none led to study discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted inhibition of APOL1 channel function with inaxaplin reduced proteinuria in participants with two APOL1 variants and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. (Funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals; VX19-147-101 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04340362.).

Age- and Race-Specific Changes in ESKD Incidence over Four Decades.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: ESKD incidence has changed substantially in the past four decades, but differences by age and race have been unexplored. Using data from the United States Renal Data System, we found that ESKD incidence rose for Black and White teenagers, adults, and older adults for two decades beginning in 1980. Growth in incidence slowed for most groups by 1993, and by 2006, the annual percent change (APC) in ESKD incidence had declined for all groups, except White adults, for whom rates continued to rise. By 2019, ESKD incidence among Black and White adolescents nearly returned to 1980 levels, but no other group achieved that degree of improvement. Nonetheless, the ESKD incidence rate among Black American patients exceeds that of White patients in every age group. Distinct patterns in ESKD incidence among patients of different age, sex, and racial groups are shown. These findings could reflect changes in dialysis acceptance rates, access to preventive health care, incidence of diabetes mellitus, implementation of evidence-based guidelines for treatment of CKD, or other unrecognized factors. There may be population-specific opportunities to change the growth of the US ESKD population and address current racial disparities. BACKGROUND: Substantial changes in ESKD incidence over four decades among Black and White Americans of different ages have been incompletely explored. METHODS: We analyzed United States Renal Data System data from 1980 to 2019 to determine ESKD incidence trends among Black and White adolescent (13-17 years), adult (18-64 years), and older adult (≥65) populations. We used the National Cancer Institute Joinpoint Regression Program to estimate annual percent change (APC) in ESKD incidence and to define points in time where a statistically significant change in APC slope occurred for each group. RESULTS: ESKD incidence rose after 1980 for all groups, although the trends differed ( P < 0.001). Growth in incidence slowed for most by 1993, and by 2006, the APC in ESKD incidence had declined for all groups, except White adults, for whom rates continued to rise ( P < 0.05). By 2019, ESKD incidence among Black and White adolescents nearly returned to 1980 levels, but no other group achieved that degree of improvement. Nonetheless, the ESKD incidence among Black American patients exceeds that of White patients in every age group. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct patterns in ESKD incidence among patients of different age, sex, and racial groups are shown. These findings could reflect changes in dialysis acceptance rates, access to preventive health care, incidence of diabetes mellitus, implementation of evidence-based guidelines for treatment of CKD, or other unrecognized factors. PODCAST: This article contains a podcast at https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/JASN/2024_03_13_ASN0000000000000310.mp3.

Rationale and design of the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) Match in glomerular diseases: designing the right trial for the right patient, today.

Glomerular diseases are classified using a descriptive taxonomy that is not reflective of the heterogeneous underlying molecular drivers. This limits not only diagnostic and therapeutic patient management, but also impacts clinical trials evaluating targeted interventions. The Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) is poised to address these challenges. The study has enrolled >850 pediatric and adult patients with proteinuric glomerular diseases who have contributed to deep clinical, histologic, genetic, and molecular profiles linked to long-term outcomes. The NEPTUNE Knowledge Network, comprising combined, multiscalar data sets, captures each participant's molecular disease processes at the time of kidney biopsy. In this editorial, we describe the design and implementation of NEPTUNE Match, which bridges a basic science discovery pipeline with targeted clinical trials. Noninvasive biomarkers have been developed for real-time pathway analyses. A Molecular Nephrology Board reviews the pathway maps together with clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic data assembled for each patient to compile a Match report that estimates the fit between the specific molecular disease pathway(s) identified in an individual patient and proposed clinical trials. The NEPTUNE Match report is communicated using established protocols to the patient and the attending nephrologist for use in their selection of available clinical trials. NEPTUNE Match represents the first application of precision medicine in nephrology with the aim of developing targeted therapies and providing the right medication for each patient with primary glomerular disease.

Pediatric contributions and lessons learned from the NEPTUNE cohort study.

Primary glomerular diseases are rare entities. This has hampered efforts to better understand the underlying pathobiology and to develop novel safe and effective therapies. NEPTUNE is a rare disease network that is focused on patients of all ages with minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and membranous nephropathy. It is a longitudinal cohort study that collects detailed demographic, clinical, histopathologic, genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data. The goal is to develop a molecular classification for these disorders that supersedes the traditional pathological features-based schema. Pediatric patients are important contributors to this ongoing project. In this review, we provide a snapshot of the children and adolescents enrolled in NEPTUNE and summarize some key observations that have been made based on the data accumulated during the study. In addition, we describe the development of NEPTUNE Match, a program that aims to leverage the multi-scalar information gathered for each individual patient to provide guidance about potential clinical trial participation based on the molecular characterization and non-invasive biomarker profile. This represents the first organized effort to apply principles of precision medicine to the treatment of patients with primary glomerular disease. NEPTUNE has proven to be an invaluable asset in the study of glomerular diseases in patients of all ages including children and adolescents.

Longitudinal analysis of blood pressure and lipids in childhood nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In the current study, longitudinal BP and lipid measurements were examined in a NEPTUNE cohort of children with newly diagnosed nephrotic syndrome (cNEPTUNE). We hypothesized that hypertensive BP and dyslipidemia would persist in children with nephrotic syndrome, regardless of steroid treatment response. METHODS: A multi-center longitudinal observational analysis of data obtained from children < 19 years of age with new onset nephrotic syndrome enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (cNEPTUNE) was conducted. BP and lipid data were examined over time stratified by disease activity and steroid exposure. Generalized estimating equation regressions were used to find determinants of hypertensive BP and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Among 122 children, the prevalence of hypertensive BP at any visit ranged from 17.4% to 57.4%, while dyslipidemia prevalence ranged from 40.0% to 96.2% over a median of 30 months of follow-up. Hypertensive BP was found in 46.2% (116/251) of study visits during active disease compared with 31.0% (84/271) of visits while in remission. Dyslipidemia was present in 88.2% (120/136) of study visits during active disease and in 66.0% (101/153) while in remission. Neither dyslipidemia nor hypertensive BP were significantly different with/without medication exposure (steroids and/or CNI). In regression analysis, male sex and urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) were significant determinants of hypertensive BP over time, while eGFR was found to be a determinant of dyslipidemia over time. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate persistent hypertensive BPs and unfavorable lipid profiles in the cNEPTUNE cohort regardless of remission status or concurrent steroid or calcineurin inhibitor treatment.

Growth in children with nephrotic syndrome: a post hoc analysis of the NEPTUNE study.

BACKGROUND: Steroids, the mainstay of treatment for nephrotic syndrome in children, have multiple adverse effects including growth suppression. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements in children < 18 years enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) were collected. The longitudinal association of medication exposure and nephrotic syndrome characteristics with height z-score and growth velocity was determined using adjusted Generalized Estimating Equation regression and linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 318 children (57.2% males) with a baseline age of 7.64 ± 5.04 years were analyzed. The cumulative steroid dose was 216.4 (IQR 61.5, 652.7) mg/kg (N = 233). Overall, height z-scores were not significantly different at the last follow-up compared to baseline (- 0.13 ± 1.21 vs. - 0.23 ± 1.71, p = 0.21). In models adjusted for age, sex, and eGFR, greater cumulative steroid exposure (ß - 7.5 × 10-6, CI - 1.2 × 10-5, - 3 × 10-6, p = 0.001) and incident cases of NS (vs. prevalent) (ß - 1.1, CI - 2.22, - 0.11, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with lower height z-scores over time. Rituximab exposure was associated with higher height z-scores (ß 0.16, CI 0.04, 0.29, p = 0.01) over time. CONCLUSION: Steroid dose was associated with lower height z-score, while rituximab use was associated with higher height z-score.

Age of Onset and Disease Course in Biopsy-Proven Minimal Change Disease: An Analysis From the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Adolescent- and adult-onset minimal change disease (MCD) may have a clinical course distinct from childhood-onset disease. We characterized the course of children and adults with MCD in the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network (CureGN) and assessed predictors of rituximab response. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, observational study. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: CureGN participants with proven MCD on biopsy. EXPOSURE: Age at disease onset, initiation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade, and immunosuppression including rituximab during the study period. OUTCOME: Relapse and remission, change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and kidney failure. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Remission and relapse probabilities were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and gap time recurrent event models. Linear regression models were used for the outcome of change in eGFR. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between rituximab administration and remission. RESULTS: The study included 304 childhood- (≤12 years old), 49 adolescent- (13-17 years old), and 201 adult- (≥18 years) onset participants with 2.7-3.2 years of follow-up after enrollment. Children had a longer time to biopsy (238 vs 23 and 36 days in adolescent- and adult-onset participants, respectively; P<0.001) and were more likely to have received therapy before biopsy. Children were more likely to be treated with immunosuppression but not RAAS blockade. The rate of relapse was higher in childhood- versus adult-onset participants (HR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.29-2.21]). The probability of remission was also higher in childhood-onset disease (HR, 1.33 [95%CI, 1.02-1.72]). In all groups eGFR loss was minimal. Children were more likely to remit after rituximab than those with adolescent- or adult-onset disease (adjusted HR, 2.1; P=0.003). Across all groups, glucocorticoid sensitivity was associated with a greater likelihood of achieving complete remission after rituximab (adjusted HR, 2.62; P=0.002). LIMITATIONS: CureGN was limited to biopsy-proven disease. Comparisons of childhood to nonchildhood cases of MCD may be subject to selection bias, given that childhood cases who undergo a biopsy may be limited to patients who are least responsive to initial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with MCD who underwent kidney biopsy, there were differences in the course (relapse and remission) of childhood-onset compared with adolescent- and adult-onset disease, as well as rituximab response. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Minimal change disease is a biopsy diagnosis for nephrotic syndrome. It is diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Patients and clinicians often have questions about what to expect in the disease course and how to plan therapies. We analyzed a group of patients followed longitudinally as part of the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network (CureGN) and describe the differences in disease (relapse and remission) based on the age of onset. We also analyzed rituximab response. We found that those with childhood-onset disease had a higher rate of relapse but also have a higher probability of reaching remission when compared with adolescent- or adult-onset disease. Children and all steroid-responsive patients are more likely to achieve remission after rituximab.

The association of low birthweight and prematurity on outcomes in children and adults with nephrotic syndrome-a NEPTUNE cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In single-center studies, both preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW) are associated with worse outcomes in childhood nephrotic syndrome. Using the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) observational cohort, we tested the hypothesis that in patients with nephrotic syndrome, hypertension, proteinuria status, and disease progression would be more prevalent and more severe in subjects with LBW and prematurity singly or in combination (LBW/prematurity). METHODS: Three hundred fifty-nine adults and children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or minimal change disease (MCD) and available birth history were included. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline and remission status were primary outcomes, and secondary outcomes were kidney histopathology, kidney gene expression, and urinary biomarkers. Logistic regression was used to identify associations with LBW/prematurity and these outcomes. RESULTS: We did not find an association between LBW/prematurity and remission of proteinuria. However, LBW/prematurity was associated with greater decline in eGFR. This decline in eGFR was partially explained by the association of LBW/prematurity with APOL1 high-risk alleles, but the association remained after adjustment. There were no differences in kidney histopathology or gene expression in the LBW/prematurity group compared to normal birth weight/term birth. CONCLUSION: LBW and premature babies who develop nephrotic syndrome have a more rapid decline in kidney function. We did not identify clinical or laboratory features that distinguished the groups. Additional studies in larger groups are needed to fully ascertain the effects of (LBW) and prematurity alone or in combination on kidney function in the setting of nephrotic syndrome.

IPNA clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most frequent pediatric glomerular disease, affecting from 1.15 to 16.9 per 100,000 children per year globally. It is characterized by massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and/or concomitant edema. Approximately 85-90% of patients attain complete remission of proteinuria within 4-6 weeks of treatment with glucocorticoids, and therefore, have steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). Among those patients who are steroid sensitive, 70-80% will have at least one relapse during follow-up, and up to 50% of these patients will experience frequent relapses or become dependent on glucocorticoids to maintain remission. The dose and duration of steroid treatment to prolong time between relapses remains a subject of much debate, and patients continue to experience a high prevalence of steroid-related morbidity. Various steroid-sparing immunosuppressive drugs have been used in clinical practice; however, there is marked practice variation in the selection of these drugs and timing of their introduction during the course of the disease. Therefore, international evidence-based clinical practice recommendations (CPRs) are needed to guide clinical practice and reduce practice variation. The International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) convened a team of experts including pediatric nephrologists, an adult nephrologist, and a patient representative to develop comprehensive CPRs on the diagnosis and management of SSNS in children. After performing a systematic literature review on 12 clinically relevant PICO (Patient or Population covered, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) questions, recommendations were formulated and formally graded at several virtual consensus meetings. New definitions for treatment outcomes to help guide change of therapy and recommendations for important research questions are given.

Child and caregiver perspectives on access to psychosocial and educational support in pediatric chronic kidney disease: a focus group study.

BACKGROUND: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) generally have worse educational and psychosocial outcomes compared with their healthy peers. This can impair their ability to manage their treatment, which in turn can have long-term health consequences through to adulthood. We attempted to capture the experiences of children with CKD and to describe the perspectives of their parents and caregivers on access to educational and psychosocial support. METHODS: Children with CKD (n = 34) and their caregivers (n = 62) were sampled via focus groups from pediatric hospitals in Australia, Canada, and the USA. Sixteen focus groups were convened and the transcripts were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: We identified four themes: disruption to self-esteem and identity (emotional turmoil of adolescence, wrestling with the sick self, powerlessness to alleviate child's suffering, balancing normality and protection); disadvantaged by lack of empathy and acceptance (alienated by ignorance, bearing the burden alone); a hidden and inaccessible support system (excluded from formal psychological support, falling behind due to being denied special considerations); and building resilience (finding partners in the journey, moving towards acceptance of the illness, re-establishing childhood). CONCLUSIONS: Children with CKD and their caregivers encountered many barriers in accessing psychosocial and educational support and felt extremely disempowered and isolated as a consequence. Improved availability and access to psychosocial and educational interventions are needed to improve the wellbeing and educational advancement of children with CKD. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Rituximab to Maintain Remission in Idiopathic Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome: An International Study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes after multiple courses of rituximab among children with frequently relapsing, steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRSDNS) are unknown. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study at 16 pediatric nephrology centers from ten countries in Asia, Europe, and North America included children with FRSDNS who received two or more courses of rituximab. Primary outcomes were relapse-free survival and adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 346 children (age, 9.8 years; IQR, 6.6-13.5 years; 73% boys) received 1149 courses of rituximab. A total of 145, 83, 50, 28, 22, and 18 children received two, three, four, five, six, and seven or more courses, respectively. Median (IQR) follow-up was 5.9 (4.3-7.7) years. Relapse-free survival differed by treatment courses (clustered log-rank test P<0.001). Compared with the first course (10.0 months; 95% CI, 9.0 to 10.7 months), relapse-free period and relapse risk progressively improved after subsequent courses (12.0-16.0 months; HRadj, 0.03-0.13; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.18; P<0.001). The duration of B-cell depletion remained similar with repeated treatments (6.1 months; 95% CI, 6.0 to 6.3 months). Adverse events were mostly mild; the most common adverse events were hypogammaglobulinemia (50.9%), infection (4.5%), and neutropenia (3.7%). Side effects did not increase with more treatment courses nor a higher cumulative dose. Only 78 of the 353 episodes of hypogammaglobulinemia were clinically significant. Younger age at presentation (2.8 versus 3.3 years; P=0.05), age at first rituximab treatment (8.0 versus 10.0 years; P=0.01), and history of steroid resistance (28% versus 18%; P=0.01) were associated with significant hypogammaglobulinemia. All 53 infective episodes resolved, except for one patient with hepatitis B infection and another with EBV infection. There were 42 episodes of neutropenia, associated with history of steroid resistance (30% versus 20%; P=0.04). Upon last follow-up, 332 children (96%) had normal kidney function. CONCLUSIONS: Children receiving repeated courses of rituximab for FRSDNS experience an improving clinical response. Side effects appear acceptable, but significant complications can occur. These findings support repeated rituximab use in FRSDNS.

The Michigan O'Brien Kidney Research Center: transforming translational kidney research through systems biology.

Research on kidney diseases is being transformed by the rapid expansion and innovations in omics technologies. The analysis, integration, and interpretation of big data, however, have been an impediment to the growing interest in applying these technologies to understand kidney function and failure. Targeting this urgent need, the University of Michigan O'Brien Kidney Translational Core Center (MKTC) and its Administrative Core established the Applied Systems Biology Core. The Core provides need-based support for the global kidney community centered on enabling incorporation of systems biology approaches by creating web-based, user-friendly analytic and visualization tools, like Nephroseq and Nephrocell, guiding with experimental design, and processing, analysis, and integration of large data sets. The enrichment core supports systems biology education and dissemination through workshops, seminars, and individualized training sessions. Meanwhile, the Pilot and Feasibility Program of the MKTC provides pilot funding to both early-career and established investigators new to the field, to integrate a systems biology approach into their research projects. The relevance and value of the portfolio of training and services offered by MKTC are reflected in the expanding community of young investigators, collaborators, and users accessing resources and engaging in systems biology-based kidney research, thereby motivating MKTC to persevere in its mission to serve the kidney research community by enabling access to state-of-the-art data sets, tools, technologies, expertise, and learning opportunities for transformative basic, translational, and clinical studies that will usher in solutions to improve the lives of people impacted by kidney disease.

Rituximab or Cyclosporine in the Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: B-cell anomalies play a role in the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy. B-cell depletion with rituximab may therefore be noninferior to treatment with cyclosporine for inducing and maintaining a complete or partial remission of proteinuria in patients with this condition. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients who had membranous nephropathy, proteinuria of at least 5 g per 24 hours, and a quantified creatinine clearance of at least 40 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and had been receiving angiotensin-system blockade for at least 3 months to receive intravenous rituximab (two infusions, 1000 mg each, administered 14 days apart; repeated at 6 months in case of partial response) or oral cyclosporine (starting at a dose of 3.5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for 12 months). Patients were followed for 24 months. The primary outcome was a composite of complete or partial remission of proteinuria at 24 months. Laboratory variables and safety were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients underwent randomization. At 12 months, 39 of 65 patients (60%) in the rituximab group and 34 of 65 (52%) in the cyclosporine group had a complete or partial remission (risk difference, 8 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -9 to 25; P = 0.004 for noninferiority). At 24 months, 39 patients (60%) in the rituximab group and 13 (20%) in the cyclosporine group had a complete or partial remission (risk difference, 40 percentage points; 95% CI, 25 to 55; P<0.001 for both noninferiority and superiority). Among patients in remission who tested positive for anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies, the decline in autoantibodies to anti-PLA2R was faster and of greater magnitude and duration in the rituximab group than in the cyclosporine group. Serious adverse events occurred in 11 patients (17%) in the rituximab group and in 20 (31%) in the cyclosporine group (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab was noninferior to cyclosporine in inducing complete or partial remission of proteinuria at 12 months and was superior in maintaining proteinuria remission up to 24 months. (Funded by Genentech and the Fulk Family Foundation; MENTOR ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01180036.).

Perspectives of Clinicians on Shared Decision Making in Pediatric CKD: A Qualitative Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Clinical decision-making priorities may differ among children, their parents, and their clinicians. This study describes clinicians' perspectives on shared decision making in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) and identifies opportunities to improve shared decision making and care for children with CKD and their families. STUDY DESIGN: Semistructured interviews. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Fifty clinicians participated, including pediatric nephrologists, nurses, social workers, surgeons, dietitians, and psychologists involved in providing care to children with CKD. They worked at 18 hospitals and 4 university research departments across 11 countries (United States of America, Canada, Australia, People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, and Singapore). ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: We identified 4 themes: (1) striving to blend priorities (minimizing treatment burden, emphasizing clinical long-term risks, achieving common goals), (2) focusing on medical responsibilities (carrying decisional burden and pressure of expectations, working within system constraints, ensuring safety is foremost concern), (3) collaborating to achieve better long-term outcomes (individualizing care, creating partnerships, encouraging ownership and participation in shared decision making, sensitive to parental distress), and (4) forming cumulative knowledge (balancing reassurance and realistic expectations, building understanding around treatment, harnessing motivation for long-term goals). LIMITATIONS: Most clinicians were from high-income countries, so the transferability of the findings to other settings is uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians reported striving to minimize treatment burden and working with children and their families to manage their expectations and support their decision making. However, they are challenged with system constraints and sometimes felt the pressure of being responsible for the child's long-term outcomes. Further studies are needed to test whether support for shared decision making would promote strategies to establish and improve the quality of care for children with CKD.

Improving Clinical Trials for Anticomplement Therapies in Complement-Mediated Glomerulopathies: Report of a Scientific Workshop Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation.

Blocking the complement system as a therapeutic strategy has been proposed for numerous glomerular diseases but presents myriad questions and challenges, not the least of which is demonstrating efficacy and safety. In light of these potential issues and because there are an increasing number of anticomplement therapy trials either planned or under way, the National Kidney Foundation facilitated an all-virtual scientific workshop entitled "Improving Clinical Trials for Anti-Complement Therapies in Complement-Mediated Glomerulopathies." Attended by patient representatives and experts in glomerular diseases, complement physiology, and clinical trial design, the aim of this workshop was to develop standards applicable for designing and conducting clinical trials for anticomplement therapies across a wide spectrum of complement-mediated glomerulopathies. Discussions focused on study design, participant risk assessment and mitigation, laboratory measurements and biomarkers to support these studies, and identification of optimal outcome measures to detect benefit, specifically for trials in complement-mediated diseases. This report summarizes the discussions from this workshop and outlines consensus recommendations.

Patient and caregiver perspectives on blood pressure in children with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: More than 50% of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have uncontrolled hypertension, increasing their long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and progression to kidney failure. Children receiving medications or dialysis may also experience acute blood pressure fluctuations accompanied by debilitating symptoms. We aimed to describe the perspectives of children with CKD and their parental caregivers on blood pressure to inform patient-centered care. METHODS: Secondary thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data from the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Children and Adolescents initiative, encompassing 16 focus groups, an international Delphi survey and two consensus workshops. We analyzed responses from children with CKD (ages 8-21 years) and caregivers (of children ages 0-21 years) pertaining to blood pressure. RESULTS: Overall, 120 patients and 250 caregivers from 22 countries participated. We identified five themes: invisibility and normalization (reassured by apparent normotension, absence of symptoms and expected links with CKD), confused by ambiguity (hypertension indistinguishable from cardiovascular disease, questioning the need for prophylactic intervention, frustrated by inconsistent messages and struggling with technical skills in measurement), enabling monitoring and maintaining health (gaging well-being and preventing vascular complications), debilitating and constraining daily living (provoking anxiety and agitation, helpless and powerless and limiting life activities) and burden of medications (overwhelmed by the quantity of tablets and distress from unexpected side effects). CONCLUSIONS: For children with CKD and their caregivers, blood pressure was an important heath indicator, but uncertainty around its implications and treatment hampered management. Providing educational resources to track blood pressure and minimizing symptoms and treatment burden may improve outcomes in children with CKD.

Determinants of medication adherence in childhood nephrotic syndrome and associations of adherence with clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients with nephrotic syndrome take medications long-term with significant toxicity and complex regimens, yet data on medication adherence are limited. METHODS: In a multicenter observational study of patients with nephrotic syndrome, NEPTUNE (NCT01209000), we surveyed caregivers of patients <19 years old and adolescent patients on medication adherence during longitudinal follow-up beginning in June 2015. Data extraction was in October 2020. We described the proportion of nonadherent patients at first survey. Participant social and economic factors, condition-related factors, therapy-related factors, and patient-related factors were examined for relationships with nonadherence by generalized linear mixed models using the longitudinal data. In exploratory fashion, we assessed the relationship between adherence and subsequent steroid response classification by binary logistic regression and adherence with healthcare utilization by Poisson regression. RESULTS: A total of 225 participants completed a median of 3 surveys during follow-up (IQR, 2-5), with a total of 743 surveys. Overall, 80 (36%) reported nonadherence with medications. In adjusted analysis, older age (per 1 year; OR 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03 1.12), lower maternal educational level (≥ high school vs. < high school; OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.89), and increased parent and self-identification of medications barriers (per 1 point; OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.15-2.15) were significantly associated with nonadherence. No relationship between nonadherence and subsequent frequency of healthcare utilization was observed. A trend toward increased subsequent steroid resistance classification was seen with nonadherence, though not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Medication nonadherence is common in pediatric nephrotic syndrome. Investigations into the use of surveys in the clinic setting to identify at-risk patients and ways to support families over time are needed. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Development of an international Delphi survey to establish core outcome domains for trials in adults with glomerular disease.

Outcomes relevant to treatment decision-making are inconsistently reported in trials involving glomerular disease. Here, we sought to establish a consensus-derived set of critically important outcomes designed to be reported in all future trials by using an online, international two-round Delphi survey in English. To develop this, patients with glomerular disease, caregivers and health professionals aged 18 years and older rated the importance of outcomes using a Likert scale and a Best-Worst scale. The absolute and relative importance was assessed and comments were analyzed thematically. Of 1198 participants who completed Round 1, 734 were patients/caregivers while 464 were health care professionals from 59 countries. Of 700 participants that completed Round 2, 412 were patients/caregivers and 288 were health care professionals. Need for dialysis or transplant, kidney function, death, cardiovascular disease, remission-relapse and life participation were the most important outcomes to patients/caregivers and health professionals. Patients/caregivers rated patient-reported outcomes higher while health care professionals rated hospitalization, death and remission/relapse higher. Four themes explained the reasons for their priorities: confronting death and compounded suffering, focusing on specific targets in glomerular disease, preserving meaning in life, and fostering self-management. Thus, consistent reporting of these critically important outcomes in all trials involving glomerular disease is hoped to improve patient-centered decision-making.

Inpatient Pediatric CKD Health Care Utilization and Mortality in the United States.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on inpatient health care use is unknown. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of pediatric CKD among children hospitalized in the United States and examine the association of CKD with hospital outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional national survey of pediatric discharges. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Hospital discharges of children (aged>28 days to 19 years) with a chronic medical diagnosis included in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database for 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016. PREDICTOR: Presence of primary or coexisting CKD as identified by diagnosis codes. OUTCOMES: Length of stay (LOS), cost, and mortality. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Multivariable analysis using Poisson, gamma, and logistic regressions were performed for LOS, cost, and mortality, respectively. RESULTS: A chronic medical condition was present in 6,524,745 estimated discharges during the study period and CKD was present among 3.9% of discharges (96.1% without CKD). Those with CKD had a longer LOS (median of 2.8 [IQR, 1.4-6.0] days compared with 1.8 [IQR, 1.0-4.4] days for those without a CKD diagnosis; P<0.001). Median cost was higher in the CKD group compared with the group without CKD, at $8,755 (IQR, $4,563-18,345) and $5,016 (IQR, $2,860-10,109) per hospitalization, respectively (P<0.001). Presence of CKD was associated with a longer LOS (29.9% [95% CI, 27.2%-32.6%] longer than those without CKD), higher cost (61.3% [95% CI, 57.4%-65.4%] greater than those without CKD), and higher risk for mortality (OR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.40-1.63]). LIMITATIONS: Lack of access to and adjustment for confounders including patient readmission and laboratory data. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric CKD was associated with longer LOS, higher costs, and higher risk for mortality compared with hospitalizations with other chronic illnesses. Further studies are needed to better understand the health care needs and delivery of care to hospitalized children with CKD.

Proteinuria Reduction and Kidney Survival in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Remission of proteinuria has been shown to be associated with lower rates of kidney disease progression among people with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The goal of this study was to evaluate whether reductions in proteinuria after treatment are associated with greater kidney survival. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort analysis of clinical trial participants. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with steroid-resistant FSGS enrolled in a randomized treatment trial that compared cyclosporine with mycophenolate mofetil plus dexamethasone. PREDICTORS: Reduction in proteinuria measured during 26 weeks after initiating treatment. OUTCOMES: Repeated assessments of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and time to a composite outcome of kidney failure or death assessed between 26 weeks and 54 months after randomization. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Multivariable linear mixed-effects models with participant-specific slope and intercept to estimate the association of change in proteinuria over 26 weeks while receiving treatment with the subsequent slope of change in eGFR. Multivariable time-varying Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association of changes in proteinuria with time to the composite outcome. RESULTS: 138 of 192 trial participants were included. Changes in proteinuria over 26 weeks were significantly related to eGFR slope. A 1-unit reduction in log-transformed urinary protein-creatinine ratio was associated with a 3.90mL/min/1.73m2 per year increase in eGFR (95% CI, 2.01-5.79). This difference remained significant after adjusting for complete remission. There was an analogous relationship between time-varying proteinuria and time to the composite outcome: the HR per 1-unit reduction in log-transformed urinary protein-creatinine ratio was 0.23 (95% CI, 0.12-0.44). LIMITATIONS: Limited to individuals with steroid-resistant FSGS followed up for a maximum of 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence for the benefit of urinary protein reduction in FSGS. Reductions in proteinuria warrant further evaluation as a potential surrogate for preservation of kidney function that may inform the design of future clinical trials.