ERA-EDTA congress 2011: Late Breaking Clinical Trials II / Lowering LDL cholesterol does not significantly slow down CKD progression

Prague (ots) - The SHARP-study has shown that lowering LDL
cholesterol with ezetimibe/simvastatin leads to a significant
reduction in major atherosclerotic events among CKD-patients. Whether
it also has a favourable effect on renal disease progression was
another of the issues addressed by the SHARP study [abstract no.
2509]. In the ezetimibe/simvastatin group, fewer patients reached the
end point "end stage renal disease", but the difference was not
significant [p = 0.41].

No improvement in cardiovascular outcome due to optimised
treatment quality

Cardiovascular comorbidity in CKD patients is dramatically high.
The MASTERPLAN study [abstract no. 2511] aimed to evaluate whether
strict implementation of all the current treatment guidelines leads
to a better cardiovascular outcome in CKD patients. The primary
endpoint was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke and
cardiovascular death. Despite intensified therapy and better lab
values it was not possible to significantly improve cardiovascular
outcome in the intervention group.

Benefits of tacrolimus therapy with prolonged release in de novo
kidney transplant patients

Various immunosuppressive drugs are available, one of these being
tacrolimus (Tac). There are tacrolimus products that release their
active substance immediately (Tac BID) and others that release it in
a prolonged manner (Tac QD). The open-label OSAKA study [abstract no.
2505] compared these two drug forms in various doses. Tac QD led to
the achievement of target blood level in more patients within the
first few days after transplantation than Tac BID in an identical
dose.

Which SHPT therapy should be used?

In the randomised phase IV IMPACT study [abstract no. 2519] 272
hemodialyis patients with seconday hyperparathyreoidism received
either paricalcitol or cinacalcet plus low-dose vitamin D. This
interim analysis showed that in the paricalcitol group 78% of
patients achieved an iPTH reduction of >=30% and 65% achieved a
reduction of >=50% whilst in the cinacalcet group the figures were
50% and 36% of patients. Concerning side effects, 4 of 69 patients
developed hypercalcaemia in the paricalcitol arm, while 27 of 59
patients developed hypocalcemia in the cinacalcet arm.

For further information:
http://www.eraedta2011.org/press.html
Bettina Albers
albers@albersconcept.de
+49 (0) 174 2165629