Sympatholysis in Chronic Kidney Disease (Sym-CKD)

Functional Sympatholysis and Exercise Intolerance in Chronic Kidney Disease

The purpose of this study is to find out why patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have poor exercise capacity and what causes an increase in blood pressure during exercise (i.e. increased adrenaline levels, or decreased ability of blood vessels to dilate).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Chronic Kidney Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Sodium Bicarbonate; Behavioral: Exercise Training; Drug: Placebo; Behavioral: Control to Exercise (Stretching)

Detailed Description

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) suffer from exercise intolerance and poor physical capacity which contributes to increased cardiovascular risk in this patient population. Prior studies have shown that CKD patients have an exaggerated increase in blood pressure (BP) during both static and rhythmic exercise. Such abnormal hemodynamic responses to exercise can contribute to poor physical capacity and abnormal muscle blood flow during exercise in these patients. The goals of this project are to investigate the mechanisms and potential therapies targeting the abnormal hemodynamic response during exercise in CKD by examining the roles of impaired vasodilation, and exaggerated vasoconstriction.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 110
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jeanie Park, MD; Phone Number: 207070 404-321-6111
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Dana DaCosta; Phone Number: 404-727-7762; Email: drdacos@emory.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Georgia
    • Decatur, Georgia, United States, 30033
      • Recruiting
      • Atlanta VA Medical Center
      • Principal Investigator: Jeanie Park, MD
      • Contact: Dana DaCosta; Phone Number: 404-727-7762; Email: drdacos@emory.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Veterans with Stages III and IV Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Kidney transplant recipients with varying degrees of kidney function
• Veterans 18-75 years old, without kidney disease, as study controls
• Exercise less than 20 minutes twice per week
• Willing and able to cooperate with the protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 cc/minute)
• Metabolic alkalosis (serum bicarbonate > 28 meq/L)
• Ongoing drug or alcohol abuse
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Any serious systemic disease that might influence survival
• Severe anemia with hemoglobin (Hbg) level < 10 g/dL
• Clinical evidence of congestive heart failure or ejection fraction below 35%
• Symptomatic heart disease determined by prior electrocardiogram, stress test, and/or history
• Treatment with central alpha agonists (clonidine)
• Uncontrolled hypertension with blood pressure (BP) greater than 170/100 mmHg
• Low blood pressure with BP less than 100/50 mmHg
• Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant
• Current treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Inability to exercise on a stationary bicycle

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Exercise Training plus Sodium Bicarbonate; Subjects with CKD will undergo exercise training on a stationary bicycle for 20-45 minutes, 3 times per week, for 6-12 weeks. Additionally, subjects will take 1300-2600 mg (2-4 pills) of sodium bicarbonate prior to each exercise session three times a week.	Drug: Sodium Bicarbonate; Sodium bicarbonate tablet is 650 mg for one tablet. Oral sodium bicarbonate will be given out as 1300mg-2600mg (2-4 pills) prior to each exercise or stretching session. Serum bicarbonate measurements will be monitored throughout the study (at 2 weeks, then every 2-4 weeks thereafter), and bicarbonate dosages will be adjusted to avoid metabolic alkalosis (serum bicarbonate > 30).; Behavioral: Exercise Training; Exercise training consists of riding a stationary bicycle for 20-45 minutes, 3 times per week, supervised by trained exercise specialists, for 6-12 weeks. The exercise program will follow the guidelines provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for optimizing cardiovascular fitness. Exercise intensity will begin at low levels (50 percent of resting heart rate) and increase to no greater than 80 percent of resting heart rate. Exercise time will progress, depending on subject's progress, from 20 minutes per session at first, to a maximum of 45 minutes. Trained staff members will give instructions throughout each exercise session. Before beginning each exercise session, subjects will be instructed on a warm-up focusing on preparing the legs for activity.
Active Comparator: Exercise Training plus Placebo; Subjects with CKD will undergo exercise training on a stationary bicycle,for 20-45 minutes, 3 times per week, for 6-12 weeks. Additionally, subjects will take 2-4 placebo tablets prior to each exercise session three times a week.	Behavioral: Exercise Training; Exercise training consists of riding a stationary bicycle for 20-45 minutes, 3 times per week, supervised by trained exercise specialists, for 6-12 weeks. The exercise program will follow the guidelines provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for optimizing cardiovascular fitness. Exercise intensity will begin at low levels (50 percent of resting heart rate) and increase to no greater than 80 percent of resting heart rate. Exercise time will progress, depending on subject's progress, from 20 minutes per session at first, to a maximum of 45 minutes. Trained staff members will give instructions throughout each exercise session. Before beginning each exercise session, subjects will be instructed on a warm-up focusing on preparing the legs for activity.; Drug: Placebo; 2-4 placebo pills will be given out prior to each exercise or stretching session.
Active Comparator: Control to Exercise (Stretching) plus Sodium Bicarbonate; Subjects with CKD will undergo progressive whole body stretching and toning exercises 3 times a week for 20-45 minutes for 6-12 weeks. Additionally, subjects will take 1300-2600 mg (2-4 pills) of sodium bicarbonate prior to each stretching session three times a week.	Drug: Sodium Bicarbonate; Sodium bicarbonate tablet is 650 mg for one tablet. Oral sodium bicarbonate will be given out as 1300mg-2600mg (2-4 pills) prior to each exercise or stretching session. Serum bicarbonate measurements will be monitored throughout the study (at 2 weeks, then every 2-4 weeks thereafter), and bicarbonate dosages will be adjusted to avoid metabolic alkalosis (serum bicarbonate > 30).; Behavioral: Control to Exercise (Stretching); Stretching exercise will consist of muscle stretching and toning for 20-45 minutes, 3 times per week, supervised by trained exercise specialists, for 6-12 weeks. Trained staff members will guide subjects with the stretching exercises, and activities are designed to increase flexibility and range of motion. Before beginning each stretching exercise session, subjects will be instructed to warm-up.
Placebo Comparator: Control to Exercise (Stretching) plus Placebo; Subjects with CKD will undergo progressive whole body stretching and toning exercises 3 times a week for 20-45 minutes for 6-12 weeks. Additionally, subjects will take 2-4 placebo tablets prior to each exercise session three times a week.	Drug: Placebo; 2-4 placebo pills will be given out prior to each exercise or stretching session.; Behavioral: Control to Exercise (Stretching); Stretching exercise will consist of muscle stretching and toning for 20-45 minutes, 3 times per week, supervised by trained exercise specialists, for 6-12 weeks. Trained staff members will guide subjects with the stretching exercises, and activities are designed to increase flexibility and range of motion. Before beginning each stretching exercise session, subjects will be instructed to warm-up.
No Intervention: Healthy Control; Healthy subjects without CKD will not receive any interventions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in muscle oxygenation after exercise/stretching training	Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) will measure and record tissue oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin.	Baseline, Week 12
Change in muscle interstitial pH after exercise/stretching training	Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) will give an estimation of the pH levels within the muscle interstitial space. Muscle interstitial pH markedly decreases during exercise, and is often lower than blood pH with a larger intracellular to interstitial pH gradient. CKD patients may have less ability to buffer pH changes in the interstitial space during exercise. Bicarbonate supplementation may improve muscle interstitial buffering capacity during exercise, and prevent exaggerated reductions in muscle interstitial pH during exercise.	Baseline, Week 12
Change in venoconstriction after exercise/stretching training	Dorsal hand vein model will be used to assess vascular alpha-1 adrenergic responsiveness by measuring the degree of venous constriction in response to varying dosages of local phenylephrine (PE) infusion.	Baseline, Week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Functional Sympatholysis	Functional sympatholysis is determined by measuring the change in forearm oxygenation via near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and forearm blood flow and conductance using ultrasound, during sympathetic activation induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP), at rest and during handgrip exercise. NIRS measures and records tissue oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin.	Baseline, 30 minutes
Change in muscle interstitial pH after handgrip exercise	Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) will give an estimation of the pH levels within the muscle interstitial space. Muscle interstitial pH markedly decreases during exercise, and is often lower than blood pH with a larger intracellular to interstitial pH gradient. CKD patients may have less ability to buffer pH changes in the interstitial space during exercise. Bicarbonate supplementation may improve muscle interstitial buffering capacity during exercise, and prevent exaggerated reductions in muscle interstitial pH during exercise.	Baseline, 30 minutes
Change in Venoconstriction after Phenylephrine	Vascular function is measured as venoconstriction after administration of phenylephrine. Dorsal hand vein model will be used to assess vascular alpha-1 adrenergic responsiveness by measuring the degree of venous constriction in response to varying dosages of local phenylephrine (PE) infusion.	Baseline, 30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Emory University
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jeanie Park, MD, Emory University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 11, 2015
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): April 8, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Renal Insufficiency; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Inorganic Chemicals; Sodium Compounds; Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; Carbonates; Carbonic Acid; Bicarbonates; Exercise; Sodium Bicarbonate
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00078214; 2025P011323 (Other Identifier: Emory IRB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No