Pravastatin and Alkali Therapy in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD-SAT)

This is an one-year open-label study to determine treatment efficacy and feasibility of a trial that uses open-label interventions in ADPKD patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Pravastatin; Drug: sodium citrate

Detailed Description

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is the most common genetic disease leading to End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), affecting between 1 in 500-1000 individuals from every ethnic group. The autosomal dominant (ADPKD) form arises from a two-hit downregulation of proteins encoded by either PKD1 or PKD2. Although many potential therapies have been studied to slow progression of ADPKD, none to date have been proven to be both safe and effective in slowing disease progression. Cholesterol-lowering agents called statins have shown promise in the treatment of younger ADPKD patients, reducing inflammation and progression as assessed by kidney growth, but their utility appears to be limited in older populations and those with more advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent evidence suggests that acidosis, as often seen in patients with worsening CKD and which may enhance CKD progression, limits the effectiveness of statins and enhances their potential toxicity. The investigators thus hypothesize that correction of acidosis along with statin treatment will be a safe and effective therapeutic regimen to slow CKD progression in the adult ADPKD population and improve overall quality of life in these patients. To test this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct a pilot open-label randomized clinical trial in ADPKD patients with estimated GFR >45 min (Stage 1-3a CKD) comparing three treatment groups: control, pravastatin (40 mg po qd), and pravastatin plus sodium citrate solution (30 mL po total daily dose) over one year. During the study period, through study visits along with serial blood draws and urinary measurements, the investigators will evaluate safety and tolerability of these treatment regimens, follow renal function and investigate the role of these treatments on acidosis, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in patients enrolled at an outpatient facility. This study will establish the framework for larger clinical trials in ADPKD. Moreover, if the results of this study suggest safety/tolerability or potential benefits of statins and alkali therapy in this ADPKD population, the investigators will seek extramural funding for a larger clinical trial to test this therapeutic strategy in ADPKD.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
      • Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient voluntarily gives informed consent to participate in the study and signed study's IC and HIPAA.
2. Patient is age 18 or older at the time of consent.

3. If applicable, female of reproductive potential (Females who are successfully sterilized (surgical sterilization methods include hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or are postmenopausal (defined as amenorrhea for at least 12 consecutive months) are not considered to be of reproductive potential) must be non-pregnant (as confirmed by a urine pregnancy test at screening) and non-lactating, and agree:

   1. Either abstain from intercourse (when it is in line with their preferred and usual lifestyle), or
   2. Use 2 medically acceptable, highly-effective forms of contraception for the duration of study, and at least 30 days after discontinuing study drug (highly-effective forms of contraception can include approved hormonal contraceptives (oral, injectable, and implantable), and barrier methods (such as a condom or diaphragm) when used with a spermicide.))

4. Patients has ADPKD diagnosed by unified criteria using a combination of ultrasound results, genotyping and MRI as needed (1, 2). Kidney ultrasound is usually used for screening because it is safe, effective, and inexpensive. Diagnostic criteria are based upon whether the genotype is known. Disease severity varies between the different genotypes. The great majority of patients at risk for ADPKD are from families with an unknown genotype. This diagnosis will take place prior to recruitment / inclusion into the study.

   The following ultrasonographic criteria for the diagnosis of ADPKD are for at-risk patients from families of where the genotype is not known:

   1. If the patient is between 18 and 39 years of age, at least three unilateral or bilateral kidney cysts. The specificity and positive predictive value at this age-range is 100 percent. (sensitivity of 82 and 96 percent for individuals between 15 and 29 years and between 30 to 39 years of age, respectively).
   2. If the patient is 40 to 59 years of age, at least two cysts in each kidney (sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 90, 100, and 100 percent, respectively).
   3. Among individuals 60 years or older, at least four cysts in each kidney. (100 percent sensitivity and specificity).
5. The above patients with estimated GFR ≥30 ml/min i.e. with stage 1-3b CKD
6. Plasma bicarbonate ≤ 25 mMol/L
7. Metabolic acidosis
8. The patient agrees to immediately inform Investigator and research coordinator of any changes or planned changes in concomitant medication

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with known allergy or sensitive to Pravastatin or NaCitrate
2. Acute coronary disease, liver disease, muscle disease, or a history of pulmonary edema
3. Creatine Phospho Kinase (CPK) > 2ULN (2.5 ULN in African Americans). Elevated creatine phosphokinase could be a marker of rhabdomyolysis, which is a potential side effect of pravastatin. In general, patients with African American ancestry can have higher normal level of CPK
4. Patients with systemic disease that impacting kidney per Investigator's decision
5. Patients with known unstable cerebral aneurysm per Investigator's decision
6. Pregnancy or lactation, or patients who refuse to use recommended contraception methods
7. Proteinuria > 500 mg/day
8. History of non-compliance of medication per Investigator's decision
9. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, edema, or development of severe MA as per Investigator's decision
10. History of cancer
11. History of liver disease: hepatic failure/shock, cirrhosis
12. Current or planned use of any of prohibited concomitant medication
13. Patients with history of nephrolithiasis

Following medications prohibited at the time of enrollment and during the study and if the patient is started on these medications then the patient will be excluded from the study:

• rapamycin or its analogues
• tolvaptan
• spironolactone
• cimetidine and ketoconazole
• erythromycin
• cyclosporine
• gemfibrozil
• colchicine
• niacin (>1 g/day)
• other lipid lowering medications in the class of statins

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: ARM I: Control group; Standard therapy alone
Active Comparator: ARM II: PRAVASTATIN; Standard therapy and PRAVASTATIN 40 mg QD	Drug: Pravastatin; Pravastatin 40 mg QD
Active Comparator: ARM III: PRAV + Sodium Citrate; Standard therapy and PRAVASTATIN 40 mg QD and Sodium Citrate (up to 30 mL TID)	Drug: Pravastatin; Pravastatin 40 mg QD; Drug: sodium citrate; sodium citrate up to 30 ml TID

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in kidney function in patients enrolled in different arms of the study	The investigators will estimate the effect of Pravastatin and NaCitrate on kidney function in patients with ADPKD compared to Pravastatin alone or Standard therapy: serum creatinine and serum blood urea nitrogen, serum electrolytes contribute to evaluate kidney function.	12 months
Changes in liver function in patients enrolled in different arms of the study	The investigators will test liver function test panels in patients with ADPKD compared to Pravastatin alone or Standard therapy. The liver function panel should be within normal limits for enrollment and continuation in the study. Liver function tests include AST > 3ULN, ALT > 3ULN, Total Bilirubin > 2 ULN, or increase in prothrombin time to abnormal level INR >1.5 repeated two weeks apart	12 months
Changes in blood pressure in patients enrolled in different arms of the study	The investigators will estimate the effect of Pravastatin and NaCitrate on blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) in patients with ADPKD compared to Pravastatin alone or Standard therapy	12 months
Changes in muscle injury marker function in patients enrolled in different arms of the study	The investigators will estimate the effect of Pravastatin and NaCitrate on creatine phospho kinase (CPK) in patients with ADPKD compared to Pravastatin alone or Standard therapy.	12 months
Changes in muscle tenderness in patients enrolled in the study	The investigators will estimate the effect of Pravastatin and NaCitrate on muscle tenderness in patients with ADPKD compared to Pravastatin alone or Standard therapy. The physical exam will evaluate tenderness to palpation in major muscle groups such as leg, arm and back muscles. It will be graded as presence or absence. The patients will only be enrolled if there is absence of tenderness in muscles upon palpation on physical exam. If there is tenderness on exam or the patient reports tenderness that is then confirmed by exam the patient will be removed from the study.	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Urinary alkalinization changes	These parameters will be ascertained by measurements of urinary pH and serum electrolytes.	12 months
Inflammatory markers in blood and urine	The investigators will assess inflammatory markers (interleukins, prostaglandins and other cytokines) in leukocytes, plasma, and urine in the different study groups. The biomarkers that will be measured are HETE / HODE species phospho-AMPK Inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers: NGAL, KIM1 in blood and urine	12 months
AMPK pathway activation	The investigators will determine whether and to what extent the AMPK pathway is activated in leukocytes and urine derived from patients in the study groups at the different study visits, and correlate AMPK activation with biological effects.	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Southern California

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 30, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 4, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): August 4, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): February 26, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 6, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 4, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ADPKD; PKD; Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Ciliopathies; Urogenital Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Joint Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities; Congenital Abnormalities; Abnormalities, Multiple; Kidney Diseases, Cystic; Kidney Diseases; Polycystic Kidney Diseases; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant; Arthrogryposis; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antimetabolites; Anticoagulants; Chelating Agents; Sequestering Agents; Anticholesteremic Agents; Hypolipidemic Agents; Lipid Regulating Agents; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Calcium Chelating Agents; Sodium Citrate; Citric Acid; Pravastatin
• Other Study ID Numbers: HS-18-00170

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