Kidney Function in People With Cystic Fibrosis in the Era of HEMT

Overview

The purpose of this study is to find out what causes kidney disease in people with CF. The investigators will study biomarkers in the blood and urine that can either predict who is at risk or detect kidney damage early before it becomes permanent. The study will compare these markers in people with CF over time and during the treatment of lung flare-ups. It will also compare the blood and urine samples obtained from people without CF. The comparison aims to better understand the impact of cystic fibrosis and its treatment on the kidneys, as well as to develop improved methods for preventing, diagnosing, and treating kidney issues associated with CF.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease is significantly increased in patients with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) with a major impact on morbidity and medication tolerance as people age. Although expressed in both the proximal and distal tubules, the specific contribution of CFTR dysfunction to renal disease remains uncertain. PwCF often are exposed to renal toxins such as frequent aminoglycosides, systemic inflammation, and activated leukocytes, but it is unknown if CFTR dysfunction predisposes to amplified tubular injury. Conventional measures of kidney function, such as serum creatinine, are insensitive to detecting early injury, limiting an opportunity to prevent CKD. This study will address the gaps in early detection and mechanisms of renal dysfunction in CF. The investigators will define the triggers and targetable mechanistic pathways of kidney injury in CF and discover novel strategies for renal protection. The central hypothesis of this study is that CFTR dysfunction alters renal development and increases the inflammatory and fibrogenic responses to nephrotoxic stimuli. The study involves prospective evaluation of biospecimens (blood and urine) and clinical data. The study analyzes biospecimens in CF outpatients (n=110), CF inpatients (n=110), and healthy subjects (n=40). In the outpatient cohort, biospecimens will be collected at the time of each routine care visit every 3 months for 24 months. PwCF admitted for intravenous (IV) antibiotics will have biospecimens collected on admission and 2/week thereafter during the admission, and then after hospital discharge at each subsequent clinical encounter for 24 months. These biospecimens will be analyzed for biomarkers, fibrogenic analysis, inflammatory signals, and extracellular vesicles. Clinical data will be examined from chart review and correlated with biospecimen result.