Studying Empagliflozin to Prevent Kidney Disease Progression in Adults with Sickle Cell Anemia and Albuminuria

What this Trial Is About

Sickle cell anemia SCA is a genetic red blood cell disorder that often affects the kidneys. This research aims to see if empagliflozin, a drug approved by the FDA to slow kidney function decline, can prevent worsening kidney problems in people with SCA at high risk for advanced chronic kidney disease. The study is a Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago. Participants will receive empagliflozin orally at a dose of 10 mg. The treatment period lasts 48 weeks during which urine and blood biomarkers, as well as kidney imaging, will be used to evaluate the drugs effects. Key urine markers include adenosine, nephrin, and kidney injury molecule-1, while kidney cortical oxygenation will be assessed by fMRI. Additional measures include urine protein levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and various serum biomarkers. During the study, participants will have regular clinic visits for monitoring compliance and safety. They will undergo urine and blood tests, kidney imaging scans, and assessments of kidney function and injury markers throughout the 48-week treatment period. The study tracks changes from enrollment to the end of treatment to determine how empagliflozin affects kidney health in SCA patients.

Targeting the Pathophysiology of Sickle Cell-Related Kidney Disease Using the SGLT2 Inhibitors, Empagliflozin