Azacitidine for sudden kidney injury after heart surgery
Tests azacitidine in people with kidney injury after heart surgery.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Demethylating Agent Azacitidine on Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury-chronic Kidney Disease Continuum
Key facts
- Where
- Taipei, TaiwanSee the site
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults who developed serious acute kidney injury after heart surgery. It tests low-dose azacitidine against placebo to see if it protects the kidneys over time.
- Age
- 20 years and older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, stage 2 or stage 3.
- Earlier treatment
- Long-term use of immunosuppressant medicines other than azacitidine is not allowed.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Chronic kidney disease
- Decompensated heart failure (EF < 45%)
- Liver cirrhosis, child B or C
- Acute infection or acute bleeding
- Pregnancy
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Where in Taiwan
- Yu Hsiang ChouTaipei, TaiwanTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- National Taiwan University Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT05325099
- Record updated
- 20 February 2025
- Original description
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing worldwide in recent years and is a major risk factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD). AKI, acute kidney disease (AKD) and CKD form a continuum whereby initial kidney injury leads to ongoing renal injury and eventually end-stage renal disease if no effective treatment is applied. Nevertheless, there are no useful pharmacotherapies approved clinically for the treatment of AKI and subsequent CKD.Read full original descriptionShow less
Study of the Effect of Demethylating Agent Azacitidine on Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury-chronic Kidney Disease Continuum
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing worldwide in recent years and is a major risk factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD). AKI, acute kidney disease (AKD) and CKD form a continuum whereby initial kidney injury leads to ongoing renal injury and eventually end-stage renal disease if no effective treatment is applied. Nevertheless, there are no useful pharmacotherapies approved clinically for the treatment of AKI and subsequent CKD.
Previous studies of the investigators have confirmed that pericytes are the primary cell source of scar-producing myofibroblasts. Furthermore, the investigators had demonstrated that significant epigenetic modification in transcriptome analysis of pericytes develops in different stage of AKI-CKD continuum. These epigenetic memory made pericytes obtain proliferative and pro-fibrotic phenotypes in activated status and persist in inactivated status. Demethylation by azacitidine prevented AKI-CKD transition, and attenuated fibrogenesis induced by a second adenine-AKI.
Azacitidine has been approved in the United States Food and Drug Administration and European Union for treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly recommended front-line treatment for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are not candidates for intensive treatment regimens. Dosage of azacitidine in clinical trial is calculated according to previous study and is lower than chemotherapeutic dose. Low dose azacitidine has demethylation effect and less cytotoxicity.
CSA-AKI is the second commonest cause of AKI in ICU. The investigators plan to initiate a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) to recruit CSA-AKI patients. The patients will be divided as azacitidine group and placebo group. Patients in azacitidine group will receive three doses of low dose azacitidine in one week when AKI is diagnosed. After that, the investigators will follow up their renal function and urine protein every three month. Primary composite outcomes include a decline of at least 50% in the estimated GFR, an increase of urine protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) over 1000 mg/g, and the development of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Secondary outcome is overall mortality.
Inclusion: Patient with cardiac surgery associated-AKI, stage 2 and stage 3.
Exclusion: Chronic kidney disease; Decompensated heart failure (EF < 45%); Acute infection; Acute bleeding; Patients with active cancer other than acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome; Liver cirrhosis, child B or C; Long-term use of immunosuppressant other than azacitidine; Leukopenia, anemia or thrombocytopenia; Pregnancy.