Kidney damage and blood pressure changes in children with HIV
Pathogenesis of renal injury and hypertension in HIV+ children
This project explores why children and adolescents with HIV often get kidney damage but usually do not have high blood pressure early on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320786 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, doctors will follow about 190 children and teens with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and regularly check blood pressure, blood and urine for signs of kidney injury and salt handling. They will measure hormones from the renin-angiotensin system and immune proteins such as TNF-α, HIV-Tat, and FGF-2 to see how these affect protein in the urine and kidney scarring. The team will also use laboratory mouse models that carry HIV genes to test how these molecules change kidney function and blood pressure. Findings will be used to better understand when and how blood pressure medicines are safe and helpful for young people with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and who have or are at risk for kidney disease or proteinuria would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV, adults outside the pediatric/adolescent groups studied, or those with very late-stage kidney failure may not directly benefit from this pediatric-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect HIV-related kidney problems earlier and tailor blood pressure treatments more safely for children with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier human and animal studies support a role for the renin-angiotensin system and inflammatory signals in HIV-related kidney disease, though the specific idea that RAS counteracts cytokine-driven low blood pressure is a newer hypothesis.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Patricio E. — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Ray, Patricio E.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.