Past kidney injury and pregnancy risks
Mechanisms of subclinical renal injury in females following AKI: implications for adverse pregnancy outcomes
['FUNDING_R01'] · AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY · NIH-11295432
This project looks at whether a previous episode of sudden kidney injury can cause hidden kidney and blood-vessel problems that raise risks for mothers and babies during pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (AUGUSTA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11295432 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use a rat model that mimics acute kidney injury (AKI) before pregnancy to study how the kidneys, blood flow, and immune system adapt (or fail to adapt) in later pregnancies. They measure nitric oxide availability and immune cells called T regulatory cells to look for hidden damage not detected by routine blood tests. The team also tracks pregnancy outcomes such as fetal growth and maternal blood pressure to link those biological changes to health risks. The goal is to identify markers or pathways that could be targeted to improve outcomes for women with past AKI.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women who previously had an episode of acute kidney injury and are planning pregnancy or are currently pregnant would be the most relevant group for future human studies.
Not a fit: People without a history of AKI, men, and those with chronic kidney disease unrelated to a prior acute injury are unlikely to directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to tests or treatments to reduce pregnancy complications in women who had AKI before conceiving.
How similar studies have performed: Large clinical studies have shown links between past AKI and worse pregnancy outcomes and animal models reproduce these findings, but targeting nitric oxide and Treg pathways in this specific context is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
AUGUSTA, UNITED STATES
- AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY — AUGUSTA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SULLIVAN, JENNIFER C — AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SULLIVAN, JENNIFER C
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.