Kidney stiffness measured by ultrasound in hypertension and healthy volunteers
Official title: Kidney Shear Wave elasTography for REnal Stiffness in SyStemic Hypertension: a Prospective Pilot Study (K-STRESS Study)
Run by Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova · NCT07914075 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether kidney stiffness measured by a non-invasive ultrasound method differs between people with high blood pressure and healthy individuals.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 240 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Padova, PD) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 11, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | November 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07914075 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18 years) with essential hypertension, renovascular hypertension, primary aldosteronism, or healthy volunteers willing to participate.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with existing non-hypertension-related kidney diseases or conditions excluded by criteria may not benefit from the study findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a single-center, prospective observational pilot study aiming to see if renal stiffness measured by shear wave elastography (SWE) varies among essential hypertension, renovascular hypertension, primary aldosteronism, and healthy controls. Participants undergo SWE kidney imaging along with standard clinical, laboratory, and vascular assessments to identify factors that influence stiffness and to explore its potential as a noninvasive marker of hypertensive kidney damage. The study seeks to better understand how hemodynamic factors relate to renal stiffness in different hypertension subtypes. It does not involve an interventional treatment; data will inform future work on SWE as a possible imaging biomarker.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, SWE kidney imaging could provide a painless, widely available marker to detect early hypertension-related kidney changes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown promise for renal SWE as a surrogate for fibrosis in CKD, but its role across hypertension subtypes remains exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults ≥18 y * Informed consent signed * diagnosis of essential or secondary hypertension or willingness to participate as healthy controls Exclusion Criteria: * Known parenchymal renal disease other than hypertensive nephrosclerosis, including but not limited to glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, congenital nephropathy, and storage/infiltrative diseases (e.g. amyloidosis, Fabry disease), as classified according to KDIGO 2024 CKD guidelines (the presence of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, or peripheral artery disease does not constitute an exclusion criterion) * patients with urinary tract obstruction * renal transplant recipients * pregnant women * BMI \>40 * Kidney lesions such as renal stones/mass/Hydroureteronephrosis(HUN) or renal cyst in site where SWE will be performed (side specific, not patient specific exclusion criterion)
Where it's running
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Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova
Padova, Pd, Italy Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.