Investigators from 55 centers in 12 European countries are contributing to the success of the 4C Study. The study is coordinated by regional coordinators that are responsible for regular cardiovascular workups and ensure that the study runs smoothly in their country or region.
Principal Investigator
Franz.Schaefer@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Study Coordinator
k.azukaitis@gmail.com
Dr. Anke Doyon
Germany
Dr. Daniela Thurn-Valassina
Germany
Dr. Rukshana Shroff
United Kingdom
Dr. Mietek Litwin
Poland
Dr. Aysun K. Bayazit
Turkey
Dr. Anette Melk
Germany
Dr. Ali Duzova
Turkey
Dr. Nur Canpolat
Turkey
Dr. Salim Çaliskan
Turkey
Dr. Mahmut Civilibal
Turkey
Dr. Sevgi Mir
Turkey
Dr. Betül Sözeri
Turkey
Dr. Yelda Bilginer
Turkey
Uwe Querfeld
Germany
Adult patients with chronic kidney disease are at much increased risk of dying from cardiovascular events. The risk is most increased in young patients with end-stage renal disease, who are almost as likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases as elderly individuals in the general population. Early abnormalities of the heart and vessels can be detected even in adolescents with chronic kidney disease, but information about the frequency, severity and natural course of these changes in different stages of kidney failure is lacking. The factors that put young patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of developing early and progressive cardiovascular disease are still elusive.
The pediatric population is uniquely suited to study the effects of chronic kidney disease on the heart and vessels due to the absence of lesions related to ageing, diabetes and smoking. In order to improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of early cardiovascular damage in children with progressive chronic kidney disease, a consortium of pediatric nephrologists in Europe has joined to perform a long-term prospective observational study following the heart and vessels of children as they advance through successive stages of chronic kidney disease.
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Patients already
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Participating centers
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European countries
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Study investigators
The 4C Study is following 704 patients aged 6 to 17 years with a glomerular filtration rate of 10 to 60 ml/min/1.73 m² in 55 pediatric nephrology units in 12 European countries.
The structure and function of the heart and the large arteries is regularly tested by sensitive, non-invasive methods and the findings are compared to a large group of healthy children.
Multiple potential clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and medication-related risk factors are monitored prospectively and will be related to the cardiovascular status of the patients.
A genome-wide association study will allow to identify common genetic variants associated with the progression of cardiovascular alterations and renal failure.
Patients are followed on when they enter end-stage kidney disease. The effects of dialysis and transplantation on cardiovascular health are addressed in separate sub-studies (4C-D, 4C-T).
Effects of kidney failure in childhood on the fine structure of artery and other tissues will be investigated in biopsy studies (4C-A, 4C-P).
Long-term renal and cardiovascular burden and outcomes will be assessed in a self-reported online survey based 4C-TRACK study.
