The prevalence of Podocyturia in virologically controlled HIV infected patients

Dr. Nesrine Rizk

Start: Jun 01, 2018

End: Jul 01, 2019

Abstract

Podocyturia is defined as the presence of podocytes, cells derived from the kidney, in the urine. Podocyturia is a more sensitive marker of tubular dysfunction compared to albuminuria as demonstrated in different groups of patients (diabetic, obese, pre-eclampsia). Albuminuria and proteinuria are independent predictors of cardiovascular events (CVD), worse outcomes, and increased mortality in the HIV infected patients.  There is lack of documented prevalence of podocyturia among HIV patients worldwide.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of podocyturia in a cohort of virologically controlled HIV infected patients. Moreover, this prevalence will be assessed in association with HIV-specific data.

We propose to carry out a cross-sectional study at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.  Eligible in this study will be adult patients with virologically controlled HIV infection on combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) since at least one year. Data will be collected through face-to-face interviews, as well as chart reviews, and anthropometric measures, in addition to blood and urine sample collection.  Information collected will include: quantitative measures of podocyturia, demographic data, socioeconomic data, comorbidities, serum and urine markers of renal diseases, as well as HIV-specific data, such as CD4 counts, viral loads, treatment regimens, etc…

The results of this study will be used to shed more light on the prevalence of podocyturia, as well as its association with various indicators of the HIV infection.  Moreover, this study will serve as a first step towards developing more comprehensive research projects to understand the role of podocyturia such as predicting cardiovascular disease in this population.

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