Benefits of Aldosterone Receptor Antagonism in Chronic Kidney Disease Trial

Objectives: To determine whether the addition of an aldosterone receptor antagonist (ARA) in patients with moderate Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):

· reduces death

· reduces onset, or progression of, cardiovascular disease

· improves measures of vascular resistance

· improves left ventricular function

· reduces decline in renal function

Background: Better treatment options providing protection from vascular events or delaying progression of CKD are urgently needed. There are limited therapeutic options to reduce overall cardiovascular risk in CKD. Accumulating data suggest ARAs may offer cardio-protection and delay renal impairment in some patients. 

BARACK D is the only current large prospective randomised open blinded endpoint trial (PROBE) focussing on this theme.

Recruitment: 120 practices are being recruited nationally. Patients identified by their GPs with a diagnosis of CKD Stage 3b will be invited to take part, with approximately 22 per practice enrolling.

Participation: For the 36 month follow-up, patients will be randomised to either:

a) treatment plus standard care

b) standard care alone. 

For further information, please contact Dr Ben Thompson, senior trial manager, telephone: 01865 289296, Ben.Thompson@phc.ox.ac.uk