Tetrahydrobiopterin in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Albuminuria

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and albuminuria are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is often associated with hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These patients also manifest a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) availability which is thought to play an important role in their progressive vascular disease. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS), an important regulator of NO and that is a key mediator of endothelial dysfunction. Changes in NO availability are believed to contribute to endothelial dysfunction seen in CKD and common CVD states. 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin (6R-BH4 or sapropterin dihydrochloride) is an investigational oral drug that is being evaluated to determine whether it will restore NO availability, leading to beneficial effects on vascular function and ultimately positive clinical outcomes in patients with CKD. The primary endpoint in this study is the level of albuminuria, an easily measured marker that has served as a predictor of kidney disease progression. If 6R-BH4 reduces albuminuria in patients with kidney disease, it may have implications to slow the disease progression as well as decreased risk of CVD.