PROteKTing kidneys

Researchers are recruiting children with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged 10 to 18 from participating CF centres to take part in a study that could help protect the kidneys from harm that can occur as a result of treatment with the antibiotic tobramycin, a common IV treatment for lung infections in cystic fibrosis.

In the PROteKT study, half of the children will take a medicine called rosuvastatin once a day during a course of IV tobramycin treatment (usually lasting 14 days) and the other half will get tobramycin without rosuvastatin. The team thinks that giving the medicine rosuvastatin at the same time as tobramycin could help protect the kidneys from any problems caused by tobramycin. 

Research Fellow Dr Stephen McWilliam says: “Doctors sometimes treat infections in children with cystic fibrosis with tobramycin, but it can be harmful to the kidneys. If this study shows that rosuvastatin can protect the kidneys, then this treatment could be used to benefit you and other children with cystic fibrosis in the future.”  

This study is currently open at 11 CF centres: Alder Hey, Bristol Royal, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Kings College Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, Nottingham Children’s Hospital, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, University Hospital of North Midlands, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Countess of Chester and Royal Devon and Exeter, with a further three sites being set up: Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Royal London and Norfolk and Norwich.

If you'd like to know more about the centres taking part in the trial you can check out the details online or get in touch by email.