Explanatory videos for patients and their parents
For our interested patients (and of course their parents and guardians) there are three videos that answer the following questions:
How do we ensure patient safety?
To ensure that the blood pressure values are within the targeted range, all participants receive a special blood pressure monitor that transmits all values to the blood pressure center. There, the values are analyzed and the results are forwarded to the treating team of doctors, who can then react quickly and adjust the therapy.
This special function contributes to the success of the study and enables us to guarantee patient safety.
What advantage do the study participants have?
Participation in the study not only makes it possible to gain important scientific knowledge that can improve medical treatment. All participants also receive a detailed annual examination of their cardiovascular system. In addition, all participants receive a special blood pressure monitor that is suitable for children and automatically forwards all measured values to the medical team. This ensures that the blood pressure is within the desired range.
Why are we conducting the SOPHOCLES study?
Kidney transplantation is an established therapy in childhood, with very good long-term results. Nevertheless, there are often problems that can impair quality of life or kidney function, above all high blood pressure. It has not yet been sufficiently researched which blood pressure range is optimal for children and adolescents after kidney transplantation. And this is precisely the aim of the SOPHOCLES study.
We want to compare two groups of patients: one group with blood pressure values within the previously valid target values for blood pressure, the other group with lower target values.
You can find out more about the Sophocles study in the video.
Watch this video to find out more about the background to the SOPHOCLES study.
How do the examinations work?
Once a year, we carry out an examination of the cardiovascular system. We measure blood pressure and pulse wave velocity, we examine the heart and neck vessels using ultrasound and we carry out various laboratory tests. A long-term blood pressure measurement with a device to wear around the neck is also included. This is in addition to the daily individual measurements with the home blood pressure monitor. There is more information on this in the next section.
You can find more details on the annual study measurement process in this video.
How does blood pressure measurement work at home?
Both too low and too high blood pressure can have a negative impact on the body. To ensure that the blood pressure is exactly within the desired range, all participants receive a special blood pressure monitor with which they can measure their blood pressure at home at any time. The device transmits the measurement results directly to the treating team of doctors at your nephrology center. The blood pressure center in Hanover can also view the values and is in contact with the colleagues on site to jointly bring the blood pressure into the target range.
Watch the video to find out exactly how it works and what you should bear in mind when measuring your blood pressure at home.
