Curcumin Therapy to Treat Vascular Dysfunction in Children and Young Adults With ADPKD

Although often considered to be a disease of adults, complications of autosomal dominant
polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) begin in childhood. While ADPKD causes the continued growth
of multiple kidney cysts that ultimately result in loss of kidney function, the leading cause
of death among patients with ADPKD is cardiovascular disease. Treatment options to prevent
cardiovascular disease in adults with ADPKD are limited, thus childhood may be an important
time to reduce risk. Curcumin is a safe, naturally occurring substance found in the Indian
spice tumeric, which is in curry powder. The proposed research will determine the
effectiveness of curcumin for improving the health and function of arteries in children and
young adults with ADPKD. The study also will provide insight into how curcumin improves
artery health by determining the physiological mechanisms (biological reasons) involved and
offer exploratory evidence if curcumin can slow kidney growth. This will be done by comparing
these measurements in children and young adults who are randomized to receive either curcumin
or placebo for 1 year.

Inclusion Criteria:

- ADPKD diagnosis

- Normal renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate >80 mL/min/1.73m^2)

- Ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- Currently taking a curcumin supplement

- Current smoking or history of smoking in the past 12 months

- History of hospitalization within the last 3 months

- Active infection or antibiotic therapy

- Pregnancy, lactation, or unwillingness to use adequate birth control

- Body-mass index >95th percentile in ages 6-17 or >40 kg/m2 in ages 18-25

- Inability to cooperate with/clinical contraindication for MRI including severe
claustrophobia, implants, devices, or non-removable body piercings