The results of numerous high-impact clinical trials that could affect kidney-related medical care will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015, November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
The homes of urban African Americans with uncontrolled hypertension were often lacking either foods or needed appliances required for meals consistent with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. While African Americans with uncontrolled hypertension often had discussions with their physicians about diet, few discussions were related to the DASH diet. Research that uncovered these dietary concerns will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
African American, Native American, and Asian dialysis patients were 43% to 44% less likely than whites to use hospice before dying. Research that uncovered these disparities will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
New equations may help predict the lifetime risk of kidney failure in kidney donor candidates. Living kidney donors who develop diabetes or hypertension are at greater risk for experiencing reduced kidney function. The findings, which point to the need for revised kidney transplant policies, will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Kidneys that would normally be made available for transplantation were less likely to be procured from donors over the weekend, and organs procured during the weekend were more likely to be discarded than kidneys procured on other days. The findings, which should influence future policy aimed at improving kidney transplantation rates, will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Among patients with chronic kidney disease, more severe stages of disease were significant predictors of falling into poverty, as were black ethnicity, low educational attainment, single adult household, and low income. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
New research indicates that the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States has stabilized overall. Analysis of the latest NHANES data is consistent with the recent plateau in the number of new patients with end-stage renal disease. The study indicates the need for continued efforts to protect Americans’ kidney health and will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Australian patients with kidney disease who require hemodialysis can travel and not miss their lifesaving dialysis treatments thanks to a new holiday dialysis program created in partnership by Kidney Health Australia and Monash Health. Results from a study of the Big Red Kidney Bus program will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Among patients with chronic kidney disease enrolled in either a telenephrology clinic or a conventional nephrology clinic, compliance with telenephrology visits was shown to be equal to or better than conventional care. The study showed composite clinical outcomes (end stage renal disease, doubling of serum creatinine, and death) did not differ between the groups. This data will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Hypertension in overweight and obese adolescents remains under-diagnosed despite evidence supporting both as risk factors for heart disease. Lead exposure in pregnancy is linked with higher blood pressure later on in young children. In pregnant mice, microparticles released from cells can cause fetal death, preeclampsia, and embryonic growth restriction, along with inflammation and placental and kidney abnormalities. Studies that uncovered these findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the world’s largest organization of kidney health professionals, has elected Raymond C. Harris, MD, FASN, as the next ASN President. Dr. Harris’ election took place during the society’s annual meeting, ASN Kidney Week 2015, the largest gathering of kidney disease specialists in the world.
Increasing median income levels of transplant candidates’ zip codes were associated with higher rates of living donation, but African American candidates living in the wealthiest neighborhoods had only slightly higher rates than rates seen among the lowest median income areas for Caucasians. African American donors had higher rates of complications early after donation. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Adults with kidney failure benefit from cadaveric kidney transplants from infants and toddlers when adult organs are unavailable. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Compared with recipients of living related kidney donor transplants, recipients who purchased organs internationally were more likely to develop hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and cytomegalovirus, and they were more likely to experience acute and recurrent rejections and surgical complications. Patient and organ survival rates were also lower in “commercial” recipients. Research that uncovered these risks associated with transplant tourism will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Three commonly used kidney function equations yielded discordant results for transplant waitlist qualification in a recent analysis. The findings, which point to the need for revised kidney transplant policies, will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Among kidney failure patients who were followed for 5 years, home hemodialysis patients were 4-times more likely to die than kidney transplant recipients. In elderly kidney failure patients, home hemodialysis patients had nearly a 5-times higher risk of dying during follow-up than kidney transplant patients. The studies’ findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
A new streamlined electronic alert protocol that is linked to an intervention bundle has reduced mortality rates due to acute kidney injury (AKI) by 23% in a pilot study. A common condition in hospitals, AKI is fatal in 30% of cases. Results from the STOP-AKI protocol that could help reduce the worldwide burden of AKI will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) was prevalent among HIV-infected patients and demonstrated a high morbidity rate in a new center-based study. More than half of patients with TDF-associated AKI did not recover baseline kidney function during follow-up, and about one-third of the patients required dialysis, according to research that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Among patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), a shift in gut microbiota diversity in combination with elevated plasma zonulin levels substantially impacts the degree of chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Zonulin could be a potential future target to control inflammatory immune responses, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Five leaders in the kidney health community are being honored by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the world's largest organization of kidney disease specialists. The award winners will be honored at ASN Kidney Week, the world’s premier nephrology meeting. More than 13,000 kidney health professionals from around the world will gather in San Diego on November 3–8.
• A treatment consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor fused to a bioengineered carrier promotes the recovery of kidney function in pigs with a disease frequently observed in patients in which the kidneys’ arteries are blocked.
Shorter sleep duration was significantly linked with a more rapid decline in kidney function among participants in the Nurses’ Health Study. The findings, which point to the importance of sleep for maintaining kidney health, will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
The use of hormone replacement therapy may lead to better kidney function in postmenopausal women. Research that uncovered this link will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
ASN Foundation for Kidney Research announced today that the Research Fellowship Program is fully endowed. The Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation became 6th organization inducted into the ASN Foundation's Founders Circle to fund groundbreaking, innovative kidney research. Since 1996, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the ASN Foundation for Kidney Research have awarded more than $35 million to clinicians, researchers, and educators to advance innovations that can improve care for patients with kidney diseases.
• The incidence of kidney failure from multiple myeloma decreased by about 20% from 2001–2002 to 2009–2010. • Patients with multiple myeloma who develop kidney failure are living longer. Their likelihood of dying within 3 years after initiating dialysis declined by 28% from 2001–2002 to 2009–2010
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of drugs used to treat acid reflux and other acid-related gastrointestinal conditions, may increase the risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Two new studies that reached similar conclusions on the increased CKD risk associated with PPI use will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the world's largest organization of kidney health professionals, released the latest in a series of key analyses of the US nephrology workforce authored by George Washington University Health Workforce Institute researchers. Nephrology is a specialty in transition, driven in part by changes in the health care delivery system. Geographic maldistribution of nephrologists and the “all-in” nephrology fellowship Match policy are among the issues that could influence the specialty’s future.
• Black race, lower neighborhood household income, older age, and Medicaid/Medicare insurance status were each linked with less use of an electronic health record portal by kidney disease patients.
• Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) create a low-oxygen state to stimulate the body to make more red blood cells. • The drugs generated promising results in several phase 2 clinical trials in kidney disease patients with anemia.
Each 80 minutes/day (assuming 16 awake hours/day) increase in sedentary duration was linked with a 20% increased likelihood of having chronic kidney disease in a recent study. Research that uncovered the association between sedentary behavior and kidney disease will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
• A protein called Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in blood vessel cells helps prevent acute kidney injury in mice. • Treating mice with statins protects against acute kidney injury, and KLF4 is necessary for this protection.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) will bestow the President’s Medal to the award-winning actor and comedian George Lopez for his dedication to raising awareness of kidney health issues and his efforts to improve the lives of individuals with kidney disease through the George Lopez Foundation. Mr. Lopez will receive the society’s highest civilian honor at a ceremony at ASN Kidney Week 2015, on Thursday, November 5 in San Diego, CA. ASN represents nearly 16,000 kidney health professionals dedicated to leading the fight against kidney disease.
Diets rich in calcium decrease the risk of kidney stone recurrence, but calcium supplements may have the opposite effect. Research that investigated the effects of calcium supplements in kidney stone formers will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3–8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Testing for the markers may allow for earlier treatment to protect the kidneys
• In contrast to studies in the general population, tallness was associated with higher premature mortality risk and shorter life spans in patients on dialysis. • The association was observed in white, Asian, and American Indian/Alaskan native patients, but not in black patients. • The overall paradoxical relationship between height and premature death was not explained by concurrent illness, socioeconomic status, or differences in care.
• In pregnant women with preeclampsia, a procedure used to remove a protein called sFlt-1 from the blood reduced the amount of protein excreted in the urine and stabilized blood pressure. • Pregnancy continued an average of 8 days and 15 days in women treated once and multiple times, respectively, compared with 3 days in untreated women with preeclampsia.
• High urinary excretion levels of both sodium and potassium were linked with faster progression of chronic kidney disease. • Patients with chronic kidney disease tend to consume sodium above the recommended daily limit.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is one of 16 kidney health organizations participating in Kidney Community Advocacy Day 2015 in Washington, DC. More than 100 advocates will meet with Congressional offices to call for lawmakers’ support of increased research funding to accelerate development of new therapies for kidney diseases. Kidney health providers and patients will also urge passage of legislation that eliminates barriers to living donation and helps increase access to lifesaving transplants.
• Among 51 military service members who experienced severe acute kidney injury during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, 88% of the injuries were due to blasts or projectiles. • Twenty-two percent of the patients died within 60 days. Although still high, this mortality rate is significantly less than might be expected historically. • The majority of survivors completely recovered their kidney function
• Compared with their sister(s) who had normal blood pressure during pregnancy, women who had hypertension in pregnancy were more likely to develop hypertension later in life. • Brothers and sisters of women who had high blood pressure during pregnancy were at increased risk of developing high blood pressure later in life. • Brothers, but not sisters, of women who had high blood pressure in pregnancy were also at increased risk of developing heart disease.
• Among kidney transplant recipients, patients with mostly IgG3 donor-specific HLA antibodies had a higher likelihood of organ rejection soon after transplantation. • If rejection occurred in those with mostly IgG4 antibodies, it was usually much later after transplantation.
• Most donors and recipients support swapping health information before kidney transplantation, but there was low interest in sharing social information. • Both donors and recipients wanted the transplant team involved in information disclosure. • Most donors and recipients did not think the recipient had a right to know why a donor was excluded from donating.
• In a population-based study, poor kidney function was strongly related to decreased blood flow to the brain. • Poor kidney function was linked to stroke and dementia most strongly in participants with decreased blood flow to the brain.
• Blood levels of TMAO, a byproduct generated from intestinal bacterial as they metabolize dietary nutrients, progressively increase with advancing severity of kidney disease. • TMAO levels are dramatically reduced when kidney function is restored following kidney transplantation. • High TMAO levels are linked with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and premature death in patients with chronic kidney disease.
• Among patients scheduled to have dialysis during the landfall of Hurricane Sandy at clinics where electricity had been deprived, 26.3% missed dialysis sessions and 66.1% received dialysis at non-regular dialysis units. • The percentage of patients who carried their insurance information and detailed medication lists with them were 75.9% and 44.3%, respectively.
• There was only a 5% error rate when patients with chronic kidney disease used mobile health technologies designed to help them use medications appropriately.
• Proteins in the Wnt signaling pathway help drive kidney scarring that can lead to chronic kidney disease.
• Certain electrocardiogram measures helped investigators identify a subgroup of individuals with chronic kidney disease who had substantially elevated risks of dying from heart disease.
The ASN Foundation for Kidney Research announced the 2015 recipients of research grants to advance new understandings of—and treatments for—kidney diseases. Established in 2012 by the American Society of Nephrology, the ASN Foundation funds research that will help improve the health of the more than 20 million Americans burdened by kidney diseases, the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.
• The National Kidney Disease Education Program’s Health Information Technology Working Group has identified strategies for using electronic health records to improve care for patients with chronic kidney disease, outlining specific design features and goals.
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