Kidney Disease

Study participants who consumed soda sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup experienced increased vascular resistance in the kidneys compared with participants who consumed water, according to research published in the American Journal of Renal Physiology.

One of the largest providers of dialysis services for patients with kidney disease, US Renal Care, has named Andy Johnston, BS, MHA, as its new chief operating officer.

DaVita has launched a venture group as part of its efforts to improve the health care of patients with kidney disease, the company announced.

Published research found that, for people living in Baltimore, housing insecurity was associated with a greater risk for developing albuminuria, which is a marker of kidney disease.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many scientists have turned their efforts to find either a treatment or vaccine for the infection or trying to better understand the infection.

The kidney community must work together to solve the many issues facing nephrology, whether it be the COVID-19 crisis, the increasing cost of kidney care or the lack of patient awareness of chronic kidney disease, Holly Kramer, MD, MPH, president of the National Kidney Foundation, said during her address at the virtual National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings.

The prevalence of obesity is growing worldwide among children, adolescents and adults.1-6 People with obesity in the general population are at an increased risk of various adverse health concerns, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression and kidney disease.7-13 Kovesdy, Furth and Zoccali published a review in 2017 of numerous studies that demonstrated the association between measures of obesity and the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. They indicated recommendations appear to be justified for lifestyle modifications to reduce body weight in obese people at risk of CKD and those with early stages of CKD (particularly for the control of diabetes and hypertension).13

The goal of Advancing American Kidney Health is clear. By 2030, HHS is asking the nephrology community to reduce the number of ESKD diagnoses by 25%. That means slowing the progress of kidney disease in the early stages before a patient’s GFR starts to descend and either dialysis or a transplant is necessary. Obesity, a growing problem in the general population, is also an issue among patients with chronic kidney disease.

Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of ESKD worldwide,1 but the only guideline-based therapy for renoprotection in the past 2 decades was the blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system.2

Treatment goals for lupus nephritis should include complete response by 12 months, according to updated recommendations published by EULAR, along with the European Renal Association–European Dialysis and Transplant Association, in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.