The quest for biomarkers to accurately diagnose AKI is often analogized to ACS/myocardial infarction. Thus we have dubbed AKI biomarker investigation the “search for our troponin,” with the goal of facilitating early and accurate diagnosis of AKI that…
I talked earlier this year about “Compensation for living donation”. The comments I got show how controversial this subject is. I was happy to see that ATC this year opened the debate on this crucial matter because keeping…
Drug-induced autoimmune diseases of the kidney include SLE-like disease and drug-induced vasculitis (DIV). As many as 10% of all diagnosed Lupus cases in the US may be drug-induced Lupus (DIL). These syndromes typically develop after drug treatment for…
It’s time to write about something truly cool in the world of dialysis (how often do we get to say that?). In early 2011, clinical trials are scheduled to begin testing the AWAK, or Automated Wearable Artificial Kidney….
I recently saw a young hypertensive patient who had suffered a motor vehicle accident complicated by a transected aorta that was successfully repaired several years back. He has had hypertension since then and was referred to us for…
How many of you have spoken with patients who complain of mid-back pain and tell you that their kidneys hurt? While dull, aching pain in the mid-lower back is more likely to be associated with musculoskeletal etiologies, kidney-related…
I read a nice review of Fabry’s disease recently, and was surprised to read that its prevalence in ESRD may be as high as 1-2%. That figure is likely an underestimate, given the frequent failure to screen for…
I attended a 2-day conference on home dialysis known as “PD University for fellows” sponsored by the International Society for PD (ISPD), Wake Forest University, Baxter and NxStage in Baltimore, MD. This is a free conference for renal…
This morning at ATC, the results of a very interesting trial were presented. I would like to share them with you so we can look at them more carefully once the paper is published. The CAPRIT trial is…
We have had a rush of patients with isolated hematuria in my clinic recently. The question that occupies so much precious time of the nephrologist reared it’s head……. ‘what are the indications for a renal biopsy’. Isolated persistent…
