The Renin-Angiotensin system is a major mediator of progressive renal injury In CKD and drugs that target the RAS have been shown to slow the progression of glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and proteinuria. However, the effects of even maximal…
One of my patients has recently presented a treatment conundrum. She is a young woman with lupus that has required chronic low-dose steroids and mycofenolate mofetil at maximum dose to prevent relapse, a regimen she has been taking…
Hyperkalemia can be a life-threatening condition. Nonetheless, in transplant recipients with delayed graft function, there is a tendency to try to avoid dialysis early after transplant. The reason behind this approach is that a session of hemodialysis further…
Have you ever been consulted to dialyze for a high BUN. Or have you ever been asked to comment on the high BUN’s effects on bleeding and platelet function. Here’s an interesting case report I came across in…
Elevations in serum calcium, phosphorous and PTH have all been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in observational studies of ESRD patients. A variety of agents are available to control these serum parameters including phosphorous binders, intravenous vitamin…
Renal failure occurring in the setting of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is traditionally believed to be due to renal hypoperfusion from poor “forward flow”. This mechanism has intuitive appeal, and appears to be borne out by our…
At a recent meeting on bone biology, several talks were devoted to a new class of drugs targeting osteoporosis. Since these drugs are antibodies and thus not cleared by the kidney, I paid close attention, as they have…
A 72 year-old man who received a kidney transplant 5 years ago comes for a routine follow up. He is a quite active guy who recently traveled to Asia. His only major issue after transplant has been repetitive…
Recently we had a patient who, despite good adherence to dietary restrictions and 4 hour dialysis runs, had a high pre-dialysis potassium and an inadequate URR. She had an AVF with a history of multiple central stenoses and…
I recently saw a patient with proximal muscle weakness and mild hypophosphatemia, and I wondered whether a serum phosphorous level of 2.2 mg/dL could be the cause. We know that moderate hypophosphatemia is associated with skeletal and smooth…