Unfortunately, other than blockade of the renin-angiotensin system via ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, there are not a lot of evidence-based treatment options for IgA Nephropathy. One other potential addition to the therapeutic regimen for IgA Nephropathy–depending on…
The thiazolidinediones (a.k.a. “the glitazones”) are widely used in the treatment of of hyperglycemia. Although they have their side effects (an increased risk of cardiac events according to some epidemiologic studies, plus the possibility of fluid overload or…
The ONTARGET trial was on the major trials looking at the potential benefits of dual ACE-inhibitor (ACE-I)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy. Although it was not intended to specifically examine the effects of dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system…
A subset of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis have drug-induced ANCA disease. There are a few features of drug-induced ANCA disease which set it apart from “idiopathic” ANCA disease, but overall the clinical symptoms are similar. Drug-induced ANCA almost…
Have you ever given THAM (tromethamine)? For whatever reason I was completely unfamiliar with the drug as a resident, but it is given not infrequently in the surgical ICU’s in the hospitals in which I’ve worked as a…
The treatment of hepatitis C-induced cryoglobulinemia can be broken down into two different arms, both of which are usually necessary: 1. Antiviral Therapy, to get at the root-cause of the problem. 2. Immunosuppression Therapy, to prevent the acute…
Systemic amyloidosis can involve nearly any organ, and the kidney is often involved. Recall that there are two flavors of amyloidosis: AL amyloidosis (in which the amyloid is formed by light chains as a result of a paraproteinemia)…
Calciphylaxis is a rare but severe dermatologic condition affecting end-stage renal disease individuals for reasons which remain obscure. Histologic biopsy is the gold-standard for making the diagnosis; it typically demonstrates calcification within the media of small and medium-sized…
There is an interesting article in the most recent New England Journal of Medicine describing the epidemiology of the now infamous Baxter heparin recall which occurred over the past year or so. In brief, a Missouri pediatric dialysis…
The antibiotic Bactrim is frequently associated with an increase in creatinine shortly after starting it. While Bactrim is a not uncommon cause of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), the most frequent reason for a Bactrim-associated creatinine increase is actually…
