The frontier of regenerative medicine—what it can mean for kidney disease

While dialysis can remove wastes and excess water from the blood, it can't replace or respond to hormones like healthy kidneys do. Regenerative medicine is at the cutting edge of efforts to grow kidney cells in the lab—with the goal of one day growing new kidneys. And, that day may not be far off.

Read more | (added Jul 26, 2011)

CKD education rates in Australia (they’re FAR better than in the US!)

It’s hard to choose a treatment option for kidney failure that fits your life when you don’t know what the options are, or how they might affect you. A study of 721 people new to dialysis in Australia found that 603 (84%) had options education before they started treatment.

Read more | (added May 23, 2011)

AAKP’s study of patient satisfaction with kidney education and dialysis (hint: not so good)

977 patients completed a 46-item survey asking about satisfaction with current treatment for kidney failure and education on a scale of 1–10 (with 1 low). Standard in-center HD rated 4.5. PD rated 5.2, home HD was 5.5, and transplant was 6.1. About 31% of participants felt the treatment options were not equally and fairly presented, and 32% had not been educated about home HD.

Read more | (added Mar 30, 2011)

It’s never too late to educate

Each year, many people need dialysis within just a few weeks or months of learning that their kidneys have failed. A new Canadian study found that among 228 such people who were educated by a nurse while in the hospital, 49 (21.4%) chose PD, and 22 (9.6%) chose home HD. (In the US, fewer than 8% are home.)

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

Vytorin® reduced heart attacks & strokes in those with CKD

In a study of more than 9,000 people, the cholesterol-lowering (statin) drug Vytorin significantly reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes. One-third of those who took part were on dialysis; the rest had stage 3,4, or 5 CKD.

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

Nurse education after unplanned dialysis starts increases home treatments

Each year, about half of those who start dialysis had little or no time to prepare. In a new study of 176 Canadians, assigning a nurse to teach new dialyzors increased the use of PD, home HD, and even transplant.

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

NSF from gadolinium contrast dye is very rare

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a life-threatening problem that has been linked to gadolinium MRI contrast dye in people with kidney problems. The good news is that the rate of NSF is very low—just 1.6% even among those who did receive gadolinium.

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

Kidney pros would choose home dialysis

A survey of kidney professionals done by Satellite Healthcare found that more than 90% would choose a home treatment if their kidneys failed—about half choosing PD and half choosing some type of home HD.

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

Somebody does it better

Like the U.S., Australia now requires folks with CKD to be educated about all treatment options. Unlike the U.S., they are following up to see if this is happening. A new study of 721 people with CKD found that 84% had options education before starting treatment. (We'd bet that the rates here are still far, far lower!)

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

Survival with diabetes and kidney failure is better

Diabetes plus kidney failure is a tough blow. But, since 1980, survival for people with both health problems has more than doubled. And that was with standard in-center HD. Imagine how much better survival might be with more dialysis!

Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)

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