Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Nephrology for July 2010. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Albuminuria, eGFR Independently Predict Acute Kidney Injury
FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Protein in the urine (even at low levels) and decreased kidney function are independent warning signs of acute kidney injury (AKI), according to a study published online July 29 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Specialties See Modest Compensation Increases in '09
FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Most medical specialties saw modest compensation increases in 2009, but many provider organizations are still operating at a substantial loss, according to the findings of the American Medical Group Association's (AMGA) 2010 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey.
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Stopping Epoetin Regulates High Hemoglobin Levels
FRIDAY, July 23 (HealthDay News) -- In hemodialysis patients, discontinuation of epoetin may be more effective in normalizing elevated hemoglobin levels than reducing the dose of the drug, according to a study published online July 22 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.
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ESRD More Likely Than Early Death for Black Kidney Patients
FRIDAY, July 23 (HealthDay News) -- African-Americans with hypertensive nephrosclerosis are more likely to reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than to die prematurely, according to a study published online July 22 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Study Examines Activity in Goodpasture's Disease
WEDNESDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News) -- New findings suggest that Goodpasture's disease -- which is marked by progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage -- may involve a so-called autoimmune "conformeropathy," according to research published in the July 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Immunosuppressant Doesn't Improve IgAN Steroid Therapy
MONDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), steroid treatment can prevent or delay loss of kidney function, but the therapy is not improved with the addition of the immunosuppressant drug azathioprine, according to a study published online July 15 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Morning Urine Test Best Predicts Renal Events
MONDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- To detect declining kidney performance in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy, a morning urine test to determine the albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) is superior to other urine collection and test protocols, according to a study published online July 15 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, eGFR Aid in Risk Stratification
FRIDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with and without diabetes, myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are valuable for risk stratification, and underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetes patients is linked to an increased risk of cardiac death, according to research published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Studies Assess Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
WEDNESDAY, July 14 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with severe antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, a rituximab-based regimen and standard intravenous cyclophosphamide may both lead to high sustained-remission rates, and rituximab may be superior for relapsing disease, according to two studies published in the July 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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New Gene Abnormality Location Tied to Kidney Disease
FRIDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- A new gene locus may be associated with the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), which is typically characterized by nephrotic syndrome and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), according to a study published online July 8 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Heart Rate Measures May Predict Kidney Disease Risk
FRIDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- High resting heart rate and low heart rate variability appear to be associated with increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and hospitalization related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online July 8 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Many Doctors in Specialties Other Than Their Early Choices
WEDNESDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) -- Ten years after graduation, approximately one-fourth of doctors work in a specialty other than the one they chose in their third year post-graduation, according to research published online July 6 in BMJ.
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TMP-SMX Associated With Hyperkalemia in Elderly
FRIDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Older patients taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) have a substantially increased risk of hyperkalemia requiring hospitalization, but being on β-blockers does not further increase this risk, according to research published online July 1 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Higher Fructose Intake Tied to Increased Hypertension Risk
FRIDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Despite inconsistent findings from previous studies, high intakes of fructose are associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension, according to research published online July 1 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Report Addresses Physician Financial Conflicts in Care
THURSDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- In a new report, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) urges U.S. teaching hospitals to establish policies that ensure financial relationships between physicians and industry do not result in conflicts of interest that influence patient care.
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Half of Cirrhosis Patients With Ascites Have Renal Failure
THURSDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- About half of all patients with cirrhosis will develop functional renal failure after the development of ascites, and renal failure in these patients is linked to worse prognosis, according to research published in the July issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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