NEW ORLEANS—Acute renal failure (ARF) induced by pathogenic light chains can be the first presenting sign of multiple myeloma, and prompt treatment of the malignancy is critical to reversing renal damage, according to a study presented by European investigators at the American Society of Hematology 51st annual meeting.

Acute renal damage may resolve in the absence of the underlying cause.

They are less likely than men to suffer acute renal failure and other complications, researchers say.

Researcher Macaulay Onuigbo, MD, MSc, proposes that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers can cause renal failure.

ORLANDO—Acute renal failure (ARF) may be more likely to develop following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to researchers.

After 36 months of follow-up, patients were 26% less likely to die or start dialysis, study finds.

SAN DIEGO—Anemia, CKD, and microalbuminuria are each independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, regardless of the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Researchers also show that administration of erythropoietin is followed by marked reductions in circulating hepcidin.

Investigators believe elevated levels of endogenous soluble erythropoietin receptors may have a role.

Heart failure and diabetes could make reported risks clinically undetectable.

Coronary atherosclerosis severity is significantly associated with decreased renal function, according to researchers.

Adverse clinical outcomes associated with a given level of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) vary substantially based on the presence and severity of proteinuria, according to Canadian researchers.

Nephrologists propose critical action eGFR thresholds to guide management of kidney disease patients.

Two or more servings per day found to double the risk of a 30% or greater decline in eGFR.

Albuminuria is strongly associated with the severity of calcified atherosclerotic plaque (CP) in white but not black individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) develops in 11% of emergency department patients who undergo contrast-enhanced CT (CECT), according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2009; published online ahead of print).

A recent study shows that sodium bicarbonate is no better than saline in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).

Evidence comes from a study comparing two strategies for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), defined as a rise in serum creatinine greater than 0.5 mg/dL or a level greater than 25% from baseline following use of intravascular contrast media, is increasing.

PLC Medical Systems, Inc., of Franklin, Mass., has received full approval for a U.S. pivotal trial to study the effectiveness of its RenalGuard System and associated therapy in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).

Adding spironolactone to a regimen that includes maximal ACE inhibition improves renoprotection in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy, data suggest.

Eating walnuts may improve endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes, data suggest.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) should be used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes, according to new recommendations from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Albuminuria is strongly associated with the severity of calcified atherosclerotic plaque (CP) in white but not black individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Day napping and short night sleeping are associated with an elevated risk of diabetes among older adults, researchers reported in Diabetes Care (2009; published online ahead of print).

Adding spironolactone to a regimen that includes maximal ACE inhibition improves renoprotection in patients with diabetic nephropathy, data suggest.

Cell adhesion molecules may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention to delay CKD progression.

Renal disease patients who have persistent proteinuria despite treatment with the highest approved dosage of the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan may benefit from higher dosages, a Canadian study finds.

Diabetic nephropathy and CVD prior to renal transplantation are the most important predictors of post-transplant cardiovascular events, researchers in The Netherlands conclude.

SAN FRANCISCO—British researchers have endorsed U.S. guidelines stating that screening diabetic patients for renal disease should involve estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in addition to testing for albuminuria.

Serious renal damage is a possible consequence of long-term abuse of anabolic steroids, data show .

Six months of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment is as effective in the short term as conventional therapy for primary treatment of membranous nephropathy (MN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a pilot study in India found.

A six-month course of treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is as effective as conventional therapies for treating membranous nephropathy (MN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), according to a pilot study conducted in India.

FOCAL SEGMENTAL glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is not a single disease but a histologic pattern of renal damage that initially affects the glomerulus and its tubulointerstitium (Nat Clin Pract Nephrol. 2005;1:44-54). FSGS is a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome worldwide and may be found in up to 35% of nephrotic individuals.

Five-year data gathered by the Paulista Registry of Glomerulopathies in São Paulo, Brazil, shows that focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis is the most common primary glomerular disease, followed by membranous nephropathy and IgA nephropathy.

Most hemodialysis (HD) patients admitted to a long-term care hospital (LTCH) are either re-admitted to acute-care hospitals or require nursing home placement, according to researchers.

Patients who undergo nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) experience significant decreases in serum phosphate compared with patients on conventional hemodialysis (HD), despite a reduction in the use of phosphate binders, according to Canadian researchers.

Obesity is associated with greater survival in African-American maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients compared with other races, according to a study.

Cardiovascular events are twice as likely to occur in highly fatigued patients, recent study shows.

Tenecteplase, a thrombolytic agent, is a safe and effective treatment for dysfunctional tunneled hemodialysis (HD) catheters, according to researchers.

Adding spironolactone to a regimen that includes maximal ACE inhibition improves renoprotection in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy, data suggest.

Use of benazepril with amlodipine rather than hydrochlorothiazide is more effective at slowing CKD progression.

Study finds that the drugs reduce left ventricular mass.

Those who consume 74 grams or more of fructose daily are at higher risk than those who consume less.

Cocoa products such as dark chocolate and cocoa-containing beverages can lower blood pressure, a recent meta-analysis confirms.

The histologic type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) arising in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may be related to the time on dialysis, according to a study.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is a safe and effective approach for nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) that is capable of providing patients with excellent short-term oncologic outcomes, according to the largest RAPN experience described to date.

Administering sorafenib prior to nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can reduce the size of the primary tumor with adding to the risk of surgery, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Obese individuals with kidney tumors are 48% more likely to develop a clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than non-obese individuals, researchers reported in BJU International (2010;105:16-20).

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is a safe and effective approach for nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) that is capable of providing patients with excellent short-term oncologic outcomes, according to the largest RAPN experience described to date.

During a five-year period, stones were diagnosed in 4.9% of obese and 2.6% of non-obese subjects.

Diabetes, hypertension, frequent UTIs, the formation of struvite stones, and allopurinol use may predict the development of CKD among individuals who have had kidney stones, researchers reported in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2009; published online ahead of print).

Among individuals who have had kidney stones, diabetes, hypertension, frequent UTIs, the formation of struvite stones, and allopurinol use may predict the development of CKD, according to researchers.

Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid), the only urease inhibitor available for urea-splitting urinary infections in association with struvite stones, is available again at pharmacies nationwide, according to the drug's marketer, Mission Pharmacal.

The protective effect of a DASH-style diet was similar for men and women regardless of age and BMI.

Contrary to previous studies, lupus patients who receive kidney transplants rarely develop lupus nephritis in their new allograft, according to a study presented at ASN's Renal Week conference.

Rituximab is an effective treatment for lupus nephritis that enables reductions in maintenance steroids, data show.

Prior history of treatment with pulse methylprednisolone may increase the risk of fatal infection in pediatric lupus nephritis (LN) patients treated with IV cyclophosphamide (IVCY), researchers reported.

Pregnant patients with active lupus nephritis have a higher incidence of maternal and fetal complications compared with patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without renal involvement, researchers reported in Lupus (2009;18:342-347).

Parathyroid gland enlargement may delay the response of secondary hyperparathyroidism to cinacalcet, Japanese researchers reported in Nephron Clinical Practice (2009; published online ahead of print).

Elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels are associated with higher serum uric acid levels in the U.S. adult population, investigators reported at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Participation in a specialty pharmacy improved control of secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients, researchers reported at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Cinacalcet therapy is safe and effective for treating persistent hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation, British researchers reported at ASN's Renal Week 2009. The medication is not associated with allograft dysfunction or significant adverse effects.

Obesity in CKD patients is associated with increased parathyroid hormone levels independent of estimated glomerular filtration rate, according to a study presented at ASN's Renal Week 2009.

Within 12 months of surgery, their death rate was similar to that of healthy controls, study finds.

Wyeth has notified health care professionals of changes to the Rapamune (sirolimus) prescribing information related to changes in the performance of an immunoassay used for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of the medication, according to the FDA.

Strategies include the use of non-standard-criteria kidney donation and kidney-exchange programs.

One third of those who can benefit are not waitlisted for the organs.

De-emphasis on HLA matching could lead to worse outcomes in highly sensitized patients,