MONTREAL—A decade after contracting acute diarrheal illness from infection with Escherichia coli 0157:H7, individuals are at increased risk for definite renal impairment with microalbuminuria, hypertension, and cardiovascular events compared with individuals not infected with the pathogen.

ORLANDO, Fla.—Acute kidney injury (AKI), acute renal failure , and the need for dialysis are common complications in critically ill patients with pandemic H1N1 Influenza A (pH1N1), and are associated with an increased risk of death, according to Canadian researchers.

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.

A meta-analysis of 27 trials evaluating erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) treatment in 10,452 CKD patients shows that compared with a lower hemoglobin (Hb) target, higher Hb targets are associated with a 51% increased of stroke, a 67% increased risk of hypertension, and a 33% increased risk of vascular access thrombosis.

MUNICH, GERMANY—Among individuals with CKD, anemia occurs earlier in women than men, French researchers reported at the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association 2010 Congress.

Ferumoxytol, a novel IV iron replacement therapy for CKD patients with iron deficiency anemia, is well tolerated regardless of the number of injections or interval between injections, show data presented at the National Kidney Foundation's 2010 Spring Clinical Meetings.

Researchers who studied a group of non-dialysis CKD patients found that about one quarter of them suffered from iron deficiency anemia. They presented their findings at the National Kidney Foundation's 2010 Spring Clinical Meetings.

Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA) and plasma levels of hepcidin hold promise as novel markers of anemia in CKD patients, suggest data introduced at the National Kidney Foundation's 2010 Spring Clinical Meetings.

Black and Hispanic living kidney donors are at increased relative risk for hypertension, diabetes requiring drug therapy, and CKD compared with their white counterparts, according to researchers.

The target BP level of less than 130/80 mm Hg for CKD patients—which is recommended by a Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guideline—is not definitively supported by scientific data and could potentially lead to adverse effects, according to Julia B. Lewis, MD, of the division of nephrology and hypertension at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.

Low socioeconomic status (SES) increases blacks' risk of developing CKD nearly twofold, but does not increase the risk in whites, according to a recent report in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2010;55:977-980).

A high resting heart rate and low beat-to-beat heart rate variability raises the odds of developing kidney disease, according to a study that examined data from 13,241 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

C-reactive protein (CRP) predicts development of proteinuria in a screened cohort, according to Japanese researchers.

Researchers find no difference between saline and sodium bicarbonate.

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.

Black and Hispanic living kidney donors are at increased relative risk for hypertension, diabetes requiring drug therapy, and CKD compared with their white counterparts, according to researchers.

It is associated with better improvements in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function, study shows.

Patients with both heart failure and type 2 diabetes who are treated with a metformin-based strategy have a lower mortality risk than matched individuals not treated with anti-diabetic drugs, new findings suggest.

More than one third of patients eligible to receive the drugs actually do not get a prescription for them.

A new analysis found that this measure is inferior to the oral glucose tolerance test for screening.

Patients with diabetic nephropathy should avoid taking high doses of B vitamins to lower homocysteine levels.

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.

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.

Higher dietary potassium intake is associated with an increased risk of death in long-term hemodialysis (HD) patients, new findings suggest.

MUNICH, GERMANY—Planned early initiation of dialysis does not improve survival or clinical outcomes among patients with end-stage renal disease, study findings show.

MUNICH, GERMANY—Atorvastatin may benefit hemodialysis (HD) patients with type 2 diabetes and high LDL cholesterol levels, a researcher reported at the the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association 2010 Congress.

Weekly (50,000 units) and monthly doses (50,000 units) of ergocalciferol treatment does not significantly impact markers of mineral metabolism (MM) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, a study suggests.

The Redsense safety device, which is designed to detect venous needle displacement during hemodialysis (HD), has received FDA approval for home/self use during home HD, according to the device's manufacturer, Redsense Medical.

Black and Hispanic living kidney donors are at increased relative risk for hypertension, diabetes requiring drug therapy, and CKD compared with their white counterparts, according to researchers.

The target BP level of less than 130/80 mm Hg for CKD patients—which is recommended by a Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guideline—is not definitively supported by scientific data and could potentially lead to adverse effects, according to Julia B. Lewis, MD, of the division of nephrology and hypertension at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.

NEW YORK—New findings suggest that electronic health records (EHR) with special features for managing hypertension may be highly beneficial in improving BP control.

Doctors may be able to head off ESRD and CVD by treating pre-diabetes and pre-hypertension sooner.

NEW YORK—An investigational triple regimen of olmesartan medoxomil (OM), amlodipine besylate (AML), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) may result in significantly greater mean reductions in BP compared with a combination of any two of these drugs in patients with moderate to severe hypertension, new data show.

Percutaneous cryoablation of larger renal masses can be performed with high technical success and low complication rates, according to researchers.

Warm ischemia during partial nephrectomy (PN) on a solitary kidney is associated with an increased risk of acute renal failure (ARF) and CKD, according to researchers.

Cook Medical, of Bloomington, Ind., has introduced BIGopsy Backloading Biopsy Forceps, a device that has a 4 mm3 biopsy cup to obtain large renal or ureteral tissue specimens for cancer diagnosis.

Two proteins excreted in the urine appear to be sensitive and specific biomarkers of renal cancers of proximal tubule origin, possibly allowing for early screening for the disease.

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases a person's risk for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a study found.

Individuals who form kidney stones are at increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI) independent of CKD and other risk factors, according to researchers.

Socioeconomic status (SES) influences dietary habits, and this may strongly affect stone formation and recurrence, according to researchers at Emory University in Atlanta.

Doxazosin significantly improves expulsion of distal ureteral stones, according to researchers in Pakistan.

Mission Pharmacal Company has introduced the Urocit-K 15 mEq (potassium citrate) extended-release tablet.

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

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).

SAN FRANCISCO—Preventing renal damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be critical to lowering their mortality rate, according to a new report.

Weekly (50,000 units) and monthly doses (50,000 units) of ergocalciferol treatment does not significantly impact markers of mineral metabolism (MM) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, a study suggests.

New approach may ease problems with noncompliance, according to researchers.

Cinacalcet plus low-dose vitamin D for secondary hyperparathyroidism yielded encouraging results

Very high and very low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels are associated with the highest mortality rates in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, a patient's level of risk may be related to whether the patient also has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), according to a study presented at the National Kidney Foundation's Spring Clinical Meetings.

Use of paricalcitol for hemodialysis (HD) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is associated with a significant improvement in survival independent of baseline levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) compared with patients who have untreated SHPT, according to new data presented here at the National Kidney Foundation's 2010 Spring Clinical Meetings.

Acute graft pyelonephritis (AGPN) in renal transplant recipients does not impair long-term graft function, according to Spanish researchers.

Black and Hispanic living kidney donors are at increased relative risk for hypertension, diabetes requiring drug therapy, and CKD compared with their white counterparts, according to researchers.

The risk for CKD is influenced by many factors, some of which depend on how patients are treated before, during, and after transplantation.

Physicians at a New York hospital have been found not liable for the death of a 37-year old man who died from cancer and receiving a kidney from a woman who had uterine cancer.

MUNICH, GERMANY—Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by non-coliform bacteria are significantly more common among renal transplant patients compared with the general population, according to a British study.