ASN Press Releases: 2017
Latest Release: AIR POLLUTION MAY HAVE DAMAGING EFFECTS ON THE KIDNEYS
Thursday, September 21, 2017
In a study of US veterans, researchers found a linear relationship between air pollution levels and risk of experiencing kidney function decline and of developing kidney disease or kidney failure.
Air quality remains suboptimal in many parts of the United States and in multiple regions around the world.
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Latest Release: STUDY REVEALS HIGH RATES OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS AND EXCESSIVE DOSING IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS
Thursday, September 21, 2017
From 2006 to 2010, almost two thirds of US dialysis patients received at least one opioid prescription every year and >20% received chronic prescriptions.
More than 25% of dialysis patients using opioids received doses exceeding recommendations
Use of opioid medications was linked with higher risks of early death, discontinuation of dialysis, and the need for hospitalization in dialysis patients.
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a clinical guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.
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- STUDY REVEALS HIGH RATES OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS AND EXCESSIVE DOSING IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS
From 2006 to 2010, almost two thirds of US dialysis patients received at least one opioid prescription every year and >20% received chronic prescriptions.
More than 25% of dialysis patients using opioids received doses exceeding recommendations
Use of opioid medications was linked with higher risks of early death, discontinuation of dialysis, and the need for hospitalization in dialysis patients.
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a clinical guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
- ASN and Advocates from 21 Other Health Care Organizations are on Capitol Hill Urging Congress to Support Kidney Disease Research and the Living Donor Protection Act
Advocates from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the 21 other health care organizations listed below are meeting with their representatives and senators today. They will urge Congress to continue its historic support of research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to cosponsor and pass the Living Donor Protection Act (H.R. 1270), no-cost legislation to eliminate barriers to living donation and increase access to transplants.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
- IMPAIRED SLEEP MAY HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS
• In individuals with chronic kidney disease, high sleep fragmentation was associated with an elevated risk of developing kidney failure.
• Higher sleep fragmentation and shorter sleep duration were each linked with steeper declines in kidney function over time.
• Subjectively measured daytime sleepiness was associated with an increased risk of early death from any cause.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
- HCV TREATMENT FOUND SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
• In patients with chronic kidney disease and Hepatitis C virus infection, sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral therapy was safe and effective.
• Patients with stage 3 kidney disease who were cured of infection experienced an improvement in their kidney function following treatment.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
- NEW FINDINGS MAY HELP PROTECT THE KIDNEY HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS WITH OBESITY
• A particular receptor in kidney cells plays an important role in obesity-induced fat accumulation, dysfunction, injury, inflammation, and scarring in the kidney.
• The receptor acts through a certain signaling pathway.
• Targeting this receptor or the signaling pathway may help protect the kidneys of individuals who develop obesity.
Structural and functional changes in the kidneys develop early in the course of obesity.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
- ASN Supports Hurricane Harvey Kidney Patient Relief Efforts
As Houston area residents fight to survive Hurricane Harvey's flood waters and wreckage, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) joins efforts by the American Kidney Fund (AKF) and the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) coalition to provide continuity of care for displaced kidney dialysis patients in need of treatment.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
- CANCER DRUG MAY BENEFIT PATIENTS WITH INHERITED FORM OF KIDNEY DISEASE
A tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of certain cases of chronic myeloid leukemia slowed cyst growth in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
- STUDY EXAMINES WHETHER MARIJUANA AFFECTS KIDNEY FUNCTION
In a recent study of healthy young adults, marijuana use was not associated with change in kidney function over time or the appearance of albumin in the urine, which is a sign of kidney damage.
Additional studies are needed to assess the effects of marijuana in older adults and patients with kidney disease.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
- WHAT'S THE BEST STRATEGY TO INCREASE LIVING KIDNEY DONATION?
There are very few high quality studies on strategies to increase living kidney donation.
From the limited data available, educational interventions directed at potential recipients and their social networks are the most promising.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
- REDUCED KIDNEY FUNCTION LINKED TO AN INCREASED RISK OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS
In a new study, individuals with poor kidney function had an increased risk of developing community-acquired infections.
The relative proportion of lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and sepsis became increasingly higher as kidney function decreased.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
- ATRIAL FIBRILLATION RISK RISES WITH DECREASING KIDNEY FUNCTION
Investigators observed a step-wise increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation with decreasing kidney function. Compared with patients without kidney disease, those with severe kidney disease had a two-fold higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation..
This link held even after accounting for a range of possible contributors, including measures of cardiovascular health, and it was consistent across subgroups of participants.
The prevalence of atrial fibrillation has increased over time among patients with kidney failure.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
- SMELL LOSS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO MALNUTRITION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
A new study indicates that many patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have some degree of smell loss, and that impairments in patients’ ability to smell are linked with worse nutritional status. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), are significant because malnutrition is a well-known complication of CKD, and it can contribute to poor quality of life, poor overall health, and even premature death.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
- US TRANSPLANT CENTERS FREQUENTLY REFUSE DECEASED DONOR KIDNEYS
From 2007-2012, deceased donor kidneys in the United States were offered a median of 7 times before finally being accepted for transplantation.
• Such refusals may have contributed to racial and ethnic disparities that exist in access to transplantation in the United States.
More than 100,000 people are on the kidney transplant waiting list in the United States.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
- PATIENTS MAY BE AT RISK AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY
A new study indicates that patients discharged from the emergency department with acute kidney injury (AKI) remain at an increased risk of dying within 30 days. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
Thursday, July 20, 2017
- DETAILED ANALYSIS OF DONOR-RECIPIENT TISSUE MISMATCH MAY HELP PERSONALIZE TREATMENT AFTER TRANSPLANTATION
Researchers have found that a detailed examination of the degree of tissue type mismatch between donors and recipients can help determine how much medication an individual recipient will need after transplantation. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), may help guide transplant physicians in choosing the appropriate doses for individual patients.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
- STUDY PROVIDES INSIGHTS ON PREECLAMPSIA
A new study indicates that patients discharged from the emergency department with acute kidney injury (AKI) remain at an increased risk of dying within 30 days. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
Thursday, July 20, 2017
- POOR THYROID FUNCTION MAY AFFECT DIALYSIS PATIENTS’ QUALITY OF LIFE AND DAILY LIVING
In hemodialysis patients, hypothyroidism was linked with impairments across multiple areas of health-related quality of life, including lower energy and greater fatigue, poorer physical function, and greater pain.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
- BIOPSY TESTS MAY LEAD TO INAPPROPRIATE DISCARDS OF DONATED KIDNEYS
Kidney biopsy results had no impact on the function of kidneys transplanted from living donors.
Outcomes following kidney transplantation using deceased donor kidneys were influenced by biopsy findings; however, even transplantation with kidneys with the worst biopsy findings would result in 5 additional years of life for a patient compared with remaining on dialysis.
Most deceased donor kidneys with suboptimal biopsy results were still functioning 5 years after transplantation
Thursday, July 6, 2017
- AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY FOUNDATION FOR KIDNEY RESEARCH ANNOUNCES 2017 GRANT RECIPIENTS
• The ASN Foundation for Kidney Research announced the 2017 recipients of research grants to advance new understandings of—and treatments for—kidney diseases.
• The Foundation will fund 40 leading researchers working to cure kidney diseases. These include 20 new projects and 20 others continuing from 2016.
• Established in 2012 by the American Society of Nephrology, the Foundation funds research that improves the health of the more than 20 million Americans burdened by kidney diseases, the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
- CATHETERS LINKED TO MOST BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS
Most bloodstream infections in dialysis patients continue to occur in those with central venous catheters used to access their blood. The findings come from 2014 data from US dialysis facilities.
Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated pathogen that caused bloodstream infections, and in many cases they were antibiotic-resistant.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
- Statement of Eleanor D. Lederer, MD, FASN, President, the American Society of Nephrology, on the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) believes the Better Care Reconciliation Act’s passage would negatively impact millions of patients. ASN has written to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer to express its concerns.
Monday, June 26, 2017
- INTENSIVE BLOOD PRESSURE LOWERING BENEFITS PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
In individuals with chronic kidney disease, targeting a systolic blood pressure to <120 mm Hg resulted in lower risks of cardiovascular events and premature death, compared with standard targeting to <140 mm Hg.
There was a slightly faster decline in kidney function in the intensive group, but no increase in rates of kidney failure or serious adverse events.
Washington, DC (June 22, 2017) — Results from a recent clinical trial indicate that intensive blood pressure lowering reduces chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients’ risks of
Thursday, June 22, 2017
- Josephine P. Briggs, MD, to Lead the Journal of American Society of Nephrology’s Incoming Editorial Team
Josephine P. Briggs, MD, begins her term on January 1, 2018 as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Society of Nephrology (JASN), considered the leading specialty journal in nephrology.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
- CALCULATOR ESTIMATES SUCCESS OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS INVOLVING PARTICULAR DONOR-RECIPIENT PAIRS
A new calculator estimates the likelihood that a given patient who receives a kidney transplant from a particular living donor will maintain a functioning kidney.
The calculator may be especially useful for kidney paired donation.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
- Statement of Eleanor D. Lederer, MD, FASN, President, the American Society of Nephrology, on the Extension of NIH Director Francis S. Collins’, MD, Ph.D., Tenure
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) applauds the Trump Administration’s decision to extend Francis S. Collins’, MD, Ph.D, tenure as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Thursday, June 8, 2017
- KIDNEYS FROM DIABETIC DONORS MAY BENEFIT MANY TRANSPLANT CANDIDATES
Patients who received kidney transplants from donors with diabetes had better survival compared with those who remained on the waitlist.
Patients at high risk of dying while on the waitlist and those at centers with long wait times may benefit the most from transplantation with kidneys from diabetic donors.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
- Statement from Eleanor D. Lederer, MD, FASN, President, American Society of Nephrology on Proposed FY 2018 budget
ASN Denounces Administration’s Proposed Massive Cuts for the
National Institutes of Health – “Would Disrupt Medical Research”
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
- STUDY COMPARES DIFFERENT MEASURES OF BODY FAT FOR PREDICTING KIDNEY FUNCTION DECLINE BMI, waist circumference, and several different types of body fat were linked with the development of kidney disease.
In a new study, a higher amount of body fat was linked with an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Simple ways of measuring body size—such as waist circumference or body mass index—provided similar information on risk as more sophisticated methods, such as imaging scans, to measure different types of body fat.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
- CERTAIN MEDICAL DIAGNOSES MAY INCREASE HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS’ RISK OF DEVELOPING KIDNEY INJURY
Patients who were admitted to the hospital with sepsis, heart diseases, polytrauma, liver disease, and cardiovascular surgery were at elevated risk for developing acute kidney injury (AKI).
The medical records of most patients who developed hospital-acquired AKI did not include the diagnosis code for AKI.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
- FLUID OVERLOAD LINKED TO PREMATURE DEATH IN PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS
Chronic fluid overload was linked with an increased risk of early death in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
The magnitude of this risk was comparable to that of coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
- STUDY QUANTIFIES KIDNEY FAILURE RISK IN LIVING KIDNEY DONORS
Researchers have developed a risk calculator that estimates the risk of kidney failure after donation.
Overall risk was quite low, but black race and male sex were associated with increased risks of developing kidney failure in living kidney donors.
Older age was associated with greater kidney failure risk in nonblack donors, but not in in black donors.
Higher body mass index and a close biological relationship to the transplant recipient were also associated with increased risks of kidney failure.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
- HOSPITAL ACQUIRED COMPLICATIONS MAY BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
Potentially preventable hospital acquired complications were associated with increased risks of dying while hospitalized or within 90 days of discharge, as well as with a greater likelihood of staying longer in the hospital and needing to be readmitted.
The magnitude of these associations was larger in patients with chronic kidney disease than in those with normal kidney function.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
- STUDY EVALUATES HOW WELL FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PREPARES KIDNEY SPECIALISTS
Most nephrology fellows rated overall quality of teaching in fellowships as either “good” or “excellent,” and over half of second-year fellows felt “fully prepared” for independent practice.
Fellows indicated a desire for more education in several core nephrology topics, including peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, ultrasound, and kidney pathology.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
- KIDNEY DISEASE IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS
In 2013, reduced kidney function was associated with 4% of deaths worldwide, or 2.2 million deaths.
More than half of these deaths were cardiovascular deaths.
Maintaining kidney health may help prevent cardiovascular diseases and deaths.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
- LOW AMMONIUM LEVELS IN URINE MAY INDICATE SERIOUS RISKS FOR KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS
In patients with chronic kidney disease, low urine ammonium excretion identified individuals at high risk of kidney disease progression or death.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
- DONOR-RECIPIENT WEIGHT AND SEX MISMATCH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FAILURE Weight and sex are not typically considered when matching donors and recipients.
Among deceased donor kidney transplant recipients, those who were >30 kg (66 pounds) heavier than the donor had a 28% higher risk of transplant failure compared with equally weighted donors and recipients.
If the kidney was from a smaller donor of the opposite sex, the relative risk of transplant failure was further elevated to 35% for a male receiving a kidney from a female donor and 50% for a female receiving a kidney from a male donor.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
- ASN and AAKP Advocates are on Capitol Hill Urging Congress to Support Kidney Disease Research and the Living Donor Protection Act
Advocates from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) are meeting with Representatives, Senators, and their respective staffs today to urge Congress to continue its historic support of research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to cosponsor and pass the Living Donor Protection Act (H.R. 1270), no-cost legislation to eliminate barriers to living donation and increase access to transplants.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
- ARE DIALYSIS PATIENTS BEING OVER-SCREENED FOR COLON CANCER?
Colonoscopies are being performed more often on healthier dialysis patients than on those with more limited life expectancies; however, overall, dialysis patients are being screened at a much higher rate relative to their life expectancy than their counterparts without kidney failure.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
- Statement of Eleanor D. Lederer, MD, FASN, President, American Society of Nephrology on Proposed FY 2018 Budget
Condemns the Administration’s Proposed Funding Cuts for the National Institutes of Health
Friday, March 17, 2017
- REDUCED DOSE OF WARFARIN ALTERNATIVE MAY HELP PREVENT STROKES IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS
In dialysis patients who took 2.5 mg of apixaban twice daily, blood concentrations of the drug were maintained at therapeutic levels.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
- SICKLE CELL GENE LINKED TO ELEVATED RISK OF DEVELOPING KIDNEY FAILURE
Sickle cell trait, a common hemoglobin variant in African Americans, was associated with a twofold higher risk of developing kidney failure requiring dialysis.
Sickle cell trait conferred a similar degree of risk as APOL1 gene variants, which are currently the most widely recognized genetic contributors to kidney disease in blacks.
Sickle cell trait, the inheritance of a single abnormal sickle hemoglobin gene, is found in 8-9% of African Americans.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
- TIMING OF ANTI-DONOR ANTIBODY RESPONSES AFFECTS THE SURVIVAL OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS
Kidney rejection initiated by antibodies that were present before transplantation is
linked with a better outcome that rejection due to antibodies that arise after
transplantation.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
- HIV+ KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS FACE HURDLES IN RECEIVING NECESSARY TRANSPLANTS
Efforts are needed to understand disparities in access to transplantation among HIV+ waitlist candidates
From 2001 to 2012, HIV+ kidney failure patients on the transplant waiting list were 28% less likely to receive a transplant compared with their HIV- counterparts.
They were half as likely to receive a kidney from a living donor.
More than 30% of HIV+ individuals in the United States have kidney disease, which can progress to kidney failure.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
- DISCOVERY MAY HELP PREVENT TISSUE SCARRING AND REJECTION OF TRANSPLANTED KIDNEYS
During rejection of a transplanted kidney, certain immune cells transform into connective tissue cells, which produce collagen and other fibers.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
- LIMITING SALT CONSUMPTION LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
Receiving advice on limiting salt consumption helped kidney disease patients lower their systolic blood pressure by an average of 11 mmHg.
Limiting salt intake also reduced excess fluid retention that is common among patients with kidney disease.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
- LANGUAGE BARRIERS MAY INTERFERE WITH ACCESS TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
English language fluency may be an important predictor of patients’ status on the transplant waiting list
Higher degrees of linguistic isolation were linked with a lower likelihood of transitioning from inactive to active status on the kidney transplant waiting list and with incomplete transplant evaluations.
The association of linguistic isolation appeared to be most influential among Hispanic transplant candidates.
Of the >100,000 candidates on the kidney transplant waiting list in the United States, approximately 30% are in “inactive” status.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
- THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY PARTNERS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ADVANCE BEST PRACTICES AND APPROACHES TO KIDNEY DISEASE
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is pleased to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to host the upcoming Kidney Innovation Summit. The Summit will take place at the Booz Allen Hamilton Center for Innovation in Washington, DC on February 9–10, 2017.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
- SKIN SODIUM CONTENT LINKED TO HEART PROBLEMS IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
Elevated sodium content in the skin correlates closely with left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in individuals with chronic kidney disease.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
- American Society of Nephrology Statement on US President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order on Immigration
American Society of Nephrology (ASN) President Eleanor D. Lederer, MD, FASN, and the Society’s leadership issued the following statement regarding the January 27, 2017, Presidential Executive Order on Immigration.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
- DEPRESSION IS UNDER-TREATED IN PATIENTS RECEIVING CHRONIC DIALYSIS
Patients are often not interested in receiving anti-depressant treatment, and kidney specialists are often unwilling to prescribe it.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
- LOW LEVELS OF CIRCULATING PROTEIN LINKED TO KIDNEY FUNCTION DECLINE
Findings suggest potential treatment strategy to protect kidney health
Decreased blood levels of a protein called soluble klothos were linked with an increased likelihood of experiencing kidney function decline in a group elderly well-functioning adults.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
- AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY WELCOMES GAO REPORT CONFIRMING URGENT NEED FOR GREATER RESEARCH FUNDING
Report Details Imbalance between Kidney Disease Research and Health Impact
ASN Pledges $7 Million to Prize Competition for Innovative Therapy
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
- TRIAL FINDS ORAL IRON DRUG SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING ANEMIA IN KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS
In a phase 3 trial of patients with chronic kidney disease, 52.1% of patients receiving oral ferric citrate experienced a significant boost in hemoglobin levels (a reflection of red blood cell counts) compared with 19.1% of patients receiving placebo.
A treatment effect was seen as early as 1-2 weeks after the start of treatment, and the response was durable.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
- RAJNISH MEHROTRA, MD, FASN TO LEAD THE CLINICAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY’S INCOMING EDITORIAL TEAM
Rajnish Mehrotra, MD, FASN, begins his 6-year team as Editor-in-Chief of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) on January 1, 2017, alongside an incoming editorial team of 17 highly accomplished nephrology researchers whose expertise spans virtually the entire breadth of clinical research in Nephrology. Dr. Mehrotra and his editorial team will be featured in an #AskASN Twitter chat on February 21st.
Friday, January 6, 2017
- STRUCTURE OF KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS’ BLOOD CLOTS MAY INCREASE THEIR RISK OF EARLY DEATH
STRUCTURE OF KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS’ BLOOD CLOTS MAY INCREASE THEIR RISK OF EARLY DEATH
Thursday, January 5, 2017
- MANY KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS LACK ADVANCE DIRECTIVES NEAR THE END OF LIFE
Among nursing home residents in the last year of life, patients with kidney failure were far less likely to have advance directives that put limitations on treatments and designated surrogate decision makers compared with other nursing home residents with serious illnesses.
Advance directives with these components were associated with a lower use of intensive interventions at the end of life.
Nearly all kidney failure patients with an advance directive putting limitations on treatment received end-of-life care that was concordant with their preferences.
Thursday, January 5, 2017