Advances in chronic kidney disease
-
Adv Chronic Kidney Dis · Jan 2012
ReviewRandomized controlled trials in nephrology: state of the evidence and critiquing the evidence.
The randomized controlled trial (RCT) remains the "gold standard" for the evaluation of therapies. Despite some progress during the past decade, the number and quality of published RCTs addressing the core issues for patients with CKD and with renal diseases, in general, lag behind other areas in internal medicine. The paucity of robust evidence results in fewer patients receiving evidence-based therapies in nephrology and fewer rigorous systematic reviews to inform nephrology practice and health care policy. ⋯ A detailed discussion of the most important design elements for the conduct of a high-quality RCT is described in the text. These considerations are placed into the context of critical appraisal tools. These tools allow the clinician to efficiently assess the quality of published RCTs and to determine how the new RCT evidence should change current best practice.
-
Adv Chronic Kidney Dis · Nov 2011
ReviewGeriatric nephrology: a paradigm shift in the approach to renal replacement therapy.
The population of elderly individuals diagnosed with CKD continues to grow. Many have multiple comorbid conditions that will impact life expectancy as well as decisions about whether to pursue renal replacement therapy. Nephrologists are uniquely positioned to assist their patients and caregivers in this regard and spend considerable time counseling them about the benefits and risks associated with dialysis therapy. This article presents an overview of many of the issues facing nephrologists, and provides tools to assist busy clinicians in helping their elderly patients in deciding whether to consider dialysis or intensive, nondialysis care.
-
Increasing numbers of patients are starting dialysis who have limited prognoses for 6-month survival. The presence of multiple comorbidities, aging, and frailty contributes to this phenomenon. ⋯ One option is to consider and discuss the "no dialysis" option with patients and family. Patients need to be identified who may benefit from this option, and their medical management needs to be reviewed.
-
Hypertension is found in more than 50% of pediatric patients with CKD. However, its prevalence varies according to the cause of CKD. It is relatively infrequent in children with structural disorders. ⋯ Similar to adults, long-standing and uncontrolled hypertension in children is associated with the progression of CKD and development of end-organ damage including early cardiomyopathy and premature atherosclerosis. Aggressive treatment of hypertension should be an essential part of pediatric CKD care, not just to prevent the development of symptomatic cardiovascular disease but also to delay progression of CKD. Recent findings from the European Effect of Strict Blood Pressure Control and ACE Inhibition on Progression of Chronic Renal Failure in Pediatric Patients (ESCAPE) trial have shown that the aggressive treatment of blood pressure, to below the 50th percentile, has even greater benefit in children with CKD, unlike results seen in adult studies.