American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation
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Review
The Use of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Patients With CKD and Cancer: A Clinical Approach.
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been used to manage anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) to reduce transfusion requirements and anemia symptoms. Lack of objective benefit of normalizing hemoglobin (Hb) levels and increased evidence of ESA-induced complications in persons with anemia has resulted in clinicians generally attempting to maintain Hb levels in the 10- to 11-g/dL range. ⋯ Persons with CKD with remote or active malignancy should receive the lowest ESA doses possible that achieve a maximum Hb level of 10g/dL. Based on current data, although ESAs may promote progression or worsen outcomes in some cancers, we lack data that ESAs increase the likelihood of developing new cancers in patients on dialysis or earlier stages of CKD.
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A pragmatic cluster-randomized trial (CRT) is a research design that may be used to efficiently test promising interventions that directly inform dialysis care. While the Ottawa Statement on the Ethical Design and Conduct of Cluster Randomized Trials provides general ethical guidance for CRTs, the dialysis setting raises additional considerations. In this article, we outline ethical issues raised by pragmatic CRTs in dialysis facilities. ⋯ We describe existing guidelines relevant to each domain, illustrate how they were considered in the Time to Reduce Mortality in End-Stage Renal Disease (TiME) trial (a prototypical pragmatic hemodialysis CRT), and highlight remaining areas of uncertainty. The following is the first step in an interdisciplinary mixed-methods research project to guide the design and conduct of pragmatic CRTs in dialysis facilities. Subsequent work will expand on these concepts and when possible, argue for a preferred solution.
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Observational Study
Association of Serum Uromodulin With ESKD and Kidney Function Decline in the Elderly: The Cardiovascular Health Study.
Uromodulin is released by tubular epithelial cells into the serum and lower levels are associated with more severe interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Low serum uromodulin (sUMOD) levels are associated with mortality and cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the association of sUMOD levels with long-term kidney outcomes in older adults, a population with a high prevalence of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. ⋯ Higher sUMOD levels may identify elderly persons at reduced risk for ESKD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safety and Effectiveness of Bexagliflozin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Stage 3a/3b CKD.
Hyperglycemia exacerbates the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but most glucose-lowering therapies do not address morbidities associated with CKD. Sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors offer potential benefits to patients with diabetes and CKD, but their effectiveness may be diminished with decreased kidney function. We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bexagliflozin, a novel SGLT2 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD. ⋯ Trial was sponsored by Theracos Sub, LLC.
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Fatigue is a highly prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients on hemodialysis therapy due to the uremic milieu, the hemodialysis treatment itself, and other comorbid conditions. However, fatigue remains underrecognized and the consequences are underappreciated because it may not be visible in clinical settings. This study aims to describe the experience that patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis have with fatigue. ⋯ For patients undergoing hemodialysis who experience fatigue, fatigue is a profound and relentless exhaustion that pervades the entire body and encompasses weakness. The fatigue drains vitality in patients and constrains their ability to do usual activities and fulfill their roles and meet personal aspirations. Explicit recognition of the impact of fatigue and establishing additional effective interventions to improve fatigue are needed.