American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation
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Comparative Study
Center-level factors and racial disparities in living donor kidney transplantation.
On average, African Americans attain living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) at decreased rates compared with their non-African American counterparts. However, center-level variations in this disparity or the role of center-level factors is unknown. ⋯ Racial disparity in attainment of LDKT exists at every transplant center in the country. Centers with higher rates of LDKT attainment for all races had less disparity; these high-performing centers might provide insights into policies that might help address this disparity.
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Comparative Study
GFR and cardiovascular outcomes after acute myocardial infarction: results from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.
Despite strong evidence linking decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to worse outcomes, the impact of GFR on mortality and morbidity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not well defined. ⋯ eGFR was associated independently with mortality and complications after AMI. PCI, β-blocker, ACE inhibitor or ARB, and statin use were associated with decreased risks of short- and long-term MACEs.
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Meta Analysis
Effect of frequent or extended hemodialysis on cardiovascular parameters: a meta-analysis.
Increased left ventricular (LV) mass is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney failure. More frequent or extended hemodialysis (HD) has been hypothesized to have a beneficial effect on LV mass. ⋯ Conversion from conventional to frequent or extended HD is associated with improvements in cardiac morphology and function, including LVMI and LV ejection fraction, respectively, and several blood pressure parameters, which collectively might confer long-term cardiovascular benefit. Trials with long-term clinical outcomes are needed.
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Critically ill patients often have deranged hemodynamics. Physical examination, central venous pressure, and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure ("wedge") have been shown to be unreliable at assessing volume status, volume responsiveness, and adequacy of cardiac output in critically ill patients. ⋯ In this review, we discuss the various techniques and options of cardiac output assessment available to clinicians for hemodynamic monitoring in the intensive care unit. Issues related to patients with kidney disease, such as timing and location of arterial and central venous catheters and the approach to hemodynamics in patients treated by long-term dialysis also are discussed.