Kidney Disease News and Research

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Greater use of ESAs and iron at lower hematocrit levels decrease risk of death for hemodialysis patients

Greater use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and more frequent use of iron at lower hematocrit levels (the proportion of the blood that consists of red blood cells) was associated with a decreased risk of death for hemodialysis patients, according to a study in the March 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Mar 2010

Aggressive treatment of anemia with ESAs may lower risk of death for dialysis patients: Study

Aggressive treatment of anemia with intravenous iron and drugs known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) may lower the risk of death for dialysis patients with severe anemia - but also may increase the risk of death among patients with milder anemia, a new study led by a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill epidemiologist suggests.

3 Mar 2010

Pycnogenol counteracts kidney damage caused by hypertension, improves blood flow to the kidneys

An estimated one in ten adults suffers from kidney disease, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. A leading cause of kidney disease is hypertension, which effects one out of every four U.S. adults. Chronically high blood pressure damages capillaries of the kidneys which in turn affects the organ's ability to filter waste and remove excess fluids from the body.

3 Mar 2010

Intercell AG's revenues for full year 2009 increase 10.6%

Today, the biotech-vaccine company Intercell AG announced its financial results for Q4 and the preliminary results for the full financial year 2009, and presented an update on the Company's development programs.

2 Mar 2010

AMAG Pharmaceuticals reports fourth-quarter 2009 net product revenues of $12.8M attributable to Feraheme

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a therapeutic iron compound to treat iron deficiency anemia and novel imaging agents to aid in the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular disease, today reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

1 Mar 2010

Government has yet to confirm funding for ADI

With the sunset date for the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) rapidly approaching, the government has yet to confirm whether or not funding will continue after March 31st.

1 Mar 2010

Rare Disease Day 2010: Alexion Pharmaceuticals joins NORD and EURORDIS to raise awareness

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has joined the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) in supporting the goals of the third annual Rare Disease Day, February 28, 2010.

26 Feb 2010

Over 600 programs for Aboriginal Canadians with diabetes at risk of being shut, renewed federal funding needed

The federal government must renew funding for the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) in next week's budget or more than 600 programs for Aboriginal Canadians living with diabetes are at risk of being shut down, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association and the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association (NADA).

26 Feb 2010

Study identifies risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in kidney disease patients on dialysis

Vitamin D deficiency is almost universal among kidney disease patients who have low blood protein levels and who start dialysis during the winter, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The research identifies a group of patients who are at extremely high risk of being deficient in vitamin D and provides some clues as to why the deficiency occurs in these individuals.

26 Feb 2010

New fatigue rating scale predicts increased risk of heart attack in dialysis patients

For dialysis patients, high scores on a new fatigue rating scale predict an increased risk of heart attack or other cardiovascular events, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

25 Feb 2010

Guardian offers six questions to help employees and their families avoid critical illness

If you want to protect your finances from the costs of heart disease, and keep your heart healthy, the experts at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, a leading provider of employee benefits, have compiled important questions that you should ask yourself before American Heart Month ends.

24 Feb 2010

New genetic data may help predict risk for end-stage kidney disease

Israeli and American researchers have identified new genetic data that could be used in the future to predict who will develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). ESKD requires dialysis or transplantation to sustain life, and is fatal in most regions of the world, where these treatments are not available.

24 Feb 2010

A1C lab test can help in combating diabetes

Approximately 57 million Americans are on the brink of diabetes. Yet research tells us that there is much we can do to keep it from progressing to full-blown diabetes. Lab tests can help us get a grip on the disease, says the American Clinical Laboratory Association President Alan Mertz.

24 Feb 2010

Rising Medicare costs linked to the growth in common costly chronic conditions: Study

Today, two of the nation's leading health and fiscal policy experts discussed how to reign in rising health care costs in Medicare in light of a new Health Affairs study that shows rising Medicare costs in the nation's health care system are linked to the growth in several common costly chronic conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and kidney disease.

24 Feb 2010

Two genetic alterations linked to benign enzyme condition keep hepatitis C patients anemia-free

Many people who undergo treatment for hepatitis C develop hemolytic anemia, a disorder that destroys red blood cells. In some cases, it is so severe they have to reduce their medication or stop therapy altogether. But now, scientists in Duke University's Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy have discovered two genetic alterations linked to a benign enzyme condition that keep some patients anemia-free.

21 Feb 2010

Research Roundup: Financing boomers' care; California's budget cuts; Racial disparities in surgical outcomes

Health Affairs: Chronic Conditions Account For Rise In Medicare Spending From 1987 To 2006 - "Medicare beneficiaries' medical needs, and where beneficiaries undergo treatment, have changed dramatically over the past two decades." For example, the authors write, "heart disease ranked first among the top-ten conditions in terms of attributable share of growth from 1987 to 1997, accounting for nearly 14 percent of the increase in Medicare spending."

20 Feb 2010

Georgia State Senate praised for passing legislation to help kidney failure patients have access to health insurance

Georgia’s kidney care community today praised the Georgia State Senate for unanimously passing important legislation (S.B. 316) to secure access to needed health insurance for approximately 2,000 Georgians suffering from kidney failure. The bill, which was originally introduced by Senators Don Thomas (R-Dalton) and Ed Harbison (D-Columbus), has received support from across the patient advocacy community and legislators alike.

20 Feb 2010

Amgen's Prolia Complete Response submission: FDA classifies and sets PDUFA date

Amgen Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has evaluated the content of the Company's Complete Response submission for Prolia™ (denosumab) in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and classified it as a Class 2 resubmission. With the Class 2 designation, the FDA set a corresponding Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of July 25, 2010.

20 Feb 2010

Medical experts craft much-needed classification system for diabetic nephropathy

An international group of medical experts has crafted a much-needed classification system for diabetic nephropathy, the leading cause of total kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The effort should improve communication among health professionals, help researchers design better clinical studies, and guide patient care.

19 Feb 2010

Lower dose of avosentan drug may provide more favorable results in diabetes patients

The drug avosentan substantially reduces urinary protein loss in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, but the drug causes serious side effects, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

18 Feb 2010

Kidney Disease News and Research

Greater use of ESAs and iron at lower hematocrit levels decrease risk of death for hemodialysis patients

Aggressive treatment of anemia with ESAs may lower risk of death for dialysis patients: Study

Pycnogenol counteracts kidney damage caused by hypertension, improves blood flow to the kidneys

Intercell AG's revenues for full year 2009 increase 10.6%

AMAG Pharmaceuticals reports fourth-quarter 2009 net product revenues of $12.8M attributable to Feraheme

Government has yet to confirm funding for ADI

Rare Disease Day 2010: Alexion Pharmaceuticals joins NORD and EURORDIS to raise awareness

Over 600 programs for Aboriginal Canadians with diabetes at risk of being shut, renewed federal funding needed

Study identifies risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in kidney disease patients on dialysis

New fatigue rating scale predicts increased risk of heart attack in dialysis patients

Guardian offers six questions to help employees and their families avoid critical illness

New genetic data may help predict risk for end-stage kidney disease

A1C lab test can help in combating diabetes

Rising Medicare costs linked to the growth in common costly chronic conditions: Study

Two genetic alterations linked to benign enzyme condition keep hepatitis C patients anemia-free

Research Roundup: Financing boomers' care; California's budget cuts; Racial disparities in surgical outcomes

Georgia State Senate praised for passing legislation to help kidney failure patients have access to health insurance

Amgen's Prolia Complete Response submission: FDA classifies and sets PDUFA date

Medical experts craft much-needed classification system for diabetic nephropathy

Lower dose of avosentan drug may provide more favorable results in diabetes patients

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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