Dialysis News and Research

Latest Dialysis News and Research

Transplantation of tissue-engineered vein is a success and offers hope for patients who lack suitable veins for dialysis or bypass surgery

The first biologically tissue-engineered vein grown from a patient’s own stem cells has been successfully transplanted into a 10-year-old girl with portal vein obstruction, dramatically enhancing her quality of life.

15 Jun 2012

Life-saving kidney transplants now available for older patients

In the past, a patient 55 or older had little or no chance of receiving a life-saving kidney transplant. But improvements in medicine have many doctors re-evaluating older patients who need a new organ.

15 Jun 2012

Serum PFOA levels increase cardiovascular risk factors

Serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid, which is found in Teflon and Gore-Tex, appear to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk, even at levels commonly found in the general population, Korean investigators have discovered.

13 Jun 2012

Sleep apnea may speed-up kidney decline

Patients with chronic kidney disease are commonly exposed to nocturnal hypoxia that may increase the rate of decline in kidney function, Canadian researchers report.

12 Jun 2012

Uncertainty over efficacy of clopidogrel in hemolytic uremic syndrome

Clinical outcomes for children hospitalized with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome are comparable between those treated with clopidogrel and those who are not, show study findings.

12 Jun 2012

Study examines factors linked with survival after CEA in patients with asymptomatic ICA stenosis

While carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is performed to prevent stroke, long-term survival is essential to ensure benefit, especially in asymptomatic patients. A new study presented at the 66th Vascular Annual Meeting presented by the Society for Vascular Surgery today examined patient factors associated with 5-year survival following CEA in patients with asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

11 Jun 2012

Positive results from Amgen Sensipar/Mimpara Phase 3 trial for HPT, CKD

Amgen today announced top-line results of the Phase 3 EVOLVE (EValuation Of Cinacalcet HCl Therapy to Lower CardioVascular Events) trial, which evaluated Sensipar/Mimpara (cinacalcet) for the reduction of the risk of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events among 3,883 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis.

8 Jun 2012

First intercontinental Kidney Paired Donation

Medical history was made last December when a 31-year old Oklahoma woman donated her kidney to a stranger - a man living in Athens, Greece. In return, the Greek man's wife has donated one of her kidneys to someone in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., completing the first intercontinental kidney exchange and opening a door that potentially can save thousands of lives in the U.S. and worldwide. A donor from Trinidad and Tobago will soon travel to Denver to continue the chain.

2 Jun 2012

IU scientists successfully transplant primary kidney cells intravenously to treat renal failure

Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have successfully transplanted primary kidney cells intravenously to treat renal failure in rats, pointing the way to a possible future alternative to kidney transplants and expensive dialysis treatments in humans.

1 Jun 2012

Capsule’s DataCaptor solution helps Sentara to improve patient care

Capsule Tech, Inc., the leading provider of medical device connectivity, today announced that its DataCaptor solution has helped Sentara Healthcare connect more than 1,800 medical devices from more than 1,000 patient beds.

31 May 2012

Intensive glycemic control not associated with reduced risk of kidney failure in type-2 diabetics

Yale School of Medicine researchers have found that intensively controlling glucose (glycemic) levels in type-2 diabetes patients may not reduce the risk of kidney failure. The study, which is a review of data from seven clinical trials, is published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

29 May 2012

ESRD patients with diabetes may benefit from Baxter’s low-glucose PD regimen

Baxter International Inc. today announced results from two large, international multicenter trials demonstrating that a low glucose peritoneal dialysis (PD) regimen favorably impacted metabolic measures important for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with diabetes, including blood glucose (sugar) control and selected lipids.

From Baxter International Inc. 28 May 2012

Peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die

An infection called peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

25 May 2012

First study to examine how patients and families are soliciting living kidney donors on Facebook

Loyola University Medical Center researchers are reporting one of the first studies to examine how patients and families are soliciting living kidney donors on Facebook.

24 May 2012

Zytoprotec completes PD-protec Phase I/II trial on kidney failure

Zytoprotec, a company developing drugs based on active cytoprotection, today announced the completion of a Phase I/II clinical trial with its lead product, PD-protec.

24 May 2012

FMCNA announces new educational resources to enhance RightStart

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading network of dialysis facilities, announced today new educational resources to enhance RightStart™, its innovative program designed to educate and empower new dialysis patients.

24 May 2012

Phase I/II clinical trial of novel dialysate completed by Zytoprotec

Zytoprotec, a company developing drugs based on active cytoprotection, today announced the completion of a Phase I/II clinical trial with its lead product, PD-protec™. The product is developed to improve the treatment of patients with kidney failure.

23 May 2012

Billion-dollar Davita deal highlights movement toward mergers, accountable care organizations

This particular deal, in which DaVita will acquire HealthCare Partners, will enable the dialysis services provider to offer a more integrated group of services that fall under the ACO model that the government is trying to encourage.

23 May 2012

“Networks” succeed in finding kidney donors: John Hopkins program reports

Johns Hopkins researchers say a program they developed that uses personal advocates and community networks to find organ donors for friends and loved ones who need kidney transplants resulted in success for nearly half of the participants in its trial run.

22 May 2012

First Edition: May 22, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about a lawsuit brought by Catholic organizations against the Obama administration's contraception coverage rule and a new recommendation on PSA screening by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

22 May 2012