Mediterranean diet may preserve kidney function better than low-fat for adults with CHD

Adults with coronary heart disease who followed a Mediterranean diet preserved their kidney function better than those who followed a low-fat diet for 5 years, according to study data published in Clinical Nutrition.

“In persons suffering from coronary heart disease and, in combination with type 2 diabetes, the long-term consumption of a Mediterranean diet would be recommended to preserve kidney function,” Jose LopezMiranda, MD, PhD, professor of internal medicine at the University of Cordoba and director of the internal medicine unit at Reina Sofia University Hospital in Spain, and Elena M. Yubero-Serrano, PhD, emerging researcher at the Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba, told Healio. “Besides the pharmacological treatment for these diseases, recommendation to follow this dietary model could reduce and delay kidney complications.” Read more.

March 30, 2022August 16, 2022

Older kidney transplant candidates unlikely to report depressive symptoms at evaluation

Older adults are less likely to report depressive symptoms compared with younger adults at evaluations for kidney transplants, according to data published in Kidney International Reports.

Further, investigators found patients of any age who report any degree of depressive symptoms are unlikely to achieve kidney transplant listing. Read more.

March 29, 2022August 16, 2022

Thorough evaluation key in identification of candidates for home dialysis, transplant

PHOENIX — Successful transition from chronic kidney disease to either home dialysis or transplantation requires a thorough evaluation of a patient’s psychosocial and economic status, speakers said at the Southwest Nephrology Conference.

“The role of the social worker is vital to the stability of a patient on a home modality,”Lauren Pelletier, MSW, CCM, a social worker for patients on peritoneal dialysis at DaVita Inc. “Psychosocial status impacts a patient’s ability to adhere to treatment,” she said. “As social workers, we can assist patients with emotionally adjusting to dialysis,” Pelletier said. Read more.

March 29, 2022August 16, 2022

HISTORY IN THE OR: FIRST ALL-FEMALE LIVER TRANSPLANT TEAM AT MICHIGAN MEDICINE CARRIES OUT LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURE

MICHIGAN MEDICINE HEADLINES> OUR EMPLOYEES

HISTORY IN THE OR: FIRST ALL-FEMALE LIVER TRANSPLANT TEAM AT MICHIGAN MEDICINE CARRIES OUT LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURE

March 28, 2022 // FOUND IN: Our Employees, Top Story

At first glance, it looked just like another liver transplant surgery at Michigan Medicine. There were surgeons, fellows, anesthesiologists, scrub nurses and more crowded into the operating room, prepping the patient and carrying out the hours-long procedure.

But this was no ordinary surgery. Read the full story.

March 28, 2022August 16, 2022

3D Planning Cut Post-Op Complications in Kids’ Liver Transplants

— But little effect on graft, patient survival rates

Use of advanced preoperative 3D planning for pediatric liver transplant patients receiving larger grafts was associated with lower risk of postoperative complications, a small retrospective study in Taiwan found.

Kids receiving living-donor livers that were large-for-size — graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) ≥4% — had a significantly lower risk for postoperative complications in the 3D era than those receiving larger grafts in the pre-3D era and a control group of kids receiving better size-matched organs (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.006-0.700, P=0.025), reported Chinsu Liu, MD, PhD, of the Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, and colleagues. Read more.

March 28, 2022August 16, 2022

Malnutrition risk correlates with kidney function decline, CKD among older adults

Malnutrition is associated with poor kidney function, increased risk of kidney function decline and chronic kidney disease among older adults without advanced kidney disease, according to data published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.

Further, researchers noted that physicians might consider using preventative interventions to lower malnutrition risk (MR) among patients in this population. Read more.

March 27, 2022August 16, 2022

Life after transplant: Rejection prevention and healthy tips

Learn about life after your transplant, including recovery steps, anti-rejection medicines, mental health, and other healthy living tips.

Getting a kidney transplant can feel like having another chance at life. There are many great things that come after a transplant, like having better health and more freedom to do the things you enjoy. However, it is important to remember a transplant is a treatment for kidney disease, not a cure, and you will need to take special care of yourself, and your transplanted kidney. Use the information on this page to learn more about what to expect and how to stay healthy with your new kidney.

March 26, 2022August 16, 2022

Implementation of the 2014 kidney allocation system led to increase in kidney transplantation referrals

A study of patients initiating dialysis during 2012-2016 at nine transplant centers in the Southeastern US found that dialysis facilities referred more incident patients and transplant centers evaluated more incident patients following implementation of the 2014 kidney allocation system (KAS) but fewer evaluated patients were placed onto the waitlist. Changes in dialysis facility and transplant center behaviors following implementation of the 2014 KAS may have influenced access to transplantation. Read the full story.

March 26, 2022August 16, 2022

Racial Gap in Kidney Failure Therapy Widest in Youngest Age Group

Racial and ethnic disparities in kidney transplantation and home dialysis use among adults with incident kidney failure are most pronounced among those in the youngest age group, according to a recent study.

Among patients aged 22 to 44 years, Black and Hispanic patients were 79% and 53% less likely to undergo kidney transplantation, respectively, 55% and 66% less likely to perform home hemodialysis (HHD), and 35% and 23% less likely to perform peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared with White patients in adjusted analyses, Adam S. Wilk, PhD, of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and colleagues reported in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Read more.

March 25, 2022August 16, 2022

Why enzymatic treatment may increase access to lung transplants

Patients seeking lung transplants face a number of barriers, one of which is eligibility. Consider Ron Flewett, age 53, a patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, whose case was described in an article published in Breathe. He knows he may not qualify for transplantation: He is sick, but he has to be sick enough to need the transplant—yet not so sick that he will cease to be eligible.

Physicians can play a role by encouraging their patients to abide by lung transplant eligibility guidelines to raise their chances of acquiring a new lung. Balancing the health timelines can be tricky, and socioeconomic factors can influence prognosis. Also affecting eligibility and outcomes is the issue of blood type compatibility with the donor. Read more.