Nephrology Commons^™

Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies: To Care Or Not To Care, Sara Shahid, Syed H Alam, Lillian Gaber, Salman Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis is a disease process with a wide range of presentations, from asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic disease with positive laboratory testing, to florid acute end-organ damage. Consensus has not been established as to the frequency and/or protocol by which ANCA testing should be repeated. We present the case of a 53-year-old woman who initially came to medical attention with persistent dyspnea and pulmonary infiltrates presumed to be due to acute exacerbation of chronic diastolic congestive heart failure. Extensive infectious disease testing was negative, but ANCA testing was positive. However, because antinuclear antibody (ANA) interference in …

The Relation Of Abo Blood Group To The Severity Of Coronavirus Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Fazal Ur Rehman, Syed Furrukh Omair, Fatima Memon, Bakhtawar J. Rind, Danish Ahmed Memon, Syed Ahsan Ali, Bilal Ahmed, Naureen Ali

Section of Internal Medicine

Background: Blood groups are considered to have an impact on the occurrence and severity of coronavirus disease. While among Chinese and Caucasian, blood group O individuals were less and group A were more likely to have severe disease and mortality, data on South Asians aren’t available.
Objective: This study aimed to find out the association of disease severity with blood group among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
Materials and methodology: Data were collected on a predesigned questionnaire containing details of patient demographics, medical comorbidities, clinical presentation, and laboratory parameters. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association of the …

Survey Of Telemedicine By Pediatric Nephrologists During The Covid-19 Pandemic., Rupesh Raina, Nikhil Nair, Hui Kim Yap, Guido Filler, Sidharth K. Sethi, Arvind Bagga, Pankaj Hari, Timothy Bunchman, Sharon Bartosh, Katherine Twombley, Gaurav Kapur, Mignon Mcculloch, Bradley A. Warady, Maria Díaz-González De Ferris, Sarah Rush

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction: The slow increase in use of telemedicine began to expand rapidly, along with reimbursement changes, during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Standardized protocols for these services are lacking but are needed for effective and equitable health care. In this study, we queried pediatric nephrologists and their patients about their telemedicine experiences during the pandemic.

Methods: Surveys that were in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act were deployed online to patients and physicians.

Results: We collected survey responses from 400 patients and 197 pediatric nephrologists. Patients reported positive experiences with telemedicine visits as it was logistically easier …

Covid-19 In Hemodialysis Patients, Sonia Yaqub, Amna Hamid, Zarghoona Naeem

Section of Nephrology

No abstract provided.

Brain Abscess Caused By Lactococcus Lactis In A Young Male, Intisar Ahmed, Kashif Aziz, Hameed Tareen, Muhammad Arslan Ahmed

Section of Cardiology

Lactococcus lactis cremoris is one of the gram positive cocci, not known to be pathogenic in humans. We report a case of brain abscess due to lactococcus lactis in an adolescent. An 18-year male with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries and dextrocardia was admitted with fever, headache and right-sided numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well circumscribed irregular heterogeneous abnormal signal intensity lesion in left temporo-parietal lobe having central area of diffusion restriction and peripheral wall enhancement on post-contrast images. He underwent mini-craniotomy for abscess drainage. Pus culture revealed growth of lactococcus lactis. He was treated with ceftriaxone and …

Central And Peripheral Arterial Diseases In Chronic Kidney Disease: Conclusions From A Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (Kdigo) Controversies Conference, Kirsten L Johansen, Pranav S Garimella, Caitlin W Hicks, Philip A Kalra, Dearbhla M Kelly, Sven Martens, Kunihiro Matsushita, Pantelis Sarafidis, Manish M Sood, Charles A Herzog, Michael Cheung, Michel Jadoul, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Holger Reinecke, Conference Participants

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects about 10% of all populations worldwide, with about 2 million people requiring dialysis. Although patients with CKD are at high risk of cardiovascular disease and events, they are often underrepresented or excluded in clinical trials, leading to important knowledge gaps about how to treat these patients. KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) convened the fourth clinical Controversies Conference on the heart, kidney and vasculature in Dublin, Ireland, in February 2020, entitled Central and Peripheral Arterial Diseases in Chronic Kidney Disease. A global panel of multidisciplinary experts from the fields of nephrology, cardiology, neurology, surgery, radiology, …

Factors Associated With Access To And Receipt Of Liver Transplantation In Veterans With End-Stage Liver Disease, Fasiha Kanwal, Ruben Hernaez, Yan Liu, Thomas J Taylor, Abbas Rana, Jennifer R Kramer, Aanand D Naik, Donna Smith, Tamar Taddei, Steven M Asch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Organ scarcity means few patients with advanced liver disease undergo a transplant, making equitable distribution all the more crucial. Disparities may arise at any stage in the complex process leading up to this curative therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the rate of and factors associated with referral, wait-listing, and receipt of liver allografts.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study used linked data from comprehensive electronic medical records and the United Network of Organ Sharing. Adult patients with cirrhosis and a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease with addition of sodium score of at least 15 points between October 1, …

Closing Gaps In The Care Of Patients With Heart-Kidney Disease: The Time Is Now., Janani Rangaswami

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract present.

A Mouse Model Of Prenatal Exposure To Interleukin-6 To Study The Developmental Origin Of Health And Disease., Tarak Srivastava, Trupti Joshi, Daniel P. Heruth, Mohammad Rezaiekhaligh, Robert E. Garola, Jianping Zhou, Varun C. Boinpelly, M. Farhan Ali, Uri S. Alon, Madhulika Sharma, Gregory B. Vanden Heuvel, Pramod Mahajan, Lakshmi Priya, Yuexu Jiang, Ellen T. Mccarthy, Virginia J. Savin, Ram Sharma, Mukut Sharma

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Systemic inflammation in pregnant obese women is associated with 1.5- to 2-fold increase in serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and newborns with lower kidney/body weight ratio but the role of IL-6 in increased susceptibility to chronic kidney (CKD) in adult progeny is not known. Since IL-6 crosses the placental barrier, we administered recombinant IL-6 (10 pg/g) to pregnant mice starting at mid-gestation yielded newborns with lower body (p < 0.001) and kidney (p < 0.001) weights. Histomorphometry indicated decreased nephrogenic zone width (p = 0.039) with increased numbers of mature glomeruli (p = 0.002) and pre-tubular aggregates (p = 0.041). Accelerated maturation in IL-6 newborns was suggested by early expression of podocyte-specific protein podocin in glomeruli, increased 5-methyl-cytosine (LC-MS analysis for CpG DNA methylation) and altered expression of certain genes of cell-cycle and apoptosis (RT-qPCR array-analysis). Western blotting showed upregulated pJAK2/pSTAT3. Thus, treating dams with IL-6 as a surrogate provides newborns to study effects of maternal systemic inflammation on future susceptibility to CKD in adulthood.

Therapeutic Potential Of Hla-I Polyreactive Mabs Mimicking The Hla-I Polyreactivity And Immunoregulatory Functions Of Ivig, Mepur H Ravindranath, Fatiha El Hilali, Edward Filippone

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

HLA class-I (HLA-I) polyreactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reacting to all HLA-I alleles were developed by immunizing mice with HLA-E monomeric, α-heavy chain (αHC) open conformers (OCs). Two mAbs (TFL-006 and TFL-007) were bound to the αHC’s coated on a solid matrix. The binding was inhibited by the peptide117AYDGKDY123, present in all alleles of the six HLA-I isoforms but masked by β2-microglobulin (β2-m) in intact HLA-I trimers (closed conformers, CCs). IVIg preparations administered to lower anti-HLA Abs in pre-and post-transplant patients have also shown HLA-I polyreactivity. We hypothesized that the mAbs that mimic IVIg HLA-I polyreactivity might also possess the immunomodulatory …

Frequency And Risk Factors Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Helicobacter Pylori-Infected Dyspeptic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study, Basit Siddiqui, Muhammad Kamran, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Rabeea Azmat, Zain Mushtaq, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Javed Yakoob, Zaigham Abbas

Section of Gastroenterology

Background: In dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, little evidence available from Pakistan.
Objective: The study aims to determine the frequency and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 22 November 2016 and 30 June 2018. Adults of age between 18 and 90 years who attended the out-patient department due to abdominal discomfort, pain, fullness, and bloating who underwent upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were enrolled after taking informed consent. Patients with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, taking alcohol, pregnant women …

Variability In Ckd Biomarker Studies: Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (Supar) And Kidney Disease Progression In The Chronic Kidney Disease In Children (Ckid) Study., Alison G. Abraham, Yunwen Xu, Jennifer L. Roem, Jason H. Greenberg, Darcy K. Weidemann, Venkata S. Sabbisetti, Joseph V. Bonventre, Michelle Denburg, Bradley A. Warady, Susan L. Furth

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Rationale & Objective: Biomarker studies are important for generating mechanistic insight and providing clinically useful predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, variability across studies can often muddy the evidence waters. Here we evaluated real-world variability in biomarker studies using two published studies, independently conducted, of the novel plasma marker soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) for predicting CKD progression in children with CKD.

Study Design: A comparison of 2 prospective cohort studies.

Setting & Participants: 541 children from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study, median age 12 years, median glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 54 mL/min/1.73m …

The Dietary Management Of Potassium In Children With Ckd Stages 2-5 And On Dialysis-Clinical Practice Recommendations From The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce., An Desloovere, José Renken-Terhaerdt, Jetta Tuokkola, Vanessa Shaw, Larry A. Greenbaum, Dieter Haffner, Caroline Anderson, Christina L. Nelms, Michiel J S Oosterveld, Fabio Paglialonga, Nonnie Polderman, Leila Qizalbash, Bradley A. Warady, Rukshana Shroff, Johan Vande Walle

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Dyskalemias are often seen in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). While hyperkalemia is common, with an increasing prevalence as glomerular filtration rate declines, hypokalemia may also occur, particularly in children with renal tubular disorders and those on intensive dialysis regimens. Dietary assessment and adjustment of potassium intake is critically important in children with CKD as hyperkalemia can be life-threatening. Manipulation of dietary potassium can be challenging as it may affect the intake of other nutrients and reduce palatability. The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce (PRNT), an international team of pediatric renal dietitians and pediatric nephrologists, has developed clinical practice recommendations …

Transcription Factor Β-Catenin Plays A Key Role In Fluid Flow Shear Stress-Mediated Glomerular Injury In Solitary Kidney., Tarak Srivastava, Daniel P. Heruth, R Scott Duncan, Mohammad H. Rezaiekhaligh, Robert E. Garola, Lakshmi Priya, Jianping Zhou, Varun C. Boinpelly, Jan Novak, Mohammed Farhan Ali, Trupti Joshi, Uri S. Alon, Yuexu Jiang, Ellen T. Mccarthy, Virginia J. Savin, Ram Sharma, Mark L. Johnson, Mukut Sharma

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Increased fluid flow shear stress (FFSS) in solitary kidney alters podocyte function in vivo. FFSS-treated cultured podocytes show upregulated AKT-GSK3β-β-catenin signaling. The present study was undertaken to confirm (i) the activation of β-catenin signaling in podocytes in vivo using unilaterally nephrectomized (UNX) TOPGAL mice with the β-galactosidase reporter gene for β-catenin activation, (ii) β-catenin translocation in FFSS-treated mouse podocytes, and (iii) β-catenin signaling using publicly available data from UNX mice. The UNX of TOPGAL mice resulted in glomerular hypertrophy and increased the mesangial matrix consistent with hemodynamic adaptation. Uninephrectomized TOPGAL mice showed an increased β-galactosidase expression at 4 weeks …

A New Paradigm: Ecmo Therapy In Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients, Igor Areinamo

Research Days

Background: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for support of pediatric patients has significantly increased in the past years. Patients with known oncologic diseases, immunodeficiencies, or bone marrow transplants (BMT) have traditionally not been considered candidates for Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to perceived high risk for mortality. Ongoing advances have continued to push the boundaries of ECMO use and we report our recent experience with this patient population

Objectives/Goal: To evaluate survival to discharge of pediatric patients who require ECMO support and who also have an underlying hematologic or oncologic disease process. To determine specific patient characteristics that …

Association Between Blood Pressure And Esa Dose In Pediatric Patients On Dialysis, Heather A. Morgans

Research Days

Background: Hypertension is a reported side effect of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs), with a mechanism of action related to elevated hematocrit levels and direct vasopressor effects. Limited information exists on the relationship between ESA dosage and hypertension in children receiving maintenance dialysis.

Objectives/Goal: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant association between ESA dose and blood pressure (BP) in pediatric patients on dialysis. The secondary aim was to determine covariates in relation to ESA dose.

Methods/Design: Data from the International Pediatric Dialysis Network (IPDN) database was used to retrospectively analyze the association between …

Acute Renal Failure And An Acid-Base Dilemma, Kamil Sardarli, Russell Leong, Matthew Weatherhead, Bhavinkumar Dalal

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Acute renal failure (ARF) is well-recognized to result in metabolic acidosis. The acidosis of ARF is associated with decreased ammoniagenesis and anion excretion. Alkalosis in the presence of ARF presents diagnostic uncertainty and therapeutic challenges. This vignette describes a case of ARF resulting in several electrolyte imbalances and metabolic alkalosis. Case Description: A 54-year-old female with past medical history of small bowel resection with colostomy presented for nausea and vomiting for two weeks. On presentation, she was noted to be tachycardic and lethargic. Her workup revealed a serum creatinine of 6.8 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen of 147 mg/dL, bicarbonate …

Retrospective Analysis Of Post-Operative Sepsis Rates, Stone Composition, And Ureteral Stent Duration After Ureteroscopy And Laser Lithotripsy During Covid-19, Young Son, Julia T. Scali, Ian Madison, Paul Chialastri, Thomas Mueller

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy is routinely used to remove stones but results in manipulation of the genitourinary mucosa and has a well-established relationship with post-operative sepsis under certain conditions. Postoperative sepsis represents a significant morbidity and mortality cost to patients and the healthcare system. Several studies to determine risk factors for sepsis after ureteroscopy have been completed. Such risk factors include positive preoperative urine cultures, female gender, prolonged preoperative stent time > 1 month, and patients with sepsis at the time of initial stenting. To improve sepsis rates, procedural alterations such as the use of disposable ureteroscopes have been introduced, as …

Chronic Inflammation In Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: Role Of Nrf2., Peter Stenvinkel, Glenn M. Chertow, Prasad Devarajan, Adeera Levin, Sharon P. Andreoli, Sripal Bangalore, Bradley A. Warady

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Despite recent advances in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), morbidity and mortality rates in these patients remain high. Although pressure-mediated injury is a well-recognized mechanism of disease progression in CKD, emerging data indicate that an intermediate phenotype involving chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in the etiology, progression, and pathophysiology of CKD. A variety of factors promote chronic inflammation in CKD, including oxidative stress and the adoption of a proinflammatory phenotype by resident kidney cells. Regulation of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors through NF-κB- and nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2)-mediated …

The Association Between Age And Unrecognized And Untreated Hypertension In Children With Chronic Kidney Disease, Chloe Douglas, J Roem, Joseph Flynn, Susan Furth, Bradley A. Warady, Susan Halbach

Presentations

Background: Younger age has been associated with unrecognized hypertension (HTN) in both the general pediatric population and in children on dialysis. An increased lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease and the association of HTN with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression make optimal treatment of elevated blood pressure (BP) a key component of CKD management. However, the role of age in the recognition and treatment of HTN in non-dialysis pediatric CKD remains unknown.

Objective: Using data from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Cohort Study, we examined the relationship between age and recognized vs. unrecognized HTN, and the frequency with which …

Using Machine Learning To Identify Metabolomic Signatures Based On Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Etiology, Arthur Lee, Alison Abraham, Yunwen Xu, Jian Hu, Xia Or, Josef Coresh, Casey Rebholz, J Chen, Eugene Ree, Harold Feldman, Paul Kimmel, Bradley A. Warady, Susan Furth, Michelle Denburg

Presentations

Background: Untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling combined with novel machine learning (ML) tools may lead to the discovery of metabolic profiles that inform our understanding of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) etiologies and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Objective: We sought to identify metabolomic signatures in pediatric CKD based on etiology: focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), obstructive uropathy (OU), aplasia/dysplasia/hypoplasia (A/D/H), & reflux nephropathy (RN).

Design/Methods: Untargeted GC/MS2 and LC/MS2-based metabolomics quantification (Metabolon) was performed on baseline plasma samples from 702 Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) participants. Participants per etiology were: FSGS (n=63), OU (n=122), A/D/H (n=109), & RN (n=86). Lasso …

Association Between Esa Dose And Blood Pressure In Pediatric Patients On Dialysis, Heather A. Morgans, Judith Sebestyen Vansickle, Franz Schaefer, Bradley A. Warady

Posters

Background: Hypertension is a reported side effect of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs), with a mechanism of action related to elevated hematocrit levels and direct vasopressor effects. Limited information exists on the relationship between ESA dosage and hypertension in children receiving maintenance dialysis.


Objective: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant correlation between ESA dose and blood pressure (BP) in pediatric patients on dialysis. The secondary aim was to determine confounding variables in relation to ESA dose and BP.


Design/Methods: Data from the International Pediatric Dialysis Network (IPDN) database was used to retrospectively evaluate …

Efficacy And Safety Of Bardoxolone Methyl In Pediatric Patients With Alport Syndrome In Cardinal Phase 3 Trial, Bradley A. Warady, Sharon Andreol, Vimal Chadha, Melanie Chin, Rasheed Gbadegesin, Keisha Gibson, Debbie Gipson, Angie Goldsberry, Kenneth Lieberman, Colin Meyer, Kevin Meyers, Nozu Kandai, Megan O'Grady, Michelle Rheault, Clifford Kashtan

Posters

Background: Alport syndrome accounts for an estimated 3% of children with end-stage kidney disease in the US (USRDS, 2014). Whereas current management recommendations include the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) in patients with proteinuria, no specific therapies have been approved for this disease.


Objective: A Phase 3 study (CARDINAL; NCT03019185) evaluated the safety and efficacy of bardoxolone methyl (Bard) in adult and adolescent patients with Alport syndrome.


Design/Methods: CARDINAL was an international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted over two years in patients with confirmed diagnosis of Alport syndrome. Patients aged 12 to 70 years old with baseline eGFR …

Perinatal Exposure To Interleukin-6 (Il-6): A Model To Study Influence Of Developmental Insult On Susceptibility To Chronic Kidney Disease (Ckd), Tarak Srivastava, Robert E. Garola, Varun Chandra Boinpelly, Jianping Zhou, Daniel P. Heruth, Mohammad Rezaiekhaligh, M. Farhan Ali, Lakshmi Priya, Uri Alon, Trupti Joshi, Yuexu Jiang, Ellen T. Mccarthy, Ram Sharma, Madhulika Sharma, Gregory Vanden Heuvel, Virginia J. Savin, Pramod B. Mahajan, Mukut Sharma

Posters

Background: CKD and obesity are marked by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6. Pregnant obese women are associated with 1.5- to 2-fold increase in serum IL-6, newborns with smaller kidney/body weight ratio, kidney anomalies and increased susceptibility to CKD. Maternal IL-6, but not TNFα or IL-1β, can cross the placental barrier and enter fetal compartment.


Objective: We examined the role of (a) maternal injection of IL-6 during mid-gestation, similar to levels observed in pregnant obese women, on kidney development as a specific molecular surrogate of gestational inflammation and (b) IL-6 on glomerular filtration barrier.


Design/Methods: Pregnant mice received IL-6 (10 pg/g …

Obesity Does Not Increase Risk For Kidney Replacement Therapy (Krt), But Weight Reduction Improves Kidney Function In Children With Chronic Kidney Disease (Ckd), Amy Kogon, J Roem, Mark Mitsnefes, Babette Zeme, Bradley A. Warady, Susan Furth, Nancy Rodig

Presentations

Background: Obesity is prevalent in pediatric CKD, but its impact on CKD progression is unclear.

Objective: To determine the relationship between obesity/weight changes with CKD progression among children and adolescents enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study.

Design/Methods: Participants were categorized based on body mass index (BMI) as normal, overweight (OW) or obese and those who were underweight were excluded. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and parametric failure time models determined the association of baseline BMI category on time to KRT stratified by non-glomerular (NG) and glomerular (G) etiology of CKD. The distribution of changes in BMI categories within …

A Smarter Way To Round, Charles Maloy, Adrienne G. Deporre, Erica Adams, Jessica Olson, Amber Hunley, Darcy K. Weidemann

Posters

Background: Communication is a key driver of health care outcomes. Poor communication practices contribute to sentinel safety events, poor family/patient experiences, and delays in care. Use of checklists in the healthcare setting is important to the development of high reliability and is increasingly common, however, the development and implementation of medical checklists for the standard patient floor are inadequately described.


Objective: To develop a sustainable rounding checklist for multidisciplinary discussion of patient safety measures and clinical plans.


Design/Methods: Key stakeholders in the rounding process (subspecialty and general pediatrics physicians, resident physician, bedside nurses, and nursing leadership) created a rounding checklist …

Infective Endocarditis-Associated Glomerulonephritis Versus Cryoglobulinemic Glomerulonephritis: An Unfortunate Clinical Overlap, Yesha K. Shah Do, Emilee E. Kurtz Do, Sharon E. Maynard Md, Mohammad Saqib Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Bone Quality In Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Current Concepts And Future Directions – Part Ii, Kamyar Asadipooya, Mohamed Abdalbary, Yahya Ahmad, Elijah Kakani, Marie-Claude Monier-Faugere, Amr El-Husseini

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, which is due not only to low bone volume and mass but also poor microarchitecture and tissue quality. The pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions detailed, herein, are potential approaches to improve bone health in CKD patients. Various medications build up bone mass but also affect bone tissue quality. Antiresorptive therapies strikingly reduce bone turnover; however, they can impair bone mineralization and negatively affect the ability to repair bone microdamage and cause an increase in bone brittleness. On the other hand, some osteoporosis therapies may cause a redistribution …

Bone Quality In Ckd Patients: Current Concepts And Future Directions – Part I, Kamyar Asadipooya, Mohamed Abdalbary, Yahya Ahmad, Elijah Kakani, Marie-Claude Monier-Faugere, Amr El-Husseini

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: There is ample evidence that patients with CKD have an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Bone fragility is not only influenced by low bone volume and mass but also by poor microarchitecture and tissue quality. More emphasis has been given to the quantitative rather than qualitative assessment of bone health, both in general population and CKD patients. Although bone mineral density (BMD) is a very useful clinical tool in assessing bone strength, it may underestimate the fracture risk in CKD patients. Serum and urinary bone biomarkers have been found to be reflective of bone activities and predictive of fractures …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Kidney Transplantation And The Kidney Transplant Recipient – One Year Into The Pandemic, Pascale Khairallah, Nidhi Aggarwal, Ahmed A Awan, Chandan Vangala, Medha Airy, Jenny S Pan, Bhamidipati V R Murthy, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Venkat Ramanathan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The COVID‐19 pandemic has significantly changed the landscape of kidney transplantation in the United States and worldwide. In addition to adversely impacting allograft and patient survival in postkidney transplant recipients, the current pandemic has affected all aspects of transplant care, including transplant referrals and listing, organ donation rates, organ procurement and shipping, and waitlist mortality. Critical decisions were made during this period by transplant centers and individual transplant physicians taking into consideration patient safety and resource utilization. As countries have begun administering the COVID vaccines, new and important considerations pertinent to our transplant population have arisen. This comprehensive review focuses …