Discrepancy between Medical Evidence Form 2728 and renal biopsy for glomerular diseases.

Background And Objectives: The United States Renal Data System (USRDS) is a commonly utilized database for epidemiologic research of ESRD patients. USRDS uses Medical Evidence Form 2728 to collect medical information about ESRD patients. The validity of the Form 2728 "primary cause of renal failure" field for glomerular diseases has not been evaluated, although inconsistencies between Form 2728 information and medical records have been documented previously with respect to comorbidities.

Impact of birth weight on familial aggregation of end-stage renal disease.

Background: Birth weight (BW) and family history (FH) of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have been shown to have an independent association with development of subsequent ESRD. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of BW (low BW suggesting a congenital reduction in functional nephron number) on the observed familial aggregation of ESRD.

Methods: Cases were identified from the ESRD Network 6 "Family History of ESRD" Study and BW was determined from birth certificate records maintained at the Office of Vital Records, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.