The Impact of Frailty on Technique Failure and Mortality in Patients on Home Dialysis.

Patients on home dialysis therapies experience technique failure, which is associated with morbidity and mortality. Reasons for technique failure are complex, and often related to functional decline in the patient or caregiver. Frailty is associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes.

Treatment of Uremic Pruritus: A Systematic Review.

Background: Uremic pruritus is a common and burdensome symptom afflicting patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been declared a priority for CKD research by patients. The optimal treatments for uremic pruritus are not well defined.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Risk Prediction Models in CKD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) currently affects 20 million Americans and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Resource-efficient and appropriate treatment of CKD benefits the patient and provides improved resource allocation for the health care system. Prediction models can be useful in efficiently allocating resources, and currently are being used at the bedside for several important clinical decisions.

A retrospective review of the two-step tuberculin skin test in dialysis patients.

Background: Reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a health concern for patients on dialysis or receiving a kidney transplant, as these patients are often immunosuppressed. The most frequently used test for LTBI screening in this population is the tuberculin skin test (TST). The diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of the TST in a contemporary North American or Western European dialysis population is unknown.

The Effect of Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agents on Health-Related Quality of Life in Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) for improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear.

Purpose: To determine the effect of ESAs on HRQOL at different hemoglobin targets in adults with CKD who were receiving or not receiving dialysis.

Data Sources: Searches of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.

The cost effectiveness of erythropoietin-stimulating agents for treating anemia in patients on dialysis: a systematic review.

Background: Anemia is a common complication associated with kidney failure and is marked by poor health and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There are ongoing concerns with the use of Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESAs) to treat anemia in patients with kidney failure on dialysis. Questions as to their benefits, harms and overall effect on quality of life are still relevant today.

The diagnostic accuracy of tests for latent tuberculosis infection in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is an important health concern for patients on hemodialysis because of their immunosuppressed state and in kidney transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy to prevent organ rejection. There are several tests available to determine the presence of latent tuberculosis infection: the tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G), and T-SPOT.TB.

Non-invasive endothelial function testing and the risk of adverse outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to understand the role of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery (BA) and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) in predicting adverse events, including cardiovascular (CV) events and all-cause mortality.

Background: FMD of the BA and PAT are non-invasive measures of endothelial function. Impairment of endothelial function is associated with increased CV events.