The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking on mortality and kidney transplantation in end-stage kidney disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tobacco use are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence and clinical impact of COPD on mortality and kidney transplantation among patients who begin dialysis therapy is unclear.

Methods: We explored the clinical impact of COPD and continued tobacco use on overall mortality and kidney transplantation in a national cohort study of US dialysis patients.

Plasma BNP in patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a guide to management?

The number of patients requiring long-term haemodialysis is increasing throughout the world. Cardiovascular disease is much more common in these patients than in the general population and accounts for the majority of deaths. New approaches to management are clearly needed to reduce this excessive cardiovascular burden.