The Density of Renal Lymphatics Correlates With Clinical Outcomes in IgA Nephropathy.

Introduction: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis (GN) worldwide. The disease course fluctuates, and the most important challenge is the considerable variation in the time lag between diagnosis and the development of a hard clinical end point, such as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The reaction of renal tissue to damage resembles the common wound-healing response.

Is fetuin-A a biomarker of dialysis access dysfunction?

Background: The arteriovenous (AV) access function of hemodialysis (HD) patients can be impaired by afferent artery stiffness due to preexisting microcalcification and by venous stenosis secondary to neointimal hyperplasia in whose development participates an upregulated local inflammatory process. Fetuin-A is a circulating potent inhibitor of vascular calcification and plays an important anti-inflammatory role. The aims of this prospective study were to investigate the relationship between baseline serum fetuin-A levels and: blood flow (Q) values at baseline, AV access failure (thrombosis or intervention for stenosis) during follow-up and primary unassisted AV access patency.

The impact of pre-existing radial artery pathology by histological assessment on the maturation, function and patency of the radiocephalic fistula for hemodialysis.

Background: We prospectively analyzed the effect of preexisting structural changes of the radial artery (RA) wall by histological examination on the wrist radiocephalic fistula (RCF) outcomes.

Methods: During RCF creation, one segment of the RA wall was collected and its histomorphometric analysis was performed. The RCF function was evaluated by measuring blood flow rate.

Beneficial dose conversion after switching from higher doses of shorter-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to C.E.R.A in CKD patients in clinical practice: MINERVA Study.

Purpose: To assess whether the correction dose recommended by the summary of product characteristics was adequate and to confirm the adequacy of the recommended conversion dosing strategies from shorter-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (C.E.R.