Rapidly Progressive and Catastrophic Calciphylaxis After Mechanical Valve Replacement: An Anticoagulation Dilemma.

Warfarin is the only approved anticoagulant after mechanical valve replacement, but it is a well described risk factor for calciphylaxis among patients with end-stage kidney disease. Our patient with end-stage kidney disease rapidly developed calciphylaxis after dual mechanical valve replacement in association with warfarin initiation, posing significant challenges in clinical management and a fatal outcome. ().

Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism: How do cinacalcet and etelcalcetide differ?

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), commonly encountered in patients receiving maintenance dialysis, is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, including mortality. Calcimimetics, agents that act on the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), were designed to overcome limitations in the use of vitamin D sterols to treat SHPT, and have demonstrated efficacy in reducing levels of PTH in randomized trials. Currently available calcimimetics include oral cinacalcet and the recently approved intravenously administered agent, etelcalcetide.

Managing hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis: role of etelcalcetide.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is common in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and is associated with adverse outcomes. Currently, SHPT is managed by reducing circulating levels of phosphate with oral binders and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with vitamin D analogs and/or the calcimimetic cinacalcet. Etelcalcetide, a novel calcimimetic administered intravenously (IV) at the end of a hemodialysis treatment session, effectively reduces PTH in clinical trials when given thrice weekly.

The role of parathyroidectomy in the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Purpose Of Review: Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is often used to treat severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients receiving maintenance dialysis. However, most evidence for the proposed benefits of PTX originates from observational studies, which cannot demonstrate causality. A reconsideration of the potential role of PTX might help guide its appropriate use.

Long-term Outcomes of Living Kidney Donation.

Background: In an effort to improve outcomes associated with living kidney donation, the Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) assembled a Work Group to develop comprehensive guidelines addressing the evaluation and care of living kidney donors. We conducted this systematic review to inform guideline development.

Methods: We searched Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies published through September of 2014 and consulted the KDIGO Expert Work Group.