Nutritional and psychological sequelae of COVID-19 infection in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Aim: The risk of infection with COVID-19 in hemodialysis (HD) patients is higher compared to the general population. Additionally, HD patients are at higher risk of developing post-COVID-19 infection sequelae. However, this has not been thoroughly investigated.

Differences in management approaches for lupus nephritis within the UK.

Objectives: Outcomes of therapy for LN are often suboptimal. Guidelines offer varied options for treatment of LN and treatment strategies may differ between clinicians and regions. We aimed to assess variations in the usual practice of UK physicians who treat LN.

Role of fluid-phase complement system regulation in the development of hepatitis C virus-associated glomerulonephritis.

Objectives: It is not known why only some hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients develop glomerulonephritis (GN). Therefore, we investigated the role of soluble complement regulators in the development of HCV associated GN.

Methods: Patients with HCV associated GN who were admitted to our nephrology unit between July 2016 and July 2018 were recruited to the study (group 1).

Longitudinal change in c-terminal fibroblast growth factor 23 and outcomes in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor23 (FGF23) is elevated in CKD and has been associated with outcomes such as death, cardiovascular (CV) events and progression to Renal Replacement therapy (RRT). The majority of studies have been unable to account for change in FGF23 over time and those which have demonstrate conflicting results. We performed a survival analysis looking at change in c-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) over time to assess the relative contribution of cFGF23 to these outcomes.

A randomised controlled trial to examine the effects of cinacalcet on bone and cardiovascular parameters in haemodialysis patients with advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Secondary hyperparathyroidism may lead to increased cardiovascular risk. The use of cinacalcet may improve bone and cardiovascular health with improved parathormone (PTH) and phosphate control.

Methods: This is an open-label prospective randomised controlled trial to compare progression of cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) parameters.

Adverse outcomes associated with rapid linear and non-linear patterns of chronic kidney disease progression.

Background: Patients with rapidly declining renal function face the dual threat of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality prior to ESRD. What is less well characterised is whether the pattern of the renal trajectory, linear or non-linear, unmasks subgroups of rapidly progressing patients that face adverse outcomes in a differential manner.

Methods: An individual eGFR slope was applied to all outpatient estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values for each patient in the Salford Kidney Study from 2002 to 2018 who had at least 2 years follow-up, ≥4 eGFR values and baseline eGFR 15 to < 60 ml/min/1.

A Paradigm to Discover Biomarkers Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease Progression.

Biomarker discovery in the field of risk prediction in chronic kidney disease (CKD) embraces the prospect of improving our ability to risk stratify future adverse outcomes and thereby guide patient care in a new era of personalised medicine. However, many studies that report biomarkers predictive of CKD progression share a key methodological limitation: failure to characterise patients' renal progression precisely. This weakens any observable association between a biomarker and an outcome poorly defined by a patient's change in renal function over time.

Predictive factors of rapid linear renal progression and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Risk factors predictive of rapid linear chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and its associations with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality requires further exploration, particularly as patients with linear estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectory represent a clear paradigm for understanding true CKD progression.

Methods: A linear regression slope was applied to all outpatient eGFR values for patients in the Salford Kidney Study who had ≥2 years follow-up, ≥4 eGFR values and baseline CKD stages 3a-4. An eGFR slope (ΔeGFR) of ≤ - 4 ml/min/1.

Body weight-based initial dosing of tacrolimus in renal transplantation: Is this an ideal approach?

Background: Tacrolimus dosing immediately posttransplant is based on body weight. Recent studies have highlighted that the dosing of tacrolimus purely based on weight may not be appropriate, particularly in individuals who are obese.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the effect of body mass index (BMI) and the weight-based dosing on tacrolimus trough levels in recipients of renal transplants.

Genetic polymorphism in C3 is associated with progression in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with IgA nephropathy but not in other causes of CKD.

Objectives: The R102G variant in complement 3 (C3) results in two allotypic variants: C3 fast (C3F) and C3 slow (C3S). C3F presents at increased frequency in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), our aim is to explore its role in CKD progression and mortality.

Methods: Delta (Δ) eGFR for 2038 patients in the Salford Kidney Study (SKS) was calculated by linear regression; those with ≤-3ml/min/1.