Publications by authors named "Rengin Elsurer Afsar"

Background: The interrelationship of sodium/salt consumption and chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and/or progression is inconsistent. Difference in the methods to evaluate sodium/salt intake may be one reason for this finding. The measurement of sodium/salt intake is challenging in CKD due to alterations in circadian sodium handling and creatinine kinetics (as sodium estimation formulas use creatinine), day to day variation of urine output, recall bias and cognitive dysfunction.

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Purpose Of Review: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by numerous cysts in kidneys and other organs which enlarge and cause organ dysfunction, with kidney involvement being the most common. Recently, increased body mass index, and adiposity have been associated with disease progression. In this review, we summarized the available literature on anthropometrics (body mass index, waist circumference, weight to hip ratio and visceral adipose tissue and their relationship with ADPKD progression.

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Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often exhibit ectopic fat accumulation, including intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), which is associated with metabolic and muscular dysfunctions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dulaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), on reducing IMAT and improving metabolic and physical functions in patients with CKD stage 3-4.

Methods: Seven patients were recruited between April 2022 and November 2023.

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Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide. The change in nutrition and eating patterns contributes partly to this rise. On the other hand, increased sodium intake is common in most of the world.

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Purpose Of Review: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common monogenic auto-inflammatory disease causing amyloidosis (AA type) which may result in development of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Colchicine is the initial treatment option for patients FMF/amyloidosis both before and after KT. Although, kidney transplantation (KT) can be offered to patients with ESKD due to FMF/amyloidosis, FMF attacks did not resolve in some of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and de-novo development of amyloidosis after KT may be observed despite colchicine treatment.

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Evaluating kidney transplant candidates with transthyretin (TTR) variants requires a multidisciplinary approach, considering clinical, genetic, and psychosocial factors. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, an autosomal dominant disorder, can affect cardiovascular and renal allograft health, complicating transplant candidacy. We present 2 cases of Black women with end-stage kidney disease of unknown etiology, identified with the pathogenic Val142Ile TTR variant during transplant evaluation.

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Renal risk variants in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene confer protection against trypanosomiasis, but these risk variants (G1 and G2 variants) also predispose to kidney disease among individuals, especially from Sub-SaharanAfrica. Currently, the mechanisms of how these renal risk variants induce kidney damage are not precisely defined, but lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction, altered ion channel activity, altered autophagy, and disordered immunity are suggested. Currently, there is no specific treatment for APOL1 kidney disease (APOL1-KD) although several potential disease-specific therapeutic agents are being evaluated in clinical trials.

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Background: Recent studies suggest that approximately 10% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have disease-causing genetic variants, an observation relevant to evaluation of kidney transplant candidates.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the diagnostic yield of genetic testing in kidney transplant candidates evaluated at our program (January 1, 2021-December 8, 2022). Inclusion criteria were as follows: first-degree relative(s) with CKD/end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), early-onset CKD, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, cystic kidney disease, alternative complement pathway-associated diseases, or ESKD of unknown cause.

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Thromboembolic events and atrial fibrillation are common among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and these conditions typically require anticoagulation. Traditionally, vitamin K antagonists were used for management, but the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has increased in KTRs. In the general population, DOACs are recommended over warfarin, but the applicability of these recommendations to KTRs is unclear because of risk-benefit concerns.

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Although, kidney transplantation (KT) is the best treatment option for patients with end-stage kidney disease, long-term complications including chronic kidney allograft disease (CKAD) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) are common. To decrease these complications new therapeutic options are necessary. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are one of the promising drugs in this context.

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Although kidney transplantation (KT) is the best treatment option for end-stage kidney disease, long-term complications such as chronic kidney allograft dysfunction and cardiovascular disorders are observed. To decrease these complications, preventive measures must be applied in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). One of these common measures is the increase of water/fluid intake although this is not evidence-based practice.

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Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment option for most patients with end-stage kidney disease due to reduced mortality, decreased cardiovascular events and increased quality of life compared to patients treated with dialysis. However, kidney transplantation is not devoid of both acute and chronic complications including mineral bone disorders (MBD) which are already present in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) before kidney transplantation. The natural history of MBD after kidney transplantation is variable and new markers are needed to define MBD after kidney transplantation.

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Studies consistently showed that sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTi) have cardiovascular and renal benefits, independent of their glucose lowering effects. Recent studies showed that SGLTi might influence gut microbiota. We performed a narrative review of publications focusing on use of SGLTi and changes in gut microbiota.

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Article Synopsis
  • Kidney transplantation (KT) is the preferred treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), as it improves survival and quality of life, but long-term complications like chronic kidney allograft dysfunction (CKAD) and cardiovascular issues pose significant challenges.
  • Routine screening of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is crucial for identifying risks and implementing preventive strategies, yet current screening methods lack perfect sensitivity and specificity, highlighting the need for new markers.
  • This review explores brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as potential risk stratification tools in KTRs, showing associations with kidney function and cardiovascular outcomes, though further studies are essential to determine their clinical effectiveness
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Renin angiotensin system (RAS) alters various mechanisms related to muscle wasting. The RAS system consists of classical and non-classical pathways, which mostly function differently. Classical RAS pathway, operates through angiotensin II (AngII) and angiotensin type 1 receptors, is associated with muscle wasting and sarcopenia.

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Kidney transplantation (KT) is the best treatment option for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Acute rejection rates have decreased drastically in recent years but chronic kidney allograft disease (CKAD) is still an important cause of allograft failure and return to dialysis. Thus, there is unmet need to identify and reverse the cause of CKAD.

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Kidney replacement therapies (KRTs) including hemodialysis (HD) are one of the treatment options for most of the patients with end-stage kidney disease. Although HD is vital for these patients, it is not hundred percent physiological, and various adverse events including hypersensitivity reactions may occur. Fortunately, these reactions are rare in total and less when compared to previous decades, but it is still very important for at least two reasons: First, the number of patients receiving kidney replacement treatment is increasing globally; and the cumulative number of these reactions may be substantial.

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Purpose Of Review: Sodium is vital for human health. High salt intake is a global health problem and is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence suggests that both innate and adaptive immune systems are affected by sodium.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Most vitamin deficiencies in CKD aren’t easily detectable, and while some testing exists (like for folate and vitamin D), many vitamins aren't routinely checked due to cost and availability.
  • * There's no strong evidence from trials to support vitamin supplementation for CKD patients, so any decision to supplement should be personalized based on individual dietary needs and health status, especially for vitamin D.
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Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for muscle loss and sarcopenia. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) or "gliflozins" are one of the newest anti-hyperglycemic drugs. They reduce blood glucose levels by inhibiting renal glucose reabsorption in the early proximal convoluted tubule.

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Essential hypertension (HT) is the global health problem and is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and kidney disease. High salt intake has been associated with HT and impaired kidney sodium excretion is considered to be a major mechanism for the development of HT. Although kidney has a very important role in regulation of BP, this traditional view of BP regulation was challenged by recent findings suggesting that nonosmotic tissue sodium deposition is very important for BP regulation.

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Excessive dietary sodium intake is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, especially in the setting of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although implementation of a low-sodium diet in patients with CKD generally is recommended, data supporting the efficacy of this practice is mostly opinion-based. Few controlled studies have investigated the specific association of dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular events and mortality in CKD.

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Protein energy wasting (PEW), mostly characterized by decreased body stores of protein and energy sources, particularly in the skeletal muscle compartment, is highly prevalent in patients with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an endocrine hormone secreted from bone and has systemic actions on skeletal muscle. In CKD, FGF23 is elevated and its coreceptor α-klotho is suppressed.

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Purpose Of Review: Essential or primary hypertension (HT) is a worldwide health problem with no definitive cure. Although the exact pathogenesis of HT is not known, genetic factors, increased renin-angiotensin and sympathetic system activity, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation play a role in its development. Environmental factors such as sodium intake are also important for BP regulation, and excess sodium intake in the form of salt (NaCl, sodium chloride) increases blood pressure in salt-sensitive people.

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