Risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity among patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a retrospective multicentre cross-sectional study in the UK.

Objectives: To assess the applicability of risk factors for severe COVID-19 defined in the general population for patients on haemodialysis.

Setting: A retrospective cross-sectional study performed across thirty four haemodialysis units in midlands of the UK.

Participants: All 274 patients on maintenance haemodialysis who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on PCR testing between March and August 2020, in participating haemodialysis centres.

Is there a role of the kidney failure risk equation in optimizing timing of vascular access creation in pre-dialysis patients?

Background: The aims of this study were to assess the utility of using the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) as an indicator to guide timing of vascular access creation in pre-dialysis patients.

Materials And Methods: Patients referred for vascular access creation had KFRE calculated at the time of assessment and compared to standard criteria for referral. Receiver operating characteristic curves were produced for each parameter.

Results of a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial exploring the use of an electronic patient-reported outcome measure in the management of UK patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: The use of routine remote follow-up of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing exponentially. It has been suggested that online electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) could be used in parallel, to facilitate real-time symptom monitoring aimed at improving outcomes. We tested the feasibility of this approach in a pilot trial of ePROM symptom monitoring versus usual care in patients with advanced CKD not on dialysis.

Development of an electronic patient-reported outcome measure (ePROM) system to aid the management of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Effective management of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) relies on timely detection of clinical deterioration towards end stage kidney failure. We aimed to design an electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (ePROM) system, which would allow patients with advanced CKD (pre-dialysis) to: (i) remotely self-report their symptoms using a simple and secure online platform; (ii) share the data with the clinical team in real-time via the electronic patient record to help optimise care. We adopted a staged development process which included: a systematic review of PROMs used in CKD; formation of a co-design team; prototype system design/development, user acceptance testing and refinement; finalisation of the system for testing in a pilot/feasibility trial.

Use of an electronic patient-reported outcome measure in the management of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: the RePROM pilot trial protocol.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects up to 16% of adults in the UK. Patient quality of life is particularly reduced in end-stage renal disease and is strongly associated with increased hospitalisation and mortality. Thus, accurate and responsive healthcare is a key priority.

Association between urinary free light chains and progression to end stage renal disease in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We assessed for the first time whether urinary free light chains (FLC) are independently associated with risk of ESRD in patients with CKD, and whether they offer incremental value in risk stratification.

Materials And Methods: We measured urinary FLCs in 556 patients with CKD from a prospective cohort study.

Arterial stiffness alone does not explain arteriovenous fistula outcomes.

Introduction: Marked arterial adaptation is critical in permitting and sustaining the increased blood flow within an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The aim of this investigation was to evaluate markers of arterial disease and their association with the early post-operative AVF outcomes.

Methods: We included all patients in whom an AVF had been performed after enrolment to the Renal Impairment In Secondary Care (RIISC) study.

Health-Related Quality of Life Impacts Mortality but Not Progression to End-Stage Renal Disease in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, the relationship between pre-dialysis CKD, HRQL and clinical outcomes, including mortality and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is unclear.

Methods: All 745 participants recruited into the Renal Impairment In Secondary Care study to end March 2014 were included.

Serum tryptase concentration and progression to end-stage renal disease.

Background: Mast cell activation can lead to nonclassical activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System. However, the relevance of this to human chronic kidney disease is unknown. We assessed the association between serum tryptase, a product of mast cell activation, and progression to end-stage renal disease or mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Caveolin-1 single-nucleotide polymorphism and arterial stiffness in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease.

Background: Arteriosclerosis is an independent predictor of increased cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Histologically it is characterized by hypertrophy and fibrosis of the arterial media wall leading to increased arterial stiffness and end-organ damage. Caveolin-1 acts as an intracellular signalling pathway chaperone in human fibrotic and vascular diseases.

Patients with multiple myeloma have excellent long-term outcomes after recovery from dialysis-dependent acute kidney injury.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the long-term outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who receive dialysis treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI) due to myeloma cast nephropathy and subsequently recover renal function.

Methods: Patients presenting with dialysis-dependent AKI secondary to myeloma cast nephropathy and subsequently recovering independent renal function between January 2005 and December 2012 were included in this study. Both renal and haematological parameters were collected at multiple time points as part of routine clinic practice.

Serum polyclonal immunoglobulin free light chain levels predict mortality in people with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: To determine whether elevated serum polyclonal free light chain (FLC) levels predict mortality in a population of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Patients And Methods: From January 2, 2006, through July 31, 2007, we recruited a cohort of 848 people with CKD who were not receiving renal replacement therapy and did not have monoclonal gammopathy. We measured serum kappa FLC and lambda FLC isotype levels to determine combined FLC (cFLC) levels.

The periodontal health component of the Renal Impairment In Secondary Care (RIISC) cohort study: a description of the rationale, methodology and initial baseline results.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a need to identify novel and modifiable risk factors in such patients. The periodontal component of the Renal Impairment In Secondary Care (RIISC) study aims to evaluate the association between chronic periodontitis and CKD progression.

Allopurinol is an independent determinant of improved arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Arterial stiffness is increased in patients with CKD and is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Use of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol has been shown to improve endothelial function, reduce left ventricular hypertrophy and possibly improve cardiovascular outcome. We explored the relationship between use of allopurinol and arterial stiffness in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Optimising the accuracy of blood pressure monitoring in chronic kidney disease: the utility of BpTRU.

Background: Accurate blood pressure monitoring is critical for the management of chronic kidney disease, but changes in management in secondary care clinics may be based on a single blood pressure reading, with a subsequent lack of accuracy. The aim of this study was to evaluate a fully automated sphygmomanometer for optimising the accuracy of blood pressure measurements in the setting of secondary care renal clinics.

Methods: Patients had routine blood pressure measurements with a calibrated DINAMAP PRO400 monitor in a clinical assessment room.

The natural history of, and risk factors for, progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD): the Renal Impairment in Secondary care (RIISC) study; rationale and protocol.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects up to 16% of the adult population and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. People at highest risk from progressive CKD are defined by a sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or the presence of significant albuminuria/proteinuria and/or more advanced CKD. Accurate mapping of the bio-clinical determinants of this group will enable improved risk stratification and direct the development of better targeted management for people with CKD.

Achieving an early myeloma response in patients with kidney impairment.

There is increasing evidence, particularly in severe acute kidney injury, that treatment of multiple myeloma with regimens that include dexamethasone in combination with novel chemotherapy agents are associated with an early disease response in most patients. However, the evidence to guide the optimal chemotherapy regimen in patients with kidney impairment is limited, and treatment choices are complicated by the effect of kidney function on drug dosing. Here, we summarize the current status of this field, with a particular focus on chemotherapy regimens that are based on dexamethasone and novel agents and an outline of those areas in which further work is needed to improve the evidence base.

Recent advances in the pathogenesis and management of cast nephropathy (myeloma kidney).

Multiple myeloma is an incurable plasma cell malignancy that is often accompanied by renal failure; there are a number of potential causes of this, of which cast nephropathy is the most important. Renal failure is highly significant in myeloma, as patient survival can be stratified by the severity of the renal impairment. Consequently, there is an ongoing focus on the pathological basis of cast nephropathy and the optimal treatment regimens in this setting, including effective chemotherapy regimens to reduce light chain production and emerging extracorporeal techniques to remove circulating light chains.

Why did I start dialysis? A qualitative study on views and expectations from an elderly cohort of patients with end-stage renal failure starting haemodialysis in the United Kingdom.

Background: It is now common for elderly patients with end-stage kidney disease to be offered treatment by dialysis. However, what these patients expect from dialysis is not known. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the expectations of elderly patients starting dialysis and to investigate whether their views change after 6 months on this treatment.

Early reduction of serum-free light chains associates with renal recovery in myeloma kidney.

Myeloma kidney is the major cause of severe irreversible renal failure in patients with multiple myeloma. This tubulointerstitial injury is a direct consequence of high concentrations of circulating monoclonal free light chains (FLCs) produced by a clonal expansion of plasma cells. Early reduction of serum FLCs associates with renal recovery, but the target threshold of reduction to facilitate renal recovery is unknown.

The biology of immunoglobulin free light chains and kidney injury.

Kidney injury caused by immunoglobulin free light chains (FLCs) in the setting of plasma cell dyscrasias is common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. All compartments of the kidney may be affected, from the glomerulus to the tubulointerstitium, in a wide variety of disease patterns. Here, we review our current knowledge of the biological effects of FLCs and the mechanisms that lead to kidney injury.

Aggregated serum free light chains may prevent adequate removal by high cut-off haemodialysis.

Free light chain (FLC) removal by high cut-off haemodialysis has been described as an adjuvant therapy for the management of patients with severe renal failure complicating multiple myeloma. The two cases reported here are the first patients in whom this treatment did not remove FLCs. In both patient's sera, size-exclusion chromatography identified large FLC aggregates, with molecular weights above the cut-off of the dialyser.

Preclinical antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics of methyl-2-benzimidazolecarbamate (FB642).

Methyl-2-benzimidazolecarbamate (carbendazim, FB642) is an anticancer agent that induces apoptosis of cancer cells. In vitro, FB642 demonstrated potent antitumor activity against both the murine B16 melanoma (IC50 = 8.5 microm) and human HT-29 colon carcinoma (IC50 = 9.