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Loyola University Medical Center researchers are reporting one of the first studies to examine how patients and families are soliciting living kidney donors on Facebook. Researchers examined 91 Facebook pages that were seeking kidney donations for patients ranging in age from 2 to 69. Twelve percent of the pages reported receiving a kidney transplant andRead more

Doctors have been given the power by a court to force a man dying of kidney failure to have dialysis against his will. The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had resisted dialysis and doctors believe that without it he will die within weeks. Managers at the hospital where he is being treatedRead more

New approaches to controlling blood pressure are on the horizon, but ultimately the most powerful step patients can take is to improve their lifestyle, particularly reducing salt intake. “It’s an exciting time in blood pressure management,” says George Bakris, MD, member of the National Kidney Foundation board of directors and a professor of medicine andRead more

Chronic kidney disease and ESRD affect more than 2 out of every 1000 people in the United States Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is caused by a kidney’s inability to filter waste and unnecessary fluids. Without a functioning kidney, excess fluid accumulates, which can lead to a plethora of complications, including anemia, nerve injury and brittleRead more

The bundled payment system for dialysis services seems to have little affect on the medications nephrologists use to treat bone and metabolism disorders in dialysis patients, according to a new report from BioTrends Research Group. The new report, “ChartTrends: Bone and Mineral Metabolism in Dialysis,” is the seventh in an annual series. The study wasRead more

MEI offers free movie about dialysis options In response to popular demand, the 3-minute multi-media movie called “Let’s Talk About…Dialysis Options” is now available on DVD. The DVD—with English and Spanish versions in single-play and loop-play configurations—can be ordered for $10 (including shipping) at www.lifeoptions.org/letstalk. The movie is still available to watch free on the LifeRead more

Damon Brown and Darren Patillo have a lot in common. The two Seattle area residents have battled kidney disease since they were young and are now doing well, thanks to kidney transplants. Both are family men with young children. Both hold professional jobs. And both will tell their stories at Northwest Kidney Centers.  Kidney HealthRead more

Leonard Pinkney knew for years that his DNA was against him — he has family history on both sides of diabetes, blood pressure and heart attacks. The Susquehanna Twp. man was diagnosed with diabetes 24 years ago, had a quadruple bypass 14 years ago and has been on blood pressure medicine since 1975. A yearRead more

Dream Job Highlight: At AHS RenalStat, we know you have options when it comes to work, and we have opportunities for RNs, Clinical Managers, and CDTs across the country! Our job is to help you find that dream job that makes you want to get up every morning. In places you have always dreamed ofRead more

Patients on dialysis are subject to much more intensive medical care in the last month of life than are patients dying of cancer or heart failure, said an analysis of Medicare data that is raising concerns about the end-of-life care that patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receive. Nearly 80 percent of Medicare patients onRead more