https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(15)59781-0/pdf

A randomized controlled study of iron supplementation in patients treated with erythropoietin

Hypertension remains the most common modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet hypertension control rates remain dismal. Home blood pressure (BP) monitoring has the potential to improve hypertension control. The purpose of this review was to quantify both the magnitude and mechanisms of benefit of home BP monitoring on BP reduction. Using a structured review, studies were selected if they reported either changes in BP or percentage of participants achieving a pre-established BP goal between randomized groups using home-based and office-based BP measurements. A random-effects model was used to estimate the magnitude of benefit and relative risk. The search yielded 37 randomized controlled trials with 9446 participants that contributed data for this meta-analysis. Compared with clinic-based measurements (control group), systolic BP improved with home-based BP monitoring (-2.63 mm Hg; 95% CI, -4.24, -1.02); diastolic BP also showed improvement (-1.68 mm Hg; 95% CI, -2.58, -0.79). Reductions in home BP monitoring-based therapy were greater when telemonitoring was used. Home BP monitoring led to more frequent antihypertensive medication reductions (relative risk, 2.02 [95% CI, 1.32 to 3.11]) and was associated with less therapeutic inertia defined as unchanged medication despite elevated BP (relative risk for unchanged medication, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.68 to 0.99]). Compared with clinic BP monitoring alone, home BP monitoring has the potential to overcome therapeutic inertia and lead to a small but significant reduction in systolic and diastolic BP. Hypertension control with home BP monitoring can be enhanced further when accompanied by plans to monitor and treat elevated BP such as through telemonitoring.

Role of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Overcoming Therapeutic Inertia and Improving Hypertension Control A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hepatitis C virus infection in dialysis and renal transplantation

https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(98)70027-7/pdf

Risk of Death Among Chronic Dialysis Patients Infected With Hepatitis C Virus

https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(05)01615-X/pdf

A randomized pilot trial comparing methylprednisolone plus a cytotoxic agent versus synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

BACKGROUND The primary objective of this study was to compare the change from baseline in mean diastolic ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) at 24 h post dose (trough measurement) after 8 weeks of treatment with irbesartan or valsartan in subjects with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Secondary objectives included comparing the mean changes from baseline in systolic ABP at trough; 24-h ABP; morning and night-time ABP; self-measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP); and office-measured SBP and DBP at trough. DESIGN After a 3-week, single blind, placebo lead-in period, 426 subjects were randomized to receive either irbesartan 150 mg or valsartan 80 mg for 8 weeks. METHODS Ambulatory blood pressure measurements were obtained at baseline and at week 8. Self-measured morning and evening DBP and SBP readings were obtained at home over a 7-day period at baseline and at week 8. Office-measured seated DBP and SBP measurements were obtained at trough, at baseline, and at week 8. RESULTS Irbesartan demonstrated significantly greater reductions than valsartan for mean change from baseline in diastolic ABP at trough (-6.73 versus -4.84 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.035). Irbesartan produced significantly greater reductions than valsartan for mean systolic ABP at trough (-11.62 versus -7.5 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.01) and for mean 24-h diastolic ABP (-6.38 versus -4.82 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.023) and systolic ABP (-10.24 versus -7.76 mmHg; P < 0.01). Irbesartan also produced significantly greater reductions than valsartan for office-measured seated DBP (-10.46 versus 7.28 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.01) and SBP (-16.23 versus -9.96 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.01) and for self-measured morning DBP (-6.28 versus -3.75 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.01) and SBP (-10.21 versus -6.97 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.01). Both drugs were well tolerated. CONCLUSION Irbesartan was more effective than valsartan in reducing DBP and SBP at trough and in providing greater overall 24-h blood pressure-lowering efficacy.

An ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study of the comparative antihypertensive efficacy of two angiotensin II receptor antagonists, irbesartan and valsartan.

We studied the prevalence and significance of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients and staff from 3 dialysis units, using a 2nd generation assay (2nd g.a.; Ortho HCV). Of 277 patients, 151 (55%) were positive by 2nd and 85 (31%) by 1st g.a. Significant associations with the anti-HCV carrier status were: blood transfusions, retrospective finding of elevated ALT and duration of dialysis treatment, independently of transfusions. Of the 74 staff members, 5 were positive by 2nd and 3 by 1st g.a. Our data suggest that the 2nd g.a. is more sensitive in detecting HCV exposure in dialysis units and that duration of dialysis is a significant factor in acquiring HCV infection.

High prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis units using a second generation assay.

ACTH therapy in nephrotic syndrome induced by idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Objectives:DISTINCT (reDefining Intervention with Studies Testing Innovative Nifedipine GITS – Candesartan Therapy) aimed to determine the dose–response and tolerability of nifedipine GITS and/or candesartan cilexetil therapy in participants with hypertension.Methods:In this 8-week, multinational, m

/pdf/nifedipine-plus-candesartan-combination-increases-blood-34e3f812mh.pdf

Nifedipine plus candesartan combination increases blood pressure control regardless of race and improves the side effect profile: DISTINCT randomized trial results

The aim of this work is to correlate the net kidney uptake of99mTc-aprotinin (TcA) in 103 subjects with separate effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and some blood chemistry parameters at 90, 180, and 360 min postinjection both in the normal and diseased kidney. Correlations found with separate ERPFs are highly significant at any time (P < 0.001). However, although the slope of the regression line is steeper at 180 min,r tends to deteriorate slightly with time postinjection and a higher intercept on they axis: this pattern is more pronounced if diseased kidneys are considered separately. The following are probably related to the renal handling of TcA: (1) Early scans better reflect blood flow to the kidney, while later scans are more related to the metabolism/excretion tubular mechanisms; (2) correlations found with urea, creatinine, urea clearance, and creatinine clearance are highly significant at any time; (3) in 20 additional patients with diseased kidneys, renal uptake measurements done 360 min postinjection first with TcA and then with DMSA showed better correlations with ERPF employing TcA. Our results indicate that TcA is a feasible indicator of split renal function even at 90 min postinjection when a scan is easily carried out on an outpatient basis.

G. Villa

Papers

An ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study of the comparative antihypertensive efficacy of two angiotensin II receptor antagonists, irbesartan and valsartan.

High prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis units using a second generation assay.

ACTH therapy in nephrotic syndrome induced by idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Nifedipine plus candesartan combination increases blood pressure control regardless of race and improves the side effect profile: DISTINCT randomized trial results

Assessment of split renal function with 99mTc-aprotinin.