FSGS or focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis is the most common non diabetic cause of nephrotic syndrome in the world. This is particularly true among African Americans. The treatment of this disorder is frequently complicated by non response to the primary modality of treatment which is steroids. Combine this with the need for high doses to [...]
Patient Education: What is the best form of dialysis.
Dialysis machine | read this item
This question is asked more times than can be counted. A patient is informed that they have stage 4 kidney disease and they need to make a choice as to what modality of dialysis they prefer while they await transplantation.
The patient is usually confused and unsure, already overwhelmed with dealing with the reality of having [...]
Warfarin may cause increased risk of stroke in hemodialysis. | read this item
Previously aspirin and clopidogrel were found to having an increase risk of mortality in patients on haemodialysis. However warfarin is known to have a survival advantage in patients with atrial fibrillation as the drug prevents clot formation in the poorly contracting left atrium of the heart. Any reduction in clot formation results in a reduction [...]
Patient Education: Testing for kidney disease. | read this item
The kidney is a highly selective filter than receives a large supply of blood from the circulatory system. The entire blood volume passes through the kidney several times over per day. The kidney selectively removes toxins from the blood and in the process forms urine which leaves the body through the ureters bladder and urethra.
The [...]
Low carbohydrate diets are known for their ability to jump start weight loss. High protein diets such as the Atkin’s diet have been associated with no increase in cholesterol and have been credited with higher initial weight loss than traditional caloric restriction. Recently we have reported research that high protein diets are unexpectedly associated with [...]
Obesity and chronic kidney disease. | read this item
Almost every possible human ailment has been somehow linked to obesity. It is therefore no surprise that obese patients have significantly more risk of developing kidney disease. In fact there is a discrete entity that has been described which is known as obesity related glomerulopathy. Which is dysfunction of the filtering apparatus of the kidney [...]
Is Aspirin safe in Kidney disease? | read this item
Low dose aspirin is a well established means of prevention of a second heart attack or stroke also known as secondary prevention. The evidence is less compelling for patients who have never had a heart attack or stroke, with the preventative benefit competing with a steadily increasing risk of bleeding from the intestines over time. [...]
What is Shock Wave Lithotripsy Treatment. | read this item
So you just found out you have a kidney stone and the doctor told you that you need to have a procedure called lithotripsy and you have already started to panic. Well first things first, stop breathe and read….
Lithotripsy refers to a medical procedure that uses shockwaves to break up kidney stones. The kidney stones [...]
Study suggests protein intake linked to heart attack and stroke in normal people. | read this item
Most patients with chronic kidney disease will be referred to a dietician as part of their management. The standard of care has been to provide a normal protein diet of about 0.80 grams protein per kg of body weight. However some researchers believe that dietary protein intake be restricted even further as some studies suggested [...]
New Drugs: Pirfenidone a new hope in diabetic kidney disease. | read this item
Diabetic nephropathy may be slowed by several means, the standard of care is blood pressure control, prescription of drugs which reduce protein in the urine and dietary changes. However the condition is almost always progressive despite these interventions.
Pirfenidone is not a particularly new drug, it has been known as an antifibrotic agent in that it [...]
Rituximab and FSGS.
Patient Education: What is the best form of dialysis.
Low carbs diets....bad for you?
Is Aspirin safe in Kidney disease? | 
What is Shock Wave Lithotripsy Treatment. | 
Study suggests protein intake linked to heart attack and stroke in normal people. | 
