Dialysis News and Research

Latest Dialysis News and Research

Paracetamol reduces damage caused to kidneys following severe muscle injury

The commonly-used painkiller Paracetamol can protect against kidney failure after severe muscle injury, according to research at the University of Essex.

4 Feb 2010

Patients with high levels of proteinuria have increased risk of all-cause death

Patients with high levels of proteinuria (protein in urine) in addition to another marker of reduced kidney function had an associated increased risk of all-cause death, heart attack or progression to kidney failure, according to a study in the February 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Feb 2010

FMCNA ships dialysis machines and supplies for Haiti relief efforts

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, is donating and delivering dialysis supplies to Haitians, at a time when relief supplies continue to be slow to reach those in need following a devastating earthquake and aftershock.

30 Jan 2010

SCI indicates increased risk of declining kidney function in type 2 diabetics

In patients with type 2 diabetes, silent cerebral infarction (SCI)—small areas of brain damage caused by injury to small blood vessels—signals an increased risk of progressive kidney disease and kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

29 Jan 2010

Baxter International reports net income of $572M for the fourth-quarter of 2009

Baxter International Inc. today reported strong performance for the fourth quarter of 2009, and provided its financial outlook for the first quarter and full-year 2010.

From Baxter International Inc. 28 Jan 2010

Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes

Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes, according to a prospective study of Group Health primary-care patients in western Washington. These complications include kidney failure or blindness, the result of small vessel damage, as well as major vessel problems leading to heart attack or stroke.

28 Jan 2010

Investigators identify new disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for lupus kidney disease

Investigators have identified a new disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for a type of advanced kidney disease that is a common cause of complications in patients with lupus. The

27 Jan 2010

State news: New York Governor wants regulation on Rx gifts to doctors and other state news

The Associated Press/CNBC reports that New York Gov. David Paterson is "proposing new, tougher prohibitions on pharmaceutical companies, restricting them from dispensing gifts and misleading production information to doctors while promoting the use of specific drugs."

27 Jan 2010

UCSB research: Rapamycin drug, a potential treatment for ADPKD

Research performed at UC Santa Barbara points to the drug rapamycin as a potential treatment for kidney disease. The study builds on past research and shows that studies performed on mice are more likely to translate to humans than previously thought.

27 Jan 2010

Gambro acquires CHF Solutions

Gambro and CHF Solutions, Inc. (CHF) announced today that Gambro has acquired CHF, a medical device company that manufactures and distributes ultrafiltration devices to treat fluid overload.

20 Jan 2010

Invatec's REEF HP PTA Balloon Catheter receives FDA marketing clearance

Invatec, a comprehensive innovator of cardiovascular products, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its REEF HP™, a PTA Balloon Catheter, for use in peripheral high pressure dilatation procedures. The “lesion-specific” design of the balloon material is particularly useful in hard-to-dilate situations.

19 Jan 2010

Movie star attends RSN Renal Teen Prom

For one precious night, movie star Jack Black helped more than 250 teens forget about dialysis and renal disease and enjoy a right of passage most kids take for granted—the prom.

19 Jan 2010

Hyperphosphatemia following standard OSP doses is related to weight, reveals study

Colon cleansing is used widely for colonoscopic exploration and colonic and gynecological surgery. Oral sodium phosphate (OSP) solution is the osmotic laxative most commonly used for this purpose. It is known that OSP can induce severe hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia due to excessive absorption of phosphates, and there have been reports of deaths and irreversible dialysis-requiring renal insufficiency. However, no prospective studies have investigated the prevalence of hyperphosphatemia in low-risk patients.

18 Jan 2010

CKD patients do not receive adequate end-of-life care

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) often do not receive adequate end-of-life care and are unhappy with the medical decisions made as their conditions worsen, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that end-of-life care should be improved to meet the needs of CKD patients.

18 Jan 2010

CSI receives authorization to begin its pivotal trial of ORBIT II

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI), has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conditional Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of its Diamondback 360® System in the treatment of calcified coronary lesions. With this conditional approval, CSI is authorized to begin its pivotal trial, ORBIT II, in early 2010 and initially enroll up to 100 patients at as many as 50 U.S. sites.

17 Jan 2010

Proteinuria, a long accepted indicator of heart disease risk, has less impact on African-Americans compared to whites

The cardiovascular risk that is associated with proteinuria, or high levels of protein in the urine, a common test used by doctors as an indicator of increased risk for progressive kidney disease, heart attack and stroke, has race-dependent effects, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

12 Jan 2010

AMN Healthcare launches new corporate brand identity

In an effort to more effectively symbolize its position as the leader in the healthcare staffing and management services industry and the unique strength of its interconnecting service offerings, AMN Healthcare announced today that it has launched a new corporate brand identity.

12 Jan 2010

AMAG Pharmaceuticals provides update on the commercial launch of Feraheme Injection

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today provided an update on the commercial launch of Feraheme® (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous (IV) use, including preliminary fourth quarter 2009 Feraheme net product revenues estimates, as well as an update on the Company’s international and label expansion efforts.

10 Jan 2010

About 3 million lose health coverage in California

About 3 million poor Californians lost health benefits or access to health care, and thousands more lost their jobs due to state budget cuts imposed six months ago, according to a report released Thursday.

8 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 8, 2010

Today's headlines reflect the continuing developments as congressional Democrats discuss policy specifics and take steps toward finalizing their health overhaul.

8 Jan 2010