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Last Updated 01/22/12

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is permanent kidney damage due to injury or disease. More than 20 million Americans-one in nine adults-have chronic kidney disease, and most don't even know it. More than 20 million others are at increased risk.

How long you can live with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Some people with early CKD never experience kidney failure. Others reach kidney failure (end-stage renal disease (ESRD)) and live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants.

Simple tests in a doctor's office can detect chronic kidney disease in its early stages when lifestyle changes and medication can be prescribed to delay or prevent the progression of kidney disease and its complications. Left untreated, chronic kidney disease may ultimately lead to kidney failure and/or heart disease.

There are many risk factors that make having CKD more likely, with the leading risk factors being diabetes, hypertension, and a family history of CKD.

Warning: Changes should never be made in a patient's treatment or care based solely on the information found here.  All patients have unique healthcare concerns and considerations and these must all be taken into account before any changes can be safely made.  All medical and therapeutic decisions must come from a qualified health care provider.  Read RenalWEB's Legal Disclaimer before proceeding.

  NEWS and LATEST ARTICLES

Kidney Failure Patients Prone to GI Tract Bleeding - Article from HealthDay. JASN Express abstract. - January 19, 2012

Abstracts from the 14th International Conference on Dialysis / Advances in CKD 2012 - (12-page pdf) Full-text, Issue-in-Progress section from Blood Purification. - January 20, 2012

Joslin Study Identifies Novel Markers As Key Indicators of Future Renal Failure in Diabetes - Press release from Joslin Diabetes Center. - January 19, 2012

Comparative Effectiveness of Incident Oral Antidiabetic Drugs on Kidney Function - Free, full-text article from Kidney International. - January 18, 2012

Kidney Failure Risk Higher for Liver Transplant Patients Following Allocation Policy Change - Press release from the University of Michigan Health System. - January 16, 2012

Rapid Diagnosis of Severe Kidney Damage — New Biomarkers Tested - Press release from Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. - January 16, 2012

Forced Diuresis Can Cut Risk of Contrast Nephropathy - Article from MedPage Today. - January 16, 2012

U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program Might Avert 885,000 Cases - Article from HealthDay. - January 12, 2012

Pesticides Fill Graveyards in Rural Villages (of El Salvador Due to Kidney Failure) - January 12, 2012

Kidney Disease Now 8th Leading Cause of Death in US - Article from AP. Report (69-page pdf) from the National Vital Statistics Reports. - January 11, 2012

In Minnesota, Emergency Funds for Chronic Dialysis Treatments Cut Off This Week - Article from Minnesota Public Radio. - January 10, 2012

Blood Pressure Components and End-stage Renal Disease in Persons With Chronic Kidney Disease: The Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) - Abstract from Archives of Internal Medicine. - January 9, 2012

Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury-When to Start - Advance Access Abstract from NDT - January 9, 2012

Severe Acute Hypophosphatemia during Renal Replacement Therapy Adversely Affects Outcome of Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury - Online First abstract from International Urology and Nephrology. - January 7, 2012

Discussions of the Kidney Disease Trajectory by Elderly Patients and Nephrologists: A Qualitative Study - Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - January 6, 2012

AlloCure's Kidney Disease Treatment Advances - January 5, 2012

CJASN Express Abstracts - January 2012
• Characteristics and Outcomes of Children with Primary Oxalosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy
• Efficacy and Safety of Paricalcitol Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Scientists Unravel Kidney Disease Susceptibility Genes In Asian Genomic Study - January 4, 2012

Chronic Kidney Disease: Endogenous Filtration Markers—Is It Time To Move Beyond eGFR? - Full-text article from Nature Reviews Nephrology. - January 2012

Dietary Acid Reduction with Fruits and Vegetables or Bicarbonate Attenuates Kidney Injury in Patients with a Moderately Reduced Glomerular Filtration Rate Due to Hypertensive Nephropathy - Free, full-text article from Kidney International. - January 2012

Articles in Press abstracts from American Journal of Kidney Diseases - December 30, 2011
• Long-term Risk of CKD in Children Surviving Episodes of Acute Kidney Injury in the Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Cohort Study
• Risk Factors for ESRD in HIV-Infected Individuals: Traditional and HIV-Related Factors

The Fallacy of the BUN: Creatinine Ratio in Critically Ill Patients - Advance Access Abstract from NDT - December 29, 2011

Van Andel Research Institute Findings Provide More Complete Picture of Kidney Cancer - December 29, 2011

Red Meat Lovers Have More Kidney Cancer - December 28, 2011

Timing of Dialysis Initiation: The Billion Dollar Question - Blog posting from Renal Fellow Network. - December 28, 2011

Stempeutics (in India) Banks on Stem Cells As Cure for Chronic Diseases - December 28, 2011

Diabetes Epidemic Ruining Kidneys in India Spurs Fresenius Medical Care's Dialysis Sales - Article from Bloomberg. - December 27, 2011

Eculizumab in the Treatment of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Infants - Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - December 26, 2011

Survival after Starting Renal Replacement Treatment in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Single-Centre 40-Year Study - Issue in Progress abstract from Nephron Clinical Practice. - December 23, 2011

Dialysis Unplugged: When Should You Start a Patient on Dialysis? - Blog posting from The Kidney Doctor. - December 22, 2011

Intensive Diabetes Therapy and Glomerular Filtration Rate in Type 1 Diabetes - Abstract from the New England Journal of Medicine. - December 22, 2011

Gene Mutation Links Kidney Disease to Common Nerve Disorder - Abstract from the New England Journal of Medicine. Article from Medscape Nephrology (registration required, but free). - December 22, 2011

Body Mass Index Has No Effect on Rate of Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Subjects with Type II Diabetes Mellitus - Article in Press abstract from Journal of Nephrology. - December 21, 2011

‘Ideal Criteria’ for Starting Chronic Hemodialysis: Numbers, Symptoms or an Alerting ‘Traffic Light’ System? - Free, full-text, Issue-in-Progress article from Nephron Clinical Practice. - December 21, 2011

Effects of Short- and Long-Term Hypercholesterolemia on Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury - Issue-in-Progress Abstract from American Journal of Nephrology - December 21, 2011

AKI in the Hospital: What Does This Mean for my Long Term Kidney Health? - Blog posting from Renal Fellow Network. - December 20, 2011

Survival in Dialysis Patients Is Not Different between Patients with Diabetes as Primary Renal Disease and Patients with Diabetes as a Co-Morbid Condition - Provisional abstract and full-text article (28-page pdf) from BMC Nephrology. - December 19, 2011

A Simple Prediction Score for Kidney Disease in the Korean Population - Accepted Article Abstract from Nephrology - December 15, 2011

Outbreak of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Caused by E. coli O104: H4 in Germany: a Pediatric Perspective - Free, fulltext, editorial commentary from Pediatric Nephrology. - December 13, 2011

NSAIDs and Chronic Kidney Disease - (Registration required, but free.) Article from Medscape Nephrology. - December 12, 2011

Kidney Disease Killing Thousands of Sugar Cane Workers - Article from The Center for Public Integrity's i Watch News. - December 12, 2011

Can Vitamin D Slow Down the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease? - Online First abstract from Pediatric Nephrology. - December 10, 2011

The Potential Savings from Enhanced Chronic Care Management Policies - Report (12-page pdf) from The Urban Institute. - November 2011
 
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  WEB RESOURCES
Latest Scientific Journal Articles on Chronic Kidney Disease - list compiled by RenalWEB's Journal Watch
AAKP Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine from the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) web site
About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) from The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Learning System (KLS) web site
American Diabetes Association web site
Anemia and Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf) from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Anemia: Mobilizing Resources for Positive Outcomes (pdf) from the Kidney Learning System web site
Are You At Risk for Kidney Disease? from the American Kidney Fund web site
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) Clinical and Genetic Resource from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Core Center
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) : The Basics slide show from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Core Center
Barriers to successful care for chronic kidney disease (pdf) from BMC Nephrology - October 27, 2005
Better Chronic Disease Care program from California Healthcare Foundation
Choosing the Right Treatment from Fresenius Medical Care/UltraCare web site
Chronic Kidney Disease from the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) web site
Chronic Kidney Disease from the Hypertension, Dialysis, & Clinical Nephrology (HDCN) web site
Chronic Kidney Disease from the American Kidney Fund web site
Common Questions from the American Kidney Fund web site
Education and Teaching Resources from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit web site
2008 ESRD Briefing Book for State and Federal Policy Makers (pdf format requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) - from the ANNA web site
Frequently Asked Questions About GFR Estimates - from The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Learning System (KLS) web site
How to Have a Good Future with Kidney Disease a Life Options CKD Patient Education Toolkit - 2011
Hyperphosphatemia and Chronic Kidney Disease - from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
IgA nephropathy from the About web site
KEY - Kidney Education and You - free kidney education classes from the DaVita web site
Kidney disease from the InteliHealth web site for general health information (subsidiary of Aetna U.S. Healthcare)
Kidney Diseases from the National Institute of Health web site
Kidney Diseases Dictionary from the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Kidney Health Library from the Kidney & Urology Foundation of America (KUFA) web site
Kidney Health Podcast Series from the American Kidney Fund (AKF) web site
Kidney Learning System (KLS)™ from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Life Options Rehabilitation Program Introduction to Chronic Kidney Disease
Living Well with Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf) from the American Kidney Fund (AKF) web site
Medicare for Children with Chronic Kidney Disease from the Medicare web site
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
National Prevention Council: National Prevention Strategy To Promote Health and Prevent Disease and Disabilities from Healthcare.gov web site - June 2011
Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease web site
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Educational Materials from the PKD Foundation web site
Sodium and PKD - (pkd) from the PKD Foundation web site
Strategies to Prevent Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf) from the American Kidney Fund web site
Take Six Steps that Count to Fight Kidney Disease - article from the American Kidney Fund
10 Steps for Protecting Kidney Health from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Uremic Toxins: What Are They? An Integrated Overview of Pathobiology and Classification from the Journal of Renal Nutrition
What Is Your Kidney Score? from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
What You Can Do from the Life Options web site
When Your Child Has a Chronic Kidney Disease from the Nemours Foundation web site
 
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  ESSENTIALS AND CLASSICS
CE Program - Chronic Kidney Disease - What Every Nurse Should Know from the ANNA web site
Core Curriculum: Chronic Kidney Disease - full-text article from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases - January 2007
CE Program - Chronic Kidney Disease - Nursing Guidelines for Patient Education from the ANNA web site
Videos on Chronic Kidney Disease - 19-chapter educational series from TheVisualMD.com. - October 2011
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 1: Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease - Hemodialysis in the Long Term Care Setting from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 2: Stage 3 & 4 CKD from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 3: Stage 1 & 2 CKD from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 6: Chronic Kidney Disease - The Post Transplant Patient from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 7: Chronic Kidney Disease - Nursing Guidelines for Patient Education from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
The Well-Controlled Patient: Looking Beyond the Lab Tests from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Indicators for Chronic Disease Surveillance (pdf) - article from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) - September 10, 2004
Risk Factors for CKD from the Life Options web site
10 Symptoms of Kidney Disease from the Life Options web site
Frequently Asked Questions about CKD from the Life Options web site
Learn the Six Warning Signs of Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
 
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  BEST CLINICAL PRACTICES
National Service Framework for Renal Services - Part Two: Chronic kidney disease, acute renal failure and end of life care - from the Department of Health (DH)
The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is designed to identify those at risk for kidney disease - from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
Chronic Kidney Disease: Developing a Clinical Action Plan from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
Guidelines for Managing Kidney Disease from the Canadian Medical Association
Testing for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Position Statement From the National Kidney Foundation - full-text article from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases - August 2007
A Team Approach to Managing Bone Disease in CKD Stage 5 (pdf) from the National Kidney Foundation web site
Healthy People 2010 - National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines for managing Chronic Kidney Disease
Clinical Practice Guidebook for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease from the Japanese Society of Nephrology - June 2009
Elevated levels of serum creatinine: recommendations for management and referral - from the Canadian Medical Association - 1999
 
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  K/DOQI™ -  Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative
K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification
K/DOQI Chronic Kidney Disease Executive Summary
K/DOQI Guidelines: Two clinical guidelines for when to initiate dialysis
Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Practice Recommendations for Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf format requires Adobe Acrobat reader) 
KDIGO Guideline for Hepatitis C in CKD from Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) - August 2008
 

  PUBMED SEARCHES (National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE Database)
Kidney Diseases (General) from MEDLINEplus Health Information
chronic kidney disease Continually Updated!
chronic kidney disease AND risk factors Continually Updated!
MEDLINE / Pubmed Information from the National Library of Medicine
 

  PRODUCTS
 
 

  STATISTICS
Average Annual Health Care Use and Expenditures for Kidney Disease among Adults 18 and Older, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2003-2007 - Statistical brief (7-page pdf) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
2010 USRDS Presentations & Posters, 2009 Researcher's Guide and the 2011 USRDS annual report - from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) web site
Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States from the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and Associated Risk Factors --- United States, 1999--2004 from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - March 2, 2007
Racial Differences in Trends of End-Stage Renal Disease, by Primary Diagnosis --- United States, 1994--2004 from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - March 23, 2007
US Government Goals: Chronic Kidney Disease Chapter from the Healthy People 2020 Objectives
statehealthfacts.org - your source for state health data
 
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  UPCOMING EVENTS
NKF Health Screening Schedule - The National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is designed to identify those at risk for kidney disease - scroll down to view multiple screening dates and contact phone numbers.
Kidney Beginnings: Live - The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) FREE educational program that educates individuals about the basics of kidney disease and proper kidney care.
 
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  RELATED TOPICS
Dialysis Outcomes and Topics from the RenalWEB web site Continually Updated!
 
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  INPUT / SUGGESTIONS
E-mail to RenalWEB on the Chronic Kidney Disease Page
 
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