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Last Updated 7/11/10

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

Sex differences in the impact of diabetes on mortality in chronic dialysis patients - Advanced Access abstract from NDT. - July 9, 2010
second lecture of the year: acute kidney injury - 128-slide teaching presentation by Joel Topf, MD from the Precious Bodily Fluids web site. - July 9, 2010
Program to Enhance Communication of Life-sustaining Treatment Preferences Associated with Closer Adherence to a Person’s Wishes when Compared with Traditional Practices, Finds NIH-Supported Study - Press release from the National Institutes of Health. - July 8, 2010
Hereditary kidney disease linked to genetic location - Article from American Society of Nephrology. - July 8, 2010
Preparing renal replacement therapy in stage 4 CKD patients referred to nephrologists: a difficult balance between futility and insufficiency. A cohort study of 386 patients followed in Brussels - Advance Access abstract from NDT. - July 7, 2010
Bangladesh sex workers plump up on cow steroids - Article from AFP. - July 7, 2010
Gastrointestinal disorders and renal failure: exploring the connection - Advance online abstract from Nature Reviews Nephrology. - July 6, 2010
Impact of heart failure on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease - Online First abstract from International Urology and Nephrology. - July 4, 2010
Atorvastatin Beats Rosuvastatin in Protecting Kidneys in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients - Article from Medscape Today. - July 2, 2010
Cognitive Profile of Chronic Kidney Disease and Hemodialysis Patients without Dementia - Issue-in-Progress article from Nephron Clinical Practice. - July 2, 2010
Researchers Explore Links Between Heart and Kidneys - Article from Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - July 1, 2010
Study Shows Short-Term Kidney Failure in Heart Patients May Not Be as Detrimental as Previously Thought - Press release from the University of Cincinnati. - July 1, 2010
The KDOQI 2002 Classification of Chronic Kidney Disease: For Whom the Bell Tolls - Free, full-text, Advance Access editorial comment from NDT. - July 1, 2010
UK health body rejects Novartis kidney cancer drug - Article from Reuters. - July 1, 2010
When To Start Chronic Dialysis: Tunnel Vision Induced by Numbers? - Free, full-text, Advance Access editorial from NDT. - June 30, 2010
Early vs Late HD Initiation: Video Commentary - Uremic Frost video blog by Dr. Simon Prince on this week's New England Journal of Medicine Early Release article. - June 29, 2010
Skin autofluorescence is associated with renal function and cardiovascular diseases in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients - Advance Access abstract from NDT . - June 29, 2010
‘Reality and Desire’ in the Care of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease - Advance Access editorial comment from NDT Plus. - June 28, 2010
Pathbreaking Trial Results from the European Congress of Nephrology - Article from The German Society of Nephrology. - June 28, 2010
No Benefit Seen with Early (versus Late) Initiation of Dialysis - Article from MedPage Today. Free, full-text, Online First article from The New England Journal of Medicine. Also see related NEJM editorial: - June 27, 2010
The Initiation of Renal-Replacement Therapy — Just-in-Time Delivery
No Renal Benefit for mTOR Inhibitors - Article from MedPage Today. - June 26, 2010
TGen-led studies identify genetic links to kidney disease, kidney failure - Article from The Translational Genomics Research Institute. - June 26, 2010
Moderate chronic kidney disease is associated with reduced cognitive performance in midlife women - Article from Kidney International. - June 23, 2010
Software predicts kidney disease risk - Article from The Engineer. - June 23, 2010
Genetically Modified Cell Procedure May Prove Useful in Treating Kidney Failure - Article from The University of Indiana. - June 22, 2010
Stem cell therapy 'damage' seen in kidney disease case - Article from The BBC. - June 17, 2010
First patient data on sirolimus for ADPKD - Blog entry from PB Fluids. - June 16, 2010
Chronic renal disease is more prevalent in patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome who had a positive history of diarrhea - Abstract from Kidney International. - June 16, 2010
KidneyWise National Summit Combats Alarming Statistics; 50 Million Americans Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - Article from PR Newswire. - June 15, 2010
Limiting blood flow interruption during kidney surgery avoids chronic kidney disease - Article from The Mayo Clinic. - June 11, 2010
Strict glycaemic control in diabetic patients with CKD or ESRD: beneficial or deadly? - Advance Access editorial comment from NDT Plus. - April 12, 2010
 
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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
Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Replacement Therapy in ARPKD 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
5-Minute Educational/Entertainment Film from Renal Support Network - video from the Renal Support Network/YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions About GFR Estimates - from The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Learning System (KLS) web site
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
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
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

2009 USRDS Presentations & Posters, 2009 Researcher's Guide and the 2009 Annual Data 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 2010 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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