UKidney Nephrology News and Insights

Excitement for the SGLT2 inhibitor class continued at the 2019 ASN Kidney Week. Evidence continues to accumulate from analyses of the CREDENCE trial which originally showed - for the first time in a randomized controlled study with hard renal outcomes - that patients taking canagliflozin experienced slower decline in their kdiney function and a reduction in the incidence of end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. In the CREDENCE study, patients with an estimated eGFR below 30 ml/min were excluded from the trial. However, patients who had a eGFR > 30 ml/min at the time of screening but in whom the eGFR fell below 30 ml/min by the time of randomization were nevertheless included in the study.

Session: High-Impact Clinical Trials

Sub-session: Effects of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Kidney Function and Damage in Type 2 Diabetes

Presenter: Ian H. de Boer, MD, MS, Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington

Ian H. de BoerIt’s official. Two supplement darlings — Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid (often sold as fish oil) — do not help people with type 2 diabetes stave off chronic kidney disease. That’s according to a five-year study of kidney function, which included 1,312 adults with type 2 diabetes.

Session: Global Challenges of CKD

Sub-session: CKD in the United States and Europe: Juxtaposing the Epidemiology and Evolution

Presenter: Kitty J. Jager, MD, PhD, Academic Medical Center

There are marked differences in chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and incidence trends between the Unites States and Europe. Even within countries there are enormous disparities.

During a deep dive into the granularity of available data, Kitty J. Jager, MD, PhD, Academic Medical Center, pointed out how, where, and sometimes why such differences in prevalence and incidence of CKD exist. Identifying and interpreting this data, Dr. Jager suggested, is critical to reducing the burden of CKD.

Poster: SIERRAS: A Phase 3, Open-Label, Randomized, Active-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Roxadustat in the Maintenance Treatment of Anemia in Subjects with ESRD on Stable Dialysis

Authors: Chaim Charytan, MD, Nephrology Associates, PC, New Rochelle, New York, et al

Roxadustat (ROXA) is an oral hypoxia–inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor that stimulates erythropoiesis and regulates iron metabolism. And the drug — a novel first-in-class treatment for certain people with anemia from chronic kidney disease (CKD) — is being closely watched as its Phase III program pooled analyses continue to prompt headline-worthy news. In short, ROXA shows positive efficacy and no increased cardiovascular risk in patients with anemia from chronic kidney disease.

Session: Hot Off the Press: The Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative and More

Sub-Session: Deep Dive on New Kidney Care Delivery Models

Presenter: Tom Duvall, Acting Division Director for the Division of Special Populations and Projects at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Even on the final day of Kidney Week 2019, the remaining attendees’ energy level and riveted interest remained high — particularly in the morning session devoted to late-breaking developments in public policy.  Case in point, the sub-session on new kidney care delivery models, present by Tom Duvall, Acting Division Director for the Division of Special Populations and Projects at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), which contains the CEC Model, the KCC Model, and the ETC Model.