Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension最新文献

Purpose of review: Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing throughout the world, affecting nearly one in three individuals. Kidney stone disease, which is also increasing, is associated with MASLD. Common risk factors for both, including obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, are likely drivers of this association. We present here a review of the associations and possible interconnections between these two common disease processes.

Recent findings: Epidemiological studies are discordant regarding the impact of sex on this association and on the impact of MASLD on incident stone risk. The nature of kidney stones is rarely taken into account.A favorable milieu for uric acid kidney stone formation may be created by a lower urine pH resulting from defective ammonium production associated with insulin resistance, common in MASLD.Endogenous oxalate synthesis, a major risk factor for calcium oxalate kidney stones, may be increased in MASLD via decline in the activity of enzymes involved in the detoxification of glyoxylate, the immediate precursor of oxalate.

Summary: The nature of kidney stones associated with MASLD and factors driving this association remain to be elucidated. Potential mechanisms identified underlying this include an increase in the risk factors for both uric acid and calcium oxalate kidney stones.

Purpose of review: The recent widespread availability of genetic testing has resulted in the diagnosis of many more people with Alport syndrome. This increased recognition has been paralleled by advances in understanding clinical consequences, genotype-phenotype correlations and in the development of new therapies.

Recent findings: These include the international call for a change of name to 'Alport spectrum' which better reflects the diverse clinical features seen with autosomal dominant and X-linked Alport syndrome; the demonstration of how common Alport syndrome is in people with haematuria, proteinuria, or kidney failure; the inability of current genetic testing to detect all pathogenic variants in suspected Alport syndrome; the different genotype-phenotype correlations for autosomal dominant and X-linked disease; and the novel treatments that are available including SGLT2 inhibitors for persistent albuminuria despite renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade, as well as early studies of gene-modifying agents.

Summary: Autosomal dominant Alport syndrome is the commonest genetic kidney disease and X-linked Alport syndrome is the second commonest genetic cause of kidney failure. Both these diseases are frequently seen in the renal clinic, and clinicians should be aware of their likelihood in a person with persistent glomerular haematuria, proteinuria or kidney failure. Autosomal dominant Alport syndrome is so common that it also occurs coincidentally in other kidney diseases especially IgA nephropathy.

Purpose of review: This review explores the variability in preimplantation kidney biopsy processing methods, emphasizing their impact on histological interpretation and allocation decisions driven by biopsy findings. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in digital pathology, it is timely to evaluate whether these advancements can overcome current challenges and improve organ allocation amidst a growing organ shortage.

Recent findings: Significant inconsistencies exist in biopsy methodologies, including core versus wedge sampling, frozen versus paraffin-embedded processing, and variability in pathologist expertise. These differences complicate study comparisons and limit the reproducibility of histological assessments. Emerging AI-driven tools and digital pathology show potential for standardizing assessments, enhancing reproducibility, and reducing dependence on expert pathologists. However, few studies have validated their clinical utility or demonstrated their predictive performance for long-term outcomes.

Summary: Novel AI-driven tools hold promise for improving the standardization and accuracy of preimplantation kidney biopsy assessments. However, their clinical application remains limited due to a lack of proven associations with posttransplant outcomes and insufficient evaluation of predictive performance metrics. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies using large-scale datasets, rigorous validation, and comprehensive assessments of predictive performance for both short- and long-term outcomes to fully establish their clinical utility.

Purpose of review: Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (PGNMID), is a disease defined by the presence of glomerulonephritis with nonorganized mono-isotypic immunoglobulin (Ig) deposits. This review will discuss the pathogenesis of PGNMID and address novel techniques for detection of monoclonal Ig and pathologic B-cell clones and for distinguishing monoclonal from oligoclonal Ig deposits.

Recent findings: Because of low detection rate of circulating monoclonal Ig and nephritogenic B-cell clones and emerging reports of PGNMID-IgG in children, it has been recently argued that many PGNMID-IgG3 cases may not be monoclonal lesions. A mass spectrometry-based method, serum matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, has been shown to have superior sensitivity than immunofixation for detection of monoclonal Ig in PGNMID and other monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) lesions. Two novel sequencing techniques, RNA-based immunoglobulin repertoire sequencing and single-molecule real-time sequencing of monoclonal immunoglobulin, enable identification of the full-length variable sequence of monoclonal Ig, even in MGRS patients with low tumor burden and undetectable monoclonal Ig by conventional methods. Finally, staining of kidney biopsy for Ig light chain variable domain subgroups may allow for separation of true monoclonal from oligoclonal PGNMID.

Summary: Novel sequencing, mass spectrometry, and immunofluorescence techniques have the potential to increase the detection rate of nephritogenic monoclonal Ig/B-cell clone and distinguish monoclonal from oligoclonal deposits in PGNMID.

Purpose of review: Home dialysis has been promoted for several years for patients starting dialysis. Although incident use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) is increasing in several regions, patients on home dialysis remain at high risk of transfer to facility-hemodialysis (HD). The integrated home dialysis model, where patient start dialysis on PD and eventually transition to HHD when PD cannot be optimally continued has gain interest from dialysis stakeholders.

Recent findings: Transfers from PD to HHD are infrequently used among patients ending PD, representing between 2% and 6% of transfers to HD in registry studies. Nonetheless, this approach is associated with several clinical benefits as well as favorable cost-effectiveness.

Summary: In this review, we will present data pertaining to home dialysis and the integrated home dialysis model, with broad discussion of the implementation challenges, including identifying patients who could most benefit from this approach, timely planning of the transitions and challenges relating to unexpected PD endings.

Purpose of review: We aim to provide an updated perspective on the recent advancements in gene therapy for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disorder with significant morbidity. Given the rapid evolution of gene therapy technologies and their potential for treating inherited diseases, this review explores the therapeutic prospects and challenges in applying these technologies to PKD.

Recent findings: Significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic underpinnings of PKD, making it a prime candidate for gene therapy. Re-expression of the PKD genes, treatment with the C-terminal tail of polycystin 1 protein and antagomir therapy against miR-17 have shown promise in reducing cyst formation and preserving kidney function. The rapid development of gene-editing tools, antisense oligonucleotide-based strategies, programmable RNA, and advanced gene delivery systems has opened new possibilities for PKD treatment. However, challenges such as off-target effects, delivery efficiency, and long-term safety remain significant barriers to clinical application.

Summary: Current research highlights the transformative potential of gene therapy for PKD. Ongoing studies are crucial to overcoming existing challenges and translating these findings into clinical practice. We highlight the need for multidisciplinary efforts to optimize gene-editing technologies and ensure their safety and efficacy in treating PKD.

Purpose of review: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread health issue, affecting one out of every 10 adults. This prevalence is even higher among vulnerable and underserved populations, including low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and immigrants. Urban areas such as New York City and Los Angeles County offer municipal safety-net healthcare systems for these groups.

Recent findings: Safety-net providers are essential to the healthcare landscape for vulnerable populations with chronic diseases including the Los Angeles County Health Services that exemplifies how effective population health strategies can be utilized to manage CKD and at-risk persons. These approaches focus on risk assessment, integrated practices, patient and care-partner education, cost reduction, and strategic partnerships. Kidney care tailored "Expected Practices" ensure that management strategies are equitable and based on clinical evidence. The eConsult system allows CKD patients' primary care providers to efficiently consult nephrologists, facilitating timely specialty care appointments through "Precision Scheduling." Priority goals include slowing CKD progression, equitable access to home dialysis, and preemptive kidney transplantation. As highlighted by Kalantar-Zadeh et al. in 2025 CJASN, advancing equitable kidney care through population health approaches support comprehensive and efficient CKD management, including diabetic kidney disease, in Los Angeles County's safety-net system.

Summary: With a large, underserved patient population affected by CKD, urban safety-net healthcare systems like those in Los Angeles County emphasize early detection, multidisciplinary management, shared decision-making, and equitable access to CKD. They prioritize equitable access to home dialysis modality choice and kidney transplantation, aiming to improve outcomes and the quality-of-life for diverse patient groups.

Purpose of review: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is increasingly more prevalent as chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses to more advanced stages. There is a global recognition of the importance of preventing and mitigating PEW in the CKD population not on dialysis given the goal of extending dialysis-free time and delaying dialysis initiation and growing evidence of the clinical consequences of PEW which include the risk of death, hospitalization and clinical conditions such as infections. We reviewed the association of PEW and the malnutrition characteristics indicative of PEW on CKD progression.

Recent findings: Studies show the association between low serum albumin levels, low BMI, and diets with inadequate dietary energy and protein intake and CKD progression. Limited studies suggest low muscle mass impacts CKD progression. Optimizing nutrition by dietary management, including a moderately low protein (0.6-0.8 g/kg/day) and plant-based (>50% of protein source, known as PLADO) diet and as needed with supplementation [e.g. during acute kidney injury (AKI) event] administrated orally, enterally, or parenterally are the basis for the prevention and treatment of PEW in CKD and delaying CKD progression. Furthermore, other therapeutic methods such as treating or avoiding comorbidities and AKI, ensuring appropriate exercise and incremental transition to dialysis treatment may help ameliorate and prevent PEW development in CKD patients.

Summary: Using tailored precision nutrition approaches and nutritional supplementation with or without other beneficial strategies may help prevent and treat PEW and its consequent occurrence of CKD progression.

Purpose of review: The aim of this article is to review the current understanding of disparities in healthcare experienced by people living with kidney disease and emerging approaches to address root causes. Health equity for any disease state is an aspirational goal commonly sought out by the medical community, but all too often lacking the understanding and support required to improve the outcomes of people with complex conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Recent findings: The main themes of the literature covered in this article include a review of the structural drivers of healthcare outcomes, a description of research in the fields of health literacy and patient activation for patients with CKD, and an analysis of the examples of healthcare disparities in CKD patients that include involuntary discharges from dialysis facilities as well as the toll taken from dialysis populations during natural disasters. The National Forum of the ESRD Networks is a coalition of 18 congressionally mandated ESRD network organizations committed to equitable access to home and in-center dialysis modalities and preemptive kidney transplantation. We conclude with the patient-centered story of a patient living with end-stage kidney disease for over 40 years and how her journey has helped shape her view on what she believes should encompass a 'call to action' to provide more equitable healthcare to people living with kidney disease.

Summary: The overarching implications of this article focus on improving the understanding of present-day healthcare inequality within the community of people living with kidney disease and providing a roadmap of resources and ideas that will help achieve more equitable outcomes. The National Forum of the ESRD Networks is committed to the effective implementation of 'Practicing Health Equity in Kidney Care' and improving access to dialysis modalities including home dialysis as well as kidney transplantation including preemptive transplant options.