Sleep apnea is common in individuals who receive a kidney transplant and is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke. Researchers found kidney transplant patients are just as likely to have this sleep disorder as dialysis patients who are on the transplant waiting list. Therefore, both types of patients who have sleep apnea should be considered at high risk for developing serious heart-related complications.

 

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in individuals who receive kidney transplants, and doctors monitor transplant recipients for high blood pressure and other signs of heart trouble. According to the researchers, physicians should screen transplant and dialysis patients for obstructive sleep apnea and offer appropriate treatment. The article appears in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

Doctors in Washington, DC have performed a record-setting kidney swap. Twenty-six operations have given 13 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients a new chance at life. The surgeries were performed over six days at Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center and included three altruistic kidney donors.

 

Five patients with heightened immune systems got kidneys because of blood-filtering to remove remaining antibodies that could potentially attack the new organ. Ten of the kidney recipients were black, Asian or Hispanic. Minorities are disproportionately afflicted by kidney disease and are less likely than white Americans to received a kidney from a living donor. The chain is believed to be the largest exchange of its kind. For more information on paired kidney exchange programs, visit the AAKP Web site.  

AAKP is pleased to host an Artwork Contest in honor of the upcoming National Kidney Month (March). The goal of this artwork contest is to allow individuals to demonstrate, through their artwork, how kidney disease has affected them and help raise awareness of this chronic disease.

Artwork must be submitted by February 26, 2010 to be eligible. Artwork is publicly judged during National Kidney Month and will be displayed on the AAKP Web site from March 15 - April 15. Winners are announced in April. Entries must adhere to the contest/artwork guidelines and be accompanied by an official entry form.

 

People who have kidney transplants need longer-term support than most friends, relatives or even health care professionals realize, according to a study of 160 patients published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. Researchers surveyed 55 patients who had undergone surgery in the last year, together with 105 who had surgery in the last one to three years at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center in Tennessee. They wanted to see if there was any difference in how they perceived factors such as their health, the side effects of medications to prevent rejection, social support and quality of life.

 

Researchers found patients reported higher levels of support in the first year after their surgery than they did after one to three years. Patients also felt more positive about what they could achieve and their ability to cope in the first year after surgery. The findings point to the need for more social support in the later transplant period.

National Influenza Vaccination Week was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination after the holiday season and takes place January 10-16. Between April and mid-November there were approximately 47 millions cases of H1N1 flu, 200,000 hospitalizations and nearly 10,000 deaths. Those with chronic illnesses are especially at risk. Though flu activity has declined in recent weeks, experts warn that we should prepare for a possible third wave of H1N1 flu. If you haven't been vaccinated yet, take the time now to protect yourself and your loved ones. For more information, visit www.flu.gov.