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| AAKP News of the Month: Join AAKP for Kidney Beginnings: Live!
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AAKP will be in Memphis, TN, May 15, for the next Kidney Beginnings: Live. Kidney Beginnings: Live is a FREE educational program designed to educate individuals about the basics of kidney disease and proper kidney care. Attendees receive complimentary educational materials, learn about kidney disease in a welcoming atmosphere and have the opportunity to have questions answered by local health care professionals.
Please continue to check the AAKP website for more upcoming locations and dates. |
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Want to Be a Member of the AAKP Board of Directors? |
AAKP is currently accepting nominations for the 2010-2011 National Board of Directors. The elections are held in July, with new members seated at AAKP's Annual Convention in September. Board members serve two-year terms. The deadline to submit nominations is May 21, 2010.
The AAKP Board of Directors is responsible for establishing goals and policies for the Association. Board members must attend three meetings each year, participate in conference calls and committee membership. For more information about the AAKP Board of Directors or to request a nomination form, please contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP or visit the AAKP website to download the nomination form. Self nominations are encouraged. | |
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| Kidney Disease a Big Risk for Younger, Low-Income Minorities |
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts a large number of younger minority adults receiving medical care in settings that serve the uninsured and underinsured. Researchers examined data from 15,353 adults with non-dialysis dependent CKD stages 3-5. All were receiving regular care and were followed for a period of 12 months to 9.4 years. The study authors measured the time it took for patients to progress from moderate to severe CKD to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death. The vast majority of study participants were poor, 40 percent were either uninsured or enrolled in Medicaid and one-third spoke a primary language other than English - all vulnerable populations which have been underrepresented in prior studies of CKD.
In contrast to the general population and prior CKD studies in the United States, the study authors found CKD afflicted a large fraction of young adults (20-39 years old), most of whom were racial or ethnic minorities. Overall, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders with CKD were at higher risk of developing ESRD, compared with non-Hispanic whites. Poor, minority adults with moderate to severe CKD are also two to four times more likely to progress to kidney failure than non-Hispanic whites. The findings appear in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). |
| Vote for Your Favorite Kidney Patient Artwork! |
Vote for your favorite AAKP artwork contest entry! The illustrations are on the AAKP website for public judging. Voting is open until April 15. Winners will be announced in April.
The top three selected pieces of artwork will be turned into all occasion greeting cards and be offered as Association fundraisers. Winners will receive a complimentary pack of their artwork greeting card along with an award certificate for their accomplishments. To cast your vote, go to http://aakp.org/events/artwork-contest/artwork-submissions/. |
| AAKP Continues to Look Forward while Experiencing Leadership Change |
AAKP has announced the resignation of its Executive Director, Kim Buettner. Buettner has accepted a position within the Education and Patient Advisory Program of a large Tampa based cancer treatment and research center. "For more than 10 years, Kim has held a career with AAKP. She has served the Association in several roles and during the past year, as the executive director, she has demonstrated her passion and commitment toward patient education," said AAKP President Roberta "Bobbi" Wager, RN, MSN. "Her departure saddens the Board and staff, however, we are happy to see her advancing in an area for which she holds such an interest." Buettner's last day is April 15. The Board has developed a search committee and is conducting a national search for an executive director. For additional information, please send an e-mail to info@aakp.org. |
| Genetic Factors Can Help Predict Risk for Kidney Disease |
Israeli and American researchers have identified new genetic data that could be used in the future to predict who will develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD requires dialysis or transplantation to sustain life, and is fatal in most regions of the world, where these treatments are not available. The results could someday benefit the estimated 40 million people in the U.S. who suffer from various degrees of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the prelude to ESRD.
The researchers discovered highly informative DNA markers in the MYH9 gene. These markers help explain the high number of ESRD among Americans of African ancestry including African and Hispanic Americans. These high risk markers are found in up to 60 percent of people from western and southern African regions, and their presence raises the risk of the disease by as much as three to four fold in individuals carrying the risk markers. Researchers hope these findings can advance the use of genetic screening for those at high risk of developing kidney failure, which might enable preventative early treatment in at risk individuals. |
| AAKP Convention Update! |
 With AAKP's 2010 Annual Convention coming up, it's important to make plans to attend this spectacular 3-day event as soon as possible. This year, the AAKP Convention takes place Sept. 2 - 4, in Tampa, Florida, and features the latest research on kidney disease and its treatment options, exciting social events and an exhibit hall filled with renal-related companies and products.
- What's On Your CKD Grocery Shopping List?
- Coping with the CKD Diagnosis
- CKD & Stem Cell Research: Is There a Cure?
- and much more!
To make your hotel reservations, please contact the Tampa Marriott Waterside at (888) 268-1616. Identify yourself as an AAKP Convention attendee to receive the preferred rate of $110 per night. The deadline to receive this rate is August 10, 2010.
Convention registration opens in late spring so please continue to check the AAKP website for updates. |
| Avosentan Reduces Proteinuria but Causes Serious Side Effects |
| The drug avosentan substantially reduces urinary protein loss in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, but the drug causes serious side effects, according to a study appearing in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). Despite aggressive treatments, individuals with kidney disease often experience proteinuria, or excessive loss of protein in the urine, which increases kidney damage.
Reserachers enrolled 1,392 patients already being treated for kidney disease and randomized them to receive avosentan 25 mg, avosentan 50 mg, or a placebo. While avosentan at either dose lowered patients' urinary protein excretion by 40-50 percent (compared with less than 10 percent in patients taking the placebo), individuals taking the drug experienced a high incidence of serious, sometimes life-threatening side effects. These included complications of fluid overload such as pulmonary edema, as well as congestive heart failure. The results suggest lower doses of avosentan may have a more favorable risk/benefit ratio for patients. |
| KidneyLink Website Offers Information on Transplants |
 KidneyLink is a program for anyone desiring more information about the kidney transplant process. The goal of KidneyLink is to provide those in need of a kidney transplant, as well as potential kidney donors, the basic information needed to make educated decisions regarding this life-changing event. KidneyLink.org offers easy-to-understand information about the various forms of kidney transplants as well as interactive transplant center maps and statistics, FAQ's on kidney donations, patient stories and tips on how to talk with others about the need for a kidney. KidneyLink was created by and is maintained by the PKD Foundation. |
| Pycnogenol Counteracts Kidney Damage |
| Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, counteracts kidney damage caused by hypertension, lowering urinary proteins and improving blood flow to the kidneys, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. The study investigated 55 hypertensive patients who showed early signs of impaired kidney function. The patients were divided into two groups. Both groups were treated with anti-hypertensive medication Ramipril and one group took Pycnogenol in addition to the Ramipril.
All patients included in the study had an average urinary protein level of 89 mg per 24-hour period, significantly exceeding the 30 mg measure up to which kidney function is considered sufficient. After six months of treatment with Ramipril, average protein levels decreased to 64 mg per 24-hour period, remaining well above an acceptable level. The group taking Pycnogenol in addition to Ramipril had an average of only 39 mg per 24-hour period, a decrease of nearly double compared with anti-hypertensive medication taken alone. The study also found a statistically significant decrease in patients' blood pressure when taking Pycnogenol along with Ramipril.
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