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You are invited to attend the
38th Annual AAKP National Convention! The Convention takes place August 26-28, 2011, in Little Rock, AR. The event kicks off with a public policy forum at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, featuring health care
leaders, policy makers and patients.
After the public policy forum, the official AAKP Convention will begin at the Peabody Little Rock hotel. Building on the success of last year's program, AAKP is once again offering three educational tracks:
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- End-Stage Renal Disease
- Transplantation
The Convention Registration Brochure is now available. Visit the AAKP website,
www.aakp.org to download the brochure or call 1-800-749-2257 to register over the phone. | | |
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Researchers Identify New Treatment Target for Diabetic Kidney Disease | |
 Scientists at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine say they may have figured out how to slow or prevent diabetic nephropathy - an often deadly complication of kidney disease. Researchers say blocking a specific receptor pathway could do the trick! Diabetic nephropathy is a serious outcome of diabetes and the most common cause of kidney failure. It is progressive and eventually requires dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. The study is published in the May 2011 issue Arterosclerosis, Thombosis and Vascular Body. To learn more about this study click here.
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Study Examines of the Relationship Between Hispanic's Blood Levels and Kidney Issues | |
A new study looks at why Hispanics suffer from serious kidney disease at two times the rate of non-Hispanic whites. Two hundreds and forty-five people took part in the study. Researchers examined the blood level of the participants. While the study did not look into where the patients were exposed, it is believed that Mexican candy, folk remedies, older homes, and industrial pollutions are all sources of increased lead in the blood of Hispanics.
Though the patients studied had blood-lead levels below 10 micrograms per decimeter, which is the CDC level of concern, the study noted dramatic changes in those with small increases in lead concentrations, specifically non-diabetic patients.
Researchers say taking into account smoking, socio-economic status, gender, education, health insurance, age, and alcohol use, Hispanics still remained at the top of the list for those at risk for serious kidney disease. |
| Contrast Agent Guidelines Help Prevent Disorder in Kidney Patients | |
 A simple blood test may help prevent a serious complication associated with a contrast agent commonly used in MRI exams.
This news comes from a report appearing in the July issue of Radiology. The use of gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCA) has been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a rare disorder mainly affecting patients with severe kidney disease. Restrictive GBCA guidelines put in place at Massachusetts General Hospital have proven effective in preventing NSF.
The guidelines require that a blood test be done on patients over age 60 or at risk for kidney disease. It also says a maximum GBCA dose of 20mL for patients with a low eGFR. GBCA should not be given at all to patients currently being treated by dialysis or with a very low eGFR.
You can read more about NSF in the March 2009 issue of aakpRENALIFE. |
| Kidney Disease Determined Early in Life | |
 Lifestyle decisions made before age 30 appear to determine a person's risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) many years down the road.
Individuals who neglected to eat a quality diet -- defined as the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet -- had a 63 percent increase risk of CKD 20 years later than did participants in the study who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat.
The study was conducted by researchers at the Loyola University Medical Center. Researchers reviewed the health records of 5,112 participants. The development of hypertension by year 15 resulted in a fourfold risk of kidney disease by year 20; the development of diabetes by year 15 resulted in a nine-fold risk of kidney disease by year 20.
You can find more information on this study here. |
| Take the AAKP Survey | |
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) wants to better serve you! Please take the opportunity to complete the AAKP General Assessment Survey. The answers you provide will give us a better understanding of the patients we serve and allow us to tailor AAKP programs and services to your needs.
The survey will take 6-8 minutes to complete. Your contact information will not be shared with a third party. To take the AAKP General Assessment Survey, please click here. |
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