In a world first, University of Otago researchers have developed a simple urine test to detect kidney transplant rejection. The finding, published this month in the journal Transplantation, is the result of a seven-year study of New Zealand, Australian and Swiss kidney transplant patients.

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) researchers have found a way to reverse resistance to sunitinib, a treatment that is currently the first line of defense against clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a deadly form of kidney cancer.  Most patients who show a positive response to sunitinib develop a resistance to the drug after one year of treatment.

Obesity in general nearly doubles the risk of developing kidney stones, but the degree of obesity doesn't appear to increase or decrease the risk one way or the other, a new study from Johns Hopkins shows.

Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes, according to a prospective study of Group Health primary-care patients in western Washington. These complications include kidney failure or blindness, the result of small vessel damage, as well as major vessel problems leading to heart attack or stroke.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, silent cerebral infarction (SCI) – small areas of brain damage caused by injury to small blood vessels – signals an increased risk of progressive kidney disease and kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

Measuring certain types of immune cells may predict the high risk of skin cancer after kidney transplantation, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) often do not receive adequate end-of-life care and are unhappy with the medical decisions made as their conditions worsen, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that end-of-life care should be improved to meet the needs of ...

Abnormalities in the kidneys and their blood vessels occur in at least 25% of healthy individuals, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). While most of these conditions are not harmful enough to prevent someone from donating a kidney, future studies are needed to determine their impact on long-term ...

In light of recent findings that an anaemia-fighting drug doubles the risk of stroke in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) without substantially improving their quality of life, doctors should be cautious about prescribing these medications. However, the agents may be warranted for certain CKD patients who have severe anaemia and need frequent blood transfusions or who are ...

Kidney patients fare better on an almost-daily haemodialysis regimen than on the standard 3-times-a-week plan, according to a new study. While more research is needed, the finding could lead to changes in the standard of care for patients who need dialysis treatment.