Pain coping skills training (PCST) emerged as a promising nonpharmacologic alternative for managing chronic pain in hemodialysis patients, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Unlike opioids, which have significant side effects, PCST showed safety and acceptability, making it an appealing option for this patient population. The intervention also led to improvements in pain intensity, catastrophizing, depression and anxiety.

Roivios has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigational device exemption approval to conduct a pivotal trial of its JuxtaFlow renal assist device for cardiac surgery patients with renal insufficiency. The JuxtaFlow system uses a unique negative pressure technique to enhance kidney function and protect against hypoxia-induced damage.

Intensive blood pressure control offers cardiovascular benefits for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) comparable to findings from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. Based on data from the Veterans Health Administration and Kaiser Permanente of Southern California, intensive blood pressure management reduces major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, although the effect on cognitive outcomes was not as pronounced.

A study in Open Forum Infectious Diseases shows that Paxlovid is associated with less risk of hospitalization, major adverse cardiovascular events and death in adults who have a SARS-CoV-2 infection and CKD or kidney failure. Massachusetts General Hospital investigators used propensity scores to compare data from 1,095 patients taking Paxlovid with 584 patients before the drug became available, and they found significant benefits to its use, especially in people with pre-dialysis CKD.

The FDA has declined to approve the expanded use of sotagliflozin as an add-on therapy to insulin for people with type 1 diabetes and CKD, citing an unfavorable risk-benefit profile. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals plans to focus on clinical development.

An observational study suggests that dialysis patients using denosumab have a 45% lower risk of fractures compared with those using oral bisphosphonates but face a higher risk of acute myocardial infarction. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, highlights the need for careful patient selection and monitoring, especially given the FDA's recent warning about severe hypocalcemia with denosumab in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Children are increasingly affected by kidney stones, a condition traditionally seen in adults, with experts citing diet, genetics and climate change as contributing factors. Pediatric urologists report a rise in cases, with treatments ranging from medication to surgery. High sodium intake from processed foods is a concern, as it can lead to calcium-based stones.

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that multimorbidity is linked to accelerated kidney function decline in older adults. The analysis of data for 3,094 people over 15 years found a dose-response relationship between the number of chronic conditions and kidney decline.

A study in JAMA Network Open shows that COVID-19 survivors experience a more significant decline in kidney function than those who recover from pneumonia, particularly among hospitalized patients. The research, which analyzed data from the Stockholm Creatinine Measurements Project, found that the average annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate was 3.4% for COVID-19 patients and 2.3% for pneumonia patients.

Jessica Hause and Megan Schultz, sorority sisters from Ohio State University, have strengthened their bond after Schultz donated a kidney to Hause, who was diagnosed with CKD in 2023. The successful transplant at Christ Hospital has not only saved Hause's life but has also inspired the pair to encourage others to consider organ donation.

AKF recently announced Dr. Pranav Garimella as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO). A nationally recognized leader in nephrology and an expert in rare kidney diseases, Dr. Garimella becomes AKF's first CMO, and in this role, will help to advance AKF's 2023-26 Strategic Plan goal to provide high-level clinical authority and insight to better serve the 1 in 7 Americans living with kidney disease. Find out more.

AKF has activated its Disaster Relief Program to assist dialysis and post-transplant patients living in areas impacted by the wildfires in Southern California. AKF's Disaster Relief Program is the nation's only rapid-response system that provides emergency financial assistance to dialysis and recent transplant patients. Find out more, including how patients can apply for grants and how to donate to the relief program.