Biomarkers of Kidney Disease

Abstract

This is the 1st edition of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), a new pocketsized handbook on acute renal failure or, as it is now known, acute kidney injury (AKI). It is aimed not just at renal professionals but at anyone dealing with AKI. Most intensive care units deal with patients requiring renal replacement therapy of some form or another. While renal nurses are aware of the differences between the various methods and their particular uses, those outside the specialty are less aware. This book helps the readers understand the needs of their patient who has AKI and describes the benefits of the different methods of CRRT. The chapter on choosing renal replacement therapy in AKI lists the various methods and their particular pros and cons. For example, peritoneal dialysis is much gentler than haemodialysis but will take longer to correct biochemical disturbances and requires abdominal catheter access. It is suitable for the patient in acute heart failure with mild biochemical abnormality but less than ideal for those with dangerously high potassium levels. Another very useful chapter that looks at CRRT in children clearly highlights the particular issues when considering RRT in children. This book is the ideal companion to those dealing with AKI. It condenses a lot of the more practical information found in larger text books into a smaller more manageable size. I strongly recommend this to those who deal with CRRT regularly. Those of us who have been involved in renal disease for more than about 15 years will likely remember terrible cases of calciphylaxis. This is when the tissue outside the bone takes on the characteristics of bone due to abnormal serum calcium and phosphate levels. It can lead to tissue necrosis and significant morbidity and mortality for the patient. While these cases have been largely confined to history with better understanding of the importance of calcium/phosphate balance and improved dialysis and pharmaceutical therapies, other potentially significant problems related to these biochemical disturbances are still eperienced by the patients. Ongoing research has implicated the imbalance of calcium and phosphate in a whole host of renal related disorders, not the least of which is renal cardiovascular disease. In 2006, the term chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD– MBD) was coined by the kidney disease fraternity to help highlight the importance it played in the patients outcome. This book draws together the leading world experts in the field of CKD–MBD. It is a follow-up and 2nd edition to The Spectrum of Renal Osteodystrophy published in 2000. The field has moved on significantly since that time and this 2nd edition includes hot topics such as the ‘bone-vascular-kidney’ axis. This book is highly recommended for all who deal with renal disease. It brings the latest research on CKD–MBD together in one volume and is a must as a reference tool. The Spectrum of Mineral and Bone Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease