Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Guidelines Research Articles

Contrast induced acute kidney injury prevention during angiographic procedure with early renal replacement therapy

Abstract Background and purpose Post-angiography renal replacement therapy (RRT) has shown protective effects from Ci-AKI (contrast induced acute kidney injury) in patients with pre-existing advanced renal disfunction. We analysed a series of 1095 continuative patients who undergone coronary or peripheral angiography in our center. In non-haemodialyzed patients with eGFR <20ml/min/1.73m2 or with poor renal reserve we performed an “early” RRT, starting during angiography procedure and applied for at least 6 h after procedure, thus diverging from previous literature data based only on post-procedure hours delayed RRT application. The RRT modality chosen was CVVHDF (continous veno-venous hemodiafiltration). Methods We considered following subjects variability: age, sex, weight, presence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, smoking habitude, left ventricular ejection fraction, amount of contrast media given and shock or infection occurrence during hospital stay. We evaluate statistic significative of serum creatine (SCr) variation in patients receiving RRT from pre-procedure time (T0), at 24h (T1), 48h (T2), 72h (T3) after procedure and at 3–8 weeks follow-up (T4). Quantitative data were compared with Student T test, qualitative data with Chi Square test, considering statistically significant p value <0.05 with two tails. Ci-AKI was defined as serum creatinine rise ≥0.3 mg/dL at 48h from contrast media administration, following KDIGO (kidney disease improving global outcomes) guidelines definition. Results 26 patients received RRT. Medium SCr at T0 was 3.37 mg/dl and showed a significative reduction (see figure) at T1 (−0.88mg/dl = −20.6%, p=0.003) and T2 (−0.96mg/dl = −18.33%, p=0.029) and a trend towards reduction at T3 (−0.78mg/dl, p=0.174) and at T4 (−0.28mg/dl, p=0.568). Between 26 pts, 6 pts (23%) developed Ci-AKI. Only contrast media amount significatively diverge between two groups (183 ml in the group with Ci-AKI vs 162 ml in pts with no Ci-AKI, p=0.03), showing also a trend towards significance for infection occurrence (83.3% pts Ci-AKI vs 40% pts no Ci-AKI, p=0.06) and shock onset (33.3%pts Ci-AKI vs 5% pts no Ci-AKI, p=0.06). Average SCr diverge at T2 (3.18mg/dl Ci-AKI vs 2.04mg/dl no Ci-AKI, p=0.01) and at T3 (3.33mg/dl CI-AKI vs 2.31mg/dl no CI-AKI, p=0.06); we also found a trend towards progressive increase of SCr for Ci-AKI pts (T0-T1: +0.17mg/dl, p=ns; T0-T2: +0.41mg/dl, p=ns; T0-T3: +0.57mg/dl, p=ns; T0-T4: +1.35mg/dl, p=ns) and a significative reduction in SCr for no Ci-AKI pts (T0-T1: −1.23mg/dl = −29.32% p=0.001; T0-T2: −1.46mg/dl = −30.78%, p=0.01; T0-T4: −0.41mg/dl = −15.5%, p=0.05). Conclusions Early RRT with CVVHDF modality results effective in 77% of patients in avoiding Ci-AKI, with a significative SCr reduction at 24 and 48h. An increased amount of contrast media is significatively related to Ci-AKI incidence. Ci-AKI development could also possibly be related to shock and infection occurrence. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

How to interpret an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 2020?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure and function proven to be chronic. The prevalence of CKD in the majority of studies is 10%-16%, neglecting the chronicity character. Jonsson etal., in a nationwide study defining CKD adhering strictly to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, found a clearly lower prevalence of CKD (6%). This indicated that to obtain a correct CKD prevalence, one should start by correctly applying the KDIGO guidelines.

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) New Guideline for Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meet-the-Expert Session

Prof de Boer opened this virtual seminar on the new Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical practice guideline on diabetes management in chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is the first set of KDIGO guidance on this topic. Prof de Boer emphasised that the aim of the guideline was to generate a useful resource for clinicians and patients, to address relevant questions with actionable recommendations supplemented by practice points, to take on controversial topics when sufficient evidence was available, and to communicate findings clearly and concisely. The scope of the new guideline includes patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and all severities of CKD, including patients treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation. The new guideline also includes recommendations related to lifestyle, pharmacotherapy, and the organisation of healthcare systems, addressed using systematically identified data from randomised controlled trials. Topics such as blood pressure control and lipid management and prevention of and screening for diabetes are not covered by the new KDIGO guideline and have been addressed either in prior KDIGO publications or in other international guidelines. After his introduction, Prof de Boer handed over to Prof Rossing, who offered a detailed overview of the new guidelines, and Ms Sadusky, who highlighted the contribution of patients in the development of the guidelines. Prof Rossing and Ms Sadusky concluded the seminar by emphasising the importance of shared decision-making, where the patient is involved in defining individualised treatment goals, and the critical need for a team-based approach in the care of patients with diabetes and CKD.

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) New Guideline for Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meet-the-Expert Session

Prof de Boer opened this virtual seminar on the new Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical practice guideline on diabetes management in chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is the first set of KDIGO guidance on this topic. Prof de Boer emphasised that the aim of the guideline was to generate a useful resource for clinicians and patients, to address relevant questions with actionable recommendations supplemented by practice points, to take on controversial topics when sufficient evidence was available, and to communicate findings clearly and concisely. The scope of the new guideline includes patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and all severities of CKD, including patients treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation. The new guideline also includes recommendations related to lifestyle, pharmacotherapy, and the organisation of healthcare systems, addressed using systematically identified data from randomised controlled trials. Topics such as blood pressure control and lipid management and prevention of and screening for diabetes are not covered by the new KDIGO guideline and have been addressed either in prior KDIGO publications or in other international guidelines. After his introduction, Prof de Boer handed over to Prof Rossing, who offered a detailed overview of the new guidelines, and Ms Sadusky, who highlighted the contribution of patients in the development of the guidelines. Prof Rossing and Ms Sadusky concluded the seminar by emphasising the importance of shared decision-making, where the patient is involved in defining individualised treatment goals, and the critical need for a team-based approach in the care of patients with diabetes and CKD.

Biomarker-guided management of acute kidney injury.

The current narrative review discusses practical applications of stress and damage biomarkers for the management of acute kidney injury (AKI) based on clinical trials and real-world evaluations. In 2013 with the discovery and validation study of biomarkers for AKI (Sapphire) advancement in care was provided allowing for the early identification of patients at high risk for developing AKI. It was the combination of new biomarkers and the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines for managing patients with AKI that provided an opportunity to improve patient care. In 2017, the PrevAKI study implemented KDIGO guideline management in high-risk patients identified by biomarkers followed in 2018 with the BigPAK study that used a similar approach, both of which demonstrated positive outcomes in patient care. Next, real-world evaluations followed supporting biomarker guided management of AKI in clinical practice. Also, proposals for better nephrotoxin management, a major modifiable exposure to prevent AKI, were provided with the foresight in identifying high-risk patients. Stress and damage biomarker-based approaches to patient care seem to be promising for identifying patients at high risk for developing AKI and thus offers an opportunity for early management to prevent and ameliorate AKI and drug-associated AKI.

Long-term Renal Outcomes in Adults With Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: A Systematic Review.

Despite advances in medical technologies and intervention occurrences, acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence continues to rise. Early interventions after sepsis are essential to prevent AKI and its long-term consequences. Acute kidney injury is the leading cause of organ failure in sepsis; therefore, more research is needed on its long-term consequences and progression to kidney injury. The aim of this study was to review the state of the science on long-term renal outcomes after sepsis-induced AKI and long-term renal consequences. We identified research articles from PubMed and CINAHL databases using relevant key words for sepsis-induced AKI within 5 years delimited to full-text articles in English. Among 1280 abstracts identified, we ultimately analyzed 12 full-text articles, identifying four common themes in the literature: (1) AKI determination criteria, (2) severity/prognosis-related factors, (3) time frame for long-term outcome measures, and (4) chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal related exclusions. Researchers primarily used KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guidelines to define AKI. All of these studies excluded patients with CKD. The range of time for long-term renal outcomes was 28 days to 3 years, with the majority being 1 year. Renal outcomes ranged from recovery to renal replacement therapy to death. To better understand the long-term renal outcomes after sepsis-induced AKI, more consistent measures are needed across all studies regarding the time frame and specific renal outcomes. Because all of these articles excluded patients with CKD, a gap exists on long-term renal outcome in acute on CKD.

P0626THE RISK FACTORS OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY CAUSED BY HEMOPHAGOCYTIC LYMPHOHISTIOCYTOSIS

Abstract Background and Aims Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome caused by uncontrolled natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic T cell activation, resulting in the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and hemophagocytosis. Acute kidney injury (AKI) characterized by rapid loss of renal excretion function is the most common complication of HLH in the kidney. In this retrospective study, we aimed to find the risk factors of AKI in patients with HLH. Method This study included adult patients with HLH admitted in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2009 to June 2019. Patients with HLH were excluded from the study if they had a functioning kidney transplant, received renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the past month, suffered from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or had the renal malignant tumor. The diagnosis of HLH was based on the HLH diagnostic criteria revised by the Histocyte Society in 2004 and AKI was defined according to the 2012 KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guideline. We collected basic information, clinical manifestations and laboratory data of patients from electronic medical records. Results We analyzed 294 patients this time, of whom 95 (32.3%) developed AKI. The patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of AKI. The mortality rate in the AKI group was significantly higher than that in the non-AKI group (40.0% VS 12.6%; p<0.001). The risk factors of AKI in patients with HLH were hyperphosphatemia [Odds Ratio (OR) 3.825; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.647-8.886; p=0.002] ,heart failure (OR 2.972; 95% CI 1.029-8.584; p=0.044), increased heart rate (OR 1.025; 95% CI 1.008-1.043; p=0.004), prolonged prothrombin time (OR 1.025; 95% CI 1.001-1.049; p=0.041), elevated total bilirubin level (OR 1.003; 95% CI 1.000-1.007; p=0.030), and hypoproteinemia (OR 0.915; 95% CI 0.842-0.994; p=0.035). Conclusion The incidence of AKI in HLH patients is frequent, and the risk of death in HLH patients with AKI is significantly higher. The occurrence of AKI in patients with HLH is related to hyperphosphatemia, heart failure, increased heart rate, prolonged prothrombin time, elevated total bilirubin level, and hypoproteinemia.

A clinical study of association of acute kidney injury and caffeine citrate in preterm neonates

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in preterm neonates and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the association between caffeine administration and risk of early AKI occurring in the first 7 days after birth and the severity of AKI, defined by modified neonatal Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging. Materials and Methods: The present study was a retrospective observational cohort of 100 preterm babies admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital of South India. All preterm babies with 2 or more serum creatinine (sCr) values were included in this study and neonates with death within 48 h after birth, <1 day of measured urine output on days 2–7 after birth, and fewer than 2 sCr measurements were excluded from the study. Caffeine exposure was determined by review of the inpatient medication record. Results: A total of 100 preterm cases were included, out of which 57 cases received caffeine and rest 43 did not. There were 29 cases (29%) who developed AKI in the first 7 days after birth and 9 cases developed Grade 1, 14 cases developed Grade 2, and 6 cases developed Grade 3 AKI according to modified KDIGO guidelines. Neonates who received caffeine were less likely to develop early AKI compared with those who did not (17.5% vs. 44.2%, p=0.004). Conclusion: Caffeine administration in preterm neonates is associated with reduced occurrence and severity of AKI. Because of the beneficial effects of caffeine, it may be reasonable to consider its routine use in preterm neonates to prevent or reduce AKI.

Application of the 2017 KDIGO Guideline for the Evaluation and Care of Living Kidney Donors to Clinical Practice.

The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2017 "Clinical Practice Guideline on the Evaluation and Care of Living Kidney Donors" was developed to assist medical professionals who evaluate living kidney donor candidates and provide care before, during, and after donation. This guideline Work Group concluded that a comprehensive approach to donor candidate risk assessment should replace eligibility decisions on the basis of assessments of single risk factors in isolation. To address all issues important to living donors in a pragmatic and comprehensive guideline, many of the guideline recommendations were on the basis of expert consensus opinion even when no direct evidence was available. To advance available evidence, original data analyses were also undertaken to produce a "proof-of-concept" risk projection model for kidney failure. This was done to illustrate how the community can advance a new quantitative framework of risk that considers each candidate's profile of demographic and health characteristics. A public review by stakeholders and subject matter experts as well as industry and professional organizations informed the final formulation of the guideline. This review highlights the guideline framework, key concepts, and recommendations, and uses five patient scenarios and 12 guideline statements to illustrate how the guideline can be applied to support living donor evaluation and care in clinical practice.

KDOQI US Commentary on the 2018 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hepatitis C

The first KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guideline for the prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was published in 2008. The ensuing decade bore witness to remarkable advances in the treatment of HCV infection following the approval of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents that deliver cure rates routinely >95%. In this context, the KDIGO organization correctly recognized the need for an updated HCV guideline that would be relevant to the treatment of HCV-infected patients with kidney disease in the DAA era. The current NKF-KDOQI (National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative) commentary provides an in-depth review and perspective on the 2018 KDIGO guideline. Of note, the KDIGO work group made significant updates to guideline chapters 2 and 4 as a direct result of the availability of DAAs. The intent of this commentary is to provide useful interpretation for nephrologists and other practitioners caring for HCV-infected patients with chronic kidney disease, including dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients. The availability of DAA agents that are safe and highly effective has created new opportunities, such as the transplantation of kidneys from HCV-infected kidney donors. The ability to treat HCV infection in patients with kidney disease will have a significant impact on the care of our patients and should favorably influence long-term outcomes as well.

A Multinational Observational Study Exploring Adherence With the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Recommendations for Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery.

The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend a bundle of different measures for patients at increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that management in accordance with the KDIGO recommendations was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative AKI in high-risk patients. However, compliance with the KDIGO bundle in routine clinical practice is unknown. This observational prevalence study was performed in conjunction with a prospective RCT investigating the role of the KDIGO bundle in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A 2-day observational prevalence study was performed in all participating centers before the RCT to explore routine clinical practice. The participating hospitals provided the following data: demographics and surgical characteristics, AKI rates, and compliance rates with the individual components of the bundle. Ninety-five patients were enrolled in 12 participating hospitals. The incidence of AKI within 72 hours after cardiac surgery was 24.2%. In 5.3% of all patients, clinical management was fully compliant with all 6 components of the bundle. Nephrotoxic drugs were discontinued in 52.6% of patients, volume optimization was performed in 70.5%, 52.6% of the patients underwent functional hemodynamic monitoring, close monitoring of serum creatinine and urine output was undertaken in 24.2% of patients, hyperglycemia was avoided in 41.1% of patients, and no patient received radiocontrast agents. The patients received on average 3.4 (standard deviation [SD] ±1.1) of 6 supportive measures as recommended by the KDIGO guidelines. There was no significant difference in the number of applied measures between AKI and non-AKI patients (3.2 [SD ±1.1] vs 3.5 [SD ±1.1]; P = .347). In patients after cardiac surgery, compliance with the KDIGO recommendations was low in routine clinical practice.

Biomarker-guided implementation of the KDIGO guidelines to reduce the occurrence of acute kidney injury in patients after cardiac surgery (PrevAKI-multicentre): protocol for a multicentre, observational study followed by randomised controlled feasibility trial

IntroductionAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. Although prevention of AKI (PrevAKI) is strongly recommended, the optimal strategy is uncertain....

Efficacy and Safety of a Balanced Salt Solution Versus a 0.9% Saline Infusion for the Prevention of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury After Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography

Rationale & ObjectiveWe aimed to elucidate whether a balanced salt solution decreases the occurrence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) as compared to 0.9% saline solution.Study DesignA randomized clinical trial.Setting & ParticipantsThe study was performed in 14 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) < 45 or <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and additional risk factors (age ≥ 60 years or diabetes) who were undergoing scheduled CE-CT were included from December 2016 to December 2018.InterventionAn open-label intervention was performed. The study group received a balanced salt solution and the control group received 0.9% saline solution as prophylactic fluids for CE-CT.OutcomesThe primary outcome was CI-AKI, defined by creatinine level elevation ≥ 0.5 mg/dL or 25% from baseline within 48 to 72 hours after CE-CT. Secondary outcomes included AKI defined based on the KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guideline, eGFR changes, death, or requiring dialysis within 6 months after CE-CT.Results493 patients received the study fluids. The control and study groups included 251 and 242 patients, respectively. The occurrence of CI-AKI in the study (10 [4.2%]) and control (17 [6.8%]) groups was not significantly different (P = 0.27). No significant difference was present for the secondary outcomes; AKI by the KDIGO definition (study: 19 [7.9%], control: 27 [10.8%]; P = 0.33), death/dialysis (study: 11 [4.7%], control: 9 [3.7%]; P = 0.74), and eGFR changes (study: 0.1 ± 0.2 mg/dL, control: 0.3 ± 2.8 mg/dL; P = 0.69).LimitationsThis study failed to meet target enrollment.ConclusionsThe risk for CI-AKI was similar after administration of a balanced salt solution and after use of 0.9% saline solution during CE-CT in higher-risk patients.FundingThis study was funded by CJ Healthcare (CS2015_0046).Trial RegistrationRegistered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study number NCT02799368.

Treatment of IgA nephropathy in children: a land without KDIGO guidance.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in children is no longer considered a rare and benign disease but a nephritis with different presentations and various outcomes. The decision to initiate a treatment and the therapeutic choice depend on the individual risk of progression. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical guidelines in 2012 considered that the risk factors for progression of IgAN were similar in both children and adults and suggested in some conditions to follow the adult schedules. In 2017 a KDIGO Controversies Conference on management and treatment of glomerular diseases decided not to include an update in children with IgAN since the level of evidence of treatments in children was too scarce. Children can follow the indications for adults as far as the disease is similar in the various ages. This review is aimed at discussing why the KDIGO guidelines are poorly suitable to treat children with IgAN, and there is a need to develop new prediction models for progression of IgAN in children to guide selection of the cases to be treated. The identification of different risk levels in children with IgAN may personalize the choice of available drugs and support the use of new targeted therapies.

Management and treatment of glomerular diseases (part 1): conclusions from a kidney disease: improving global outcomes (KDIGO) controversies conference

The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) initiative organized a Controversies Conference on glomerular diseases in November 2017. The conference focused on the 2012 KDIGO guideline with the aim of identifying new insights into nomenclature, pathogenesis, diagnostic work-up, and, in particular, therapy of glomerular diseases since the guideline’s publication. It was the consensus of the group that most guideline recommendations, in particular those dealing with therapy, will need to be revisited by the guideline-updating Work Group. This report covers general management of glomerular disease, IgA nephropathy, and membranous nephropathy.

KDOQI US Commentary on the 2017 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline on the Evaluation and Care of Living Kidney Donors

Living kidney donation is widely practiced throughout the world. During the past 2 decades, various groups have provided guidance about the evaluation and care of living donors. However, during this time, our knowledge in the field has advanced substantially and many agreed on the need for a comprehensive, unifying document. KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) addressed this issue at an international level with the publication of its clinical practice guideline on the evaluation and care of living kidney donors. The KDIGO work group extensively reviewed the available literature and wrote a series of guideline recommendations using various degrees of evidence when available. As has become recent practice, NKF-KDOQI (National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative) convened a work group to provide a commentary on the KDIGO guideline, with a focus on how these recommendations apply in the context of the United States. In the United States, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) guides and regulates the practice of living kidney donation. While the KDIGO guideline for the care of living kidney donors and UNOS policy are similar in most aspects of the care of living kidney donors, several important areas are not consistent or do not align with common practice by US transplantation programs in areas in which UNOS has not set specific policy. For the time being, and recognizing the value of the KDIGO guidelines, US transplantation programs should continue to follow UNOS policy.

Acute kidney injury in pediatric patients with malaria: A prospective cross-sectional study in the shai-osudoku district of Ghana

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a highly fatal complication of malaria. We used the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) and Pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Kidney Disease (pRIFLE) guidelines to assess AKI among children. One hundred children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria were recruited from the St. Andrew's Catholic Hospital. Admission and 48-h serum creatinine were estimated. Weight and height of the participants were measured, and AKI status determined with the KDIGO and pRIFLE guidelines. A questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic and clinical data of participants. Two percent and 5% of the participants had AKI according to the KDIGO and pRIFLE criteria, respectively. Per the KDIGO guidelines, 1% of the participants had Stage 2 and 1% also had Stage 3 AKI. Four percent had Stage 1 (risk) and 1% had Stage 2 (injury) AKI per the pRIFLE criteria. Participants with AKI were dehydrated, and neither had sepsis or on antibiotics when the KDIGO guideline was used. Participants who had AKI were dehydrated, with 80% having sepsis and 40% on antibiotics when the pRIFLE criteria were used. There was no association between the KDIGO and pRIFLE criteria with respect to AKI status of participants (k = -0.029, P = 0.743). Two percent and 5% of the study participants had AKI when the KDIGO and pRIFLE guidelines were used respectively. One percent of the participants had Stage 2 and 1% also had Stage 3 AKI per KDIGO; 4% had Stage 1 (risk) and 1% had Stage 2 (injury) AKI per the pRIFLE.

Canadian Society of Transplantation and Canadian Society of Nephrology Commentary on the 2017 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline on the Evaluation and Care of Living Kidney Donors.

Purpose of review:To review an international guideline on the evaluation and care of living kidney donors and provide a commentary on the applicability of the recommendations to the Canadian donor population.Sources of information:We reviewed the 2017 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guideline on the Evaluation and Care of Living Kidney Donors and compared this guideline to the Canadian 2014 Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) Protocol for Participating Donors.Methods:A working group was formed consisting of members from the Canadian Society of Transplantation and the Canadian Society of Nephrology. Members were selected to have representation from across Canada and in various subspecialties related to living kidney donation, including nephrology, surgery, transplantation, pediatrics, and ethics.Key findings:Many of the KDIGO Guideline recommendations align with the KPD Protocol recommendations. Canadian researchers have contributed to much of the evidence on donor evaluation and outcomes used to support the KDIGO Guideline recommendations.Limitations:Certain outcomes and risk assessment tools have yet to be validated in the Canadian donor population.Implications:Living kidney donors should be counseled on the risks of postdonation outcomes given recent evidence, understanding the limitations of the literature with respect to its generalizability to the Canadian donor population.

A Systematic Review of Prophylactic Anticoagulation in Nephrotic Syndrome

IntroductionNephrotic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism, which can be as high as 40% depending on the severity and underlying cause of nephrotic syndrome. The 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend prophylactic anticoagulation only in idiopathic membranous nephropathy but acknowledge that existing data are limited and of low quality. There is a need for better identification of vulnerable patients in order to balance the risks of anticoagulation.MethodsWe undertook a systematic search of the topic in MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases, for relevant articles between 1990 and 2019.ResultsA total of 2381 articles were screened, with 51 full-text articles reviewed. In all, 28 articles were included in the final review.ConclusionWe discuss the key questions of whom to anticoagulate, when to anticoagulate, and how to prophylactically anticoagulate adults with nephrotic syndrome. Using available evidence, we expand upon current KDIGO guidelines and construct a clinical algorithm to aid decision making for prophylactic anticoagulation in nephrotic syndrome.

Rituximab versus steroids and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of primary membranous nephropathy: protocol of a pilot randomised controlled trial

IntroductionPrimary membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The disease may have different long-term outcomes. After 10 years of follow-up, 35%–50% of the untreated patients...