NEP Newsletters

Presenter: Katrien De Vusser, Belgium

Reading time: 4:46

Aging is a physiological process occurring in all organisms. Aging and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are bidirectionally related. In CKD patients, premature aging at a cellular level typically manifests by accelerated shortening of telomeres and an accumulation of growth-arrested cells. Senescent cells accumulate in many renal diseases, including IgA nephropathy, several types of glomerular nephritis, hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy, and delayed graft function. Find out whether and how senescence activation also plays a role in lupus nephritis.

Presenter: Rafael Kramann, Germany

Reading time: 4:35

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by renal fibrosis. Single cell transcriptomics now allows to decipher the cellular origin of the fibrogenic niche. Distinct pericyte and fibroblast populations were found to be the major source of myofibroblasts in the human kidney. Using this approach, a novel myofibroblast-specific target in human kidney fibrosis was identified.

Presenter: Sophie Saunier, France

Reading time: 5:13

Nephronophthisis, an autosomal recessive ciliopathy, is characterized by massive interstitial fibrosis driven by abnormal cytokine expression and recruitment of immune cells. Immortalized cell lines have led to the identification of a signalling cascade to rescue ciliogenesis, and these findings could be replicated in animal models. Learn more on the newly identified agonists that are capable of restoring ciliogenesis and ameliorate fibrogenesis.

Presenter: Adrian S. Woolf, United Kingdom

Reading time: 5:24

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be utilized to make kidney cells (that may in future be used for regenerative renal therapies) and to create models of kidney disorders to study disease causes and test new treatments. The small scale, the lack of renal artery, and lack of an integrated ureter are potential problems to be tackled in relation to creating a holistic functioning kidney and lower urinary tract. Learn more on how researchers plan the next steps with the ultimate goal to develop implantable kidneys.

Presenter: Masaomi Nangaku, Japan

Reading time: 5:36

Hypoxia begins at the early stages of CKD and seems to predict a decline in kidney function in diabetic CKD patients. Also, in acute kidney injury hypoxia can help to explain the transition from AKI to CKD. Pharmacological HIF activators can have a role in both diabetic CKD and AKI and HIF-PH inhibitors proved to be helpful in anaemia treatment. Find out more about hypoxia and hypoxia-related drugs reading this summary.

Presenter: Angela Yee-Moon Wang, China

Reading time: 5:26

In this summary you will find a review of the importance of pre-dialysis blood pressure (BP) evaluation. We already know that pre-dialysis BP is not sufficient to estimate the interdialytic BP, which is done by ambulatory BP monitoring. Nevertheless, both systolic and diastolic pre dialysis BP are important and with prognostic value. Let’s find why and how it was assessed.

Presenter: Miroslaw Wieglos, Poland

Reading time: 5:51

Pregnancy in dialysis and after transplantation is a challenge to both healthcare professionals and to patients. In dialysis, pregnancy rates are low, and increase after transplantation, although low compared to the general population. Pregnancy in transplantation should be planned to reduce pregnancy and graft-related complications and infections: timing of pregnancy, adjustment of immunosuppressive therapy, schedule of prenatal visits, introduction of therapy to reduce preeclampsia risks, and intrapartum care. Postnatal care is also of utmost importance, not only to the mother, but also to the baby. Stay updated about these topics!

Presenter: Germaine Wong, Australia

Reading time: 5:06

In nephrology we have numerous data, not only biologic (serum, urine, tissue) that can provide genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data, but we also have clinical and electronic medical data, which can be analysed, incorporated in machine learning models to predict outcomes of interest. In this summary, examples of performed studies using machine learning methods are revised and their importance detailed.

Presenter: Nigel Toussaint, Australia

Reading time: 8:00

Vascular calcification is associated with cardiovascular disease. Positive net calcium and phosphate balance is the hallmark of vascular calcification, suggesting that adequate phosphate control might be a priority in CKD patients. Although phosphate binders seem effective in attenuating hyperphosphatemia, evidence of potential cardiovascular benefits from their use is still lacking, especially in the dialysis population. Currently recruiting PHOSPHATE and HiLo trials are expected to provide substantiated data on the effects of targeting high or low serum phosphate levels on vascular complications, rate of hospitalization, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

Presenter: Daniël van Raalte, The Netherlands

Reading time: 5:00

The renoprotective mechanisms of SGLT-2 inhibitors are not completely understood, some hypotheses have been postulated:
1) renal hemodynamic effect with attenuation of renal hyperfiltration through tubular-glomerular feedback,
2) increased urinary adenosine and prostaglandin concentrations and,
3) post-glomerular vasodilation. Research into oxygenation effects and elevation of hematocrit is underway. Although the SGLT-2 inhibitors provide an immense cardiovascular benefit, the mechanisms behind that effect are still poorly understood. It is still speculated whether natriuresis is the key factor yielding favorable cardiovascular outcomes.

Presenter: Eleni Frangou, Cyprus

Reading time: 5:54

Lupus nephritis (LN) affects up to 40 percent of adults with systemic lupus erythematosus. Prompt therapy in LN is associated with improved outcomes. However, unfortunately, neither demographic nor clinical or serological data can predict the onset of renal involvement in SLE. Gene expression studies (transcriptomics) performed on mouse models and patients with LN, demonstrated a shared immune cell transcriptome in these species. Several machine learning models were developed based on histological and clinical features to predict response to treatment and disease flares but could not predict the onset of the disease. Using this model, 20 mouse genes, together with the human age, gender, and the presence of Anti ds-DNA could non-invasively discriminate between patients who will and those who will not develop LN, with an accuracy of 82%. The mouse kidney-specific set of gene predictors (20 genes) could be used towards enhanced vigilance in the monitoring of LN development in SLE patients.

Presenter: Esther de Rooij and Ellen Hoogeveen, The Netherlands

Reading time: 4:53

The European Quality study on treatment in advanced CKD (EQUAL study) is a prospective multicenter cohort study that investigated the evolvement of health-related quality of life before and after starting dialysis in older patients with kidney failure from six European countries. It included over 1,700 patients over 65 years. Individual symptom patterns varied. The most frequent ones are fatigue, decreased interest in sex, and difficulty becoming sexually aroused. These symptoms burden deteriorated in the year before starting dialysis but stabilized in the year after the start.

Presenter: Ben Sprangers, Belgium

Reading time: 6:53


Because of better graft and patient survival, older recipient age, and the availability of more potent immunosuppressive medications, the most common problems in the transplanted population are cardiovascular disorders and malignancies. This presentation gives important information on the state of art in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) - the major cause of death in transplant recipients.

Presenter: Carla Avesani, Sweden

Reading time: 5:32

This paper will address the most recent information regarding the phenomenon of myosteatosis in CKD and dialysis patients. You will find the answer which diagnostic techniques can reveal intramuscular fat infiltration and if this is age related. In addition, we will find out what are the types of muscle steatosis and risk factors for its development.

Presenter: Felix Knauf, Germany

Reading time: 5:47

Possibly you are aware that those with normal renal function maintain oxalate homeostasis. Anion transporter SLC26A6 research has yielded fresh insights into the etiology of hyperoxaluria, which will be discussed in this paper. In addition, we will determine if a shift from renal to intestinal oxalate elimination occurs in CKD.

Presenter: Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Germany

Reading time: 4:24

Renal response to AKI is a relatively new and active research field. Tissue and single-cell molecular alterations associated with AKI allow us to comprehend why, in some instances, progression to CKD is unavoidable. Here, we will determine what the examination of gene expression in the proximal tubular cells of Aki patients reveals, as well as whether covid-19 has any effect. You'll discover the answer to the question, "What are the four most prevalent injury-response patterns?"

Presenter: Naomi Clyne, Sweden

Reading time: 5:17

Patients care is expanding beyond lab check and biomarkers and it includes more and more patient’s quality of life. In this view, physical activity for CKD and CKD-D patients is becoming an important step in the management of disease. This lecture reviews the most relevant trials on the exercise and will provide examples on how and when prescribe physical activity to our patients.

Presenter: Roland Schmieder, Germany

Reading time: 5:42

Is renal denervation a valid and solid option for the treatment of hypertension in your patients? This presentation will uncover the latest evidence on the use of renal denervation in CKD and the perspectives of this treatment.

Presenter: Albert Power, United Kingdom

Reading time: 5:15

It’s time to re-think dialysis prescription based on patients’ feature. This presentation gives important information on the state of art evidences for incremental versus full dose treatment for both PD and HD.

Presenter: Giovambattista Capasso, Italy

Reading time: 5:12

This presentation reviews the most updated mechanisms linking the kidney function with cognitive impairment highlighting the role of uremic toxins, acid-base imbalance and hemodialysis.