Kidney Function

Authors: Marshall G, Tate J, Mollee P

PMID: 19605825 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Journal of Clinical Pathology)

Previous studies have indirectly suggested the prescription of antihypertensive medications may contribute to blood pressure control in dialysis patients. Before exploring this largely unknown field, it is necessary to examine if there is diversity in antihypertensive prescription for dialysis patients. The questionnaire by the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium was mailed to members of American Society of Pediatric Nephrology holding faculty positions in North America and Puerto Rico. Eighty-three (23.9%) of the mailed 357 surveys were analyzable. End-organ damage (43.2% respondents), interdialytic blood pressure levels (35.1%), achievement of dry weight (29.7%), duration of action of medications (25.7%), and underlying diseases (24.3%) were considered as the most important factor(s)…

Background: Vitamin D has key roles in regulating systems that could be important in the pathobiological state of proteinuria. Because of this, it could be helpful in treating patients with proteinuric renal diseases. The objective is to determine the effect of oral paricalcitol on protein excretion in patients with proteinuric chronic kidney disease.Study Design: Double-blind randomized study.Setting & Participants: 61 patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate of 15 to 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 and protein excretion greater than 400 mg/24 h.Intervention: Randomization to 6 months of treatment with paricalcitol, 1 μg/d, or placebo.Outcomes & Measurements: The predefined primary end point was to compare change in mean spot urinary protein-creatinine ratio between the baseline measurement and the last study evaluation (6 months in study completers) between the 2 groups. Every 4 weeks, there was measurement of serum intact parathyroid hormone, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum creatinine, and urine spot protein and creatinine.Results: At baseline, mean urinary protein-creatinine ratios were 2.6 and 2.8 g/g in the placebo and paricalcitol groups, respectively. At final evaluation, mean ratios were 2.7 and 2.3, respectively. Changes in protein excretion from baseline to last evaluation were +2.9% for controls and −17.6% for the paricalcitol group (P = 0.04). A 10% decrease in proteinuria occurred in controls (7 of 27; 25.9%) and the paricalcitol group (16 of 28; 57.1%; P = 0.03).Limitations: The relatively small sample size limits the extent to which results should be generalized.Conclusions: Paricalcitol resulted in a significant reduction in protein excretion in patients with proteinuric renal disease.