Archive for the ‘Kidneys - Nephrology’ Category

As winter continues in the northern hemisphere, dialysis patients are urged to plan for potential storms that can cause disruptions in their treatment schedules. Dialysis is a procedure used to provide artificial kidney function to those with kidney failure. Skipping dialysis treatments can cause serious metabolic problems and can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and even coma. Here are some tips for dialysis patients and their caretakers:

- Speak to your doctor to formulate an emergency plan.
- Keep emergency phone numbers accessible.
- Be aware of local weather warnings.
- If you perform dialysis at home, speak with your provider to make sure you know what to do in the even the power goes out.

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New findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week points to a gene that may be present in 20% of caucasians with high blood pressure. The STK39 gene directs the production of a protein that controls how kidneys process salt – a key factor in blood pressure fluctuation. When the body retains too much salt it also retains water, which is why those with hypertension are always advised to eat a low salt diet. Although this discovery will likely lead to new treatments, hypertension is a complex disease that can have many contributing factors – family history, diabetes, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, obesity, just to name a few. So as you can see, even if you don’t have the STK39 gene there are plenty of ways to get hypertension. And if you do have the gene there are likely other risk factors which you can do something about.

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The FDA has announced warnings against two prescription drugs – Visicol and OsmoPrep – used to cleanse the bowels before colonoscopies. The concern is over the potential of these drugs in causing kidney damage due to their high phosphate content. Similar over-the-counter medications, such as Fleet Phopho-soda, should not be used for bowel cleansing either; however, at lower doses, they are still safe to use as laxatives. Commonly used alternatives – GoLytely and Halflytely – exist and are safe to use for colonoscopy preparation. We know that colonoscopies can save lives, so this should not dissuade anyone from getting one, especially when safe bowel prep regimens exist.

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