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The CHOIR trial in anemic patients with chronic kidney disease compared epoetin-alfa treatment with low (11.3 g/l) and high (13.5 g/l) hemoglobin targets on the composite end point of death, hospitalization for heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction. However, other anemia management trials in patients with chronic kidney disease found there was increased risk when hemoglobin is targeted above 13 g/dl. In this secondary analysis of the CHOIR trial, we compared outcomes among the subgroups of patients with diabetes and heart failure to describe the comparative relationship of treatment to these two different hemoglobin goals. By Cox regression analysis, there was no increased risk associated with the higher hemoglobin target among patients with heart failure. In patients without heart failure, however, the hazard ratio (1.86) associated with the higher target was significant. Comparing survival curves in an unadjusted model, patients with diabetes did not have a greater hazard associated with the higher target. Subjects without diabetes had a significantly greater hazard in the high as compared to the low target, but the interaction between diabetes and the target was not significant. We suggest that the increased risks associated with higher hemoglobin targets are not clinically apparent among subgroups with greater mortality risk. These differential outcomes underscore the need for dedicated trials in these subpopulations.

Introduction: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury, also referred to as contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), is a potentially serious renal complication associated with the use of iodinated contrast media (CM) in patients at risk. With the dramatic growth in contrast-enhanced imaging services worldwide, including procedures involving exposure to iodinated CM, efforts to reduce the occurrence of CIN have received considerable attention in recent years. To date, these efforts have met with little success since the 12% prevalence of CIN today remains unchanged from 2 decades ago., Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of the most recent evidence available from published reports of contemporary (2000-2008) prospective, randomized, controlled trials that have investigated CIN either by comparing CM or by comparing preventive strategies. The objective was to critically review the findings in light of several aspects of study design and then to establish a set of parameters for consideration in the planning of future CIN trials so as to optimize the strength of evidence obtained., Results: Whether future CIN trials are investigating comparative CM nephrotoxicity or dealing with prophylactic strategies for risk reduction, the complexities that must be addressed include a standardized definition of CIN, appropriate timing of SCr measurements with timing standardized for all subjects in a given study population, awareness of study population risk profile, hydration protocols, and pharmacological prophylactic strategies., Conclusions: Large, well-designed trials (ideally with hard clinical outcome measures) that consider all the complexities involved in CIN and its prevention are needed before the clinical community has the evidence-based direction required for optimized patient care.

Background: Most patients managed in primary care have more than one condition. Multimorbidity presents challenges for the patient and the clinician, not only in terms of the process of care, but also in terms of management and risk assessment., Aim: To examine the effect of the presence of chronic kidney disease and diabetes on mortality and morbidity among patients with established cardiovascular disease., Design of Study: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Random selection of 35 general practices in the west of Ireland., Method: A practice-based sample of 1609 patients with established cardiovascular disease was generated in 2000-2001 and followed for 5 years. The primary endpoint was death from any cause and the secondary endpoint was a cardiovascular composite endpoint that included death from a cardiovascular cause or any of the following cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, or stroke., Results: Risk of death from any cause was significantly increased in patients with increased multimorbidity (P<0.001), as was the risk of the cardiovascular composite endpoint (P<0.001). Patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes had a similar survival pattern to those with cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, but experienced more cardiovascular events., Conclusion: Level of multimorbidity is an independent predictor of prognosis among patients with established cardiovascular disease. In such patients, the presence of chronic kidney disease carries a similar mortality risk to diabetes. Multimorbidity may be a useful factor in prioritising management of patients in the community with significant cardiovascular risk.

Background: The past decade has seen a proliferation in the number of CT procedures. As increasing numbers of elderly patients with multiple comorbidities undergo contrast media (CM)-enhanced procedures, more patients are at risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN)., Objectives: To understand whether radiologists are sufficiently aware of the incidence, impact and risk factors of CIN, and whether they are taking sufficient measures to prevent CIN among patients undergoing CT., Materials and Methods: A telephone or online survey was conducted in 2005 with 509 radiologists from 10 European countries. Participants had a minimum of 3 years' experience and performed at least 50 CT scans per week., Results: Most (88%) radiologists believed that CIN is an important issue. While 45% identify that a patient is experiencing CIN when the serum creatinine level increases >25% (0.5mg/dL) from baseline within 48h, the remainder used criteria that might lead to significant under-diagnosis. Most (72%) radiologists believed that CIN is associated with increased morbidity; 56% did not believe that it is associated with increased mortality. Most respondents agreed that pre-existing renal impairment (97%), dehydration (90%) and diabetes (89%) were risk factors for CIN; however, 26%, 30% and 46%, respectively, did not identify advanced age, CM dose or congestive cardiac failure as risk factors. Only 7% of radiologists thought they were always made aware of CIN associated with their cases and 28% never consulted a nephrologist to discuss patients at risk of CIN or who had developed CIN., Conclusion: There is highly variable awareness of the definition, impact and risk factors for CIN among European radiologists. Data regarding the importance of CIN in CT are limited. Improved efforts are required to better educate radiologists and referring physicians and to institute appropriate protocols to identify at-risk patients and prevent CIN.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication of the use of iodinated contrast media (CM), and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality., Purpose: To investigate whether radiologists take sufficient measures to prevent CIN in computed tomography (CT)., Material and Methods: 2005 survey of 509 European radiologists who had > or =3 years' experience and performed > or =50 CT scans/week., Results: The most common methods used to identify patients at risk of CIN were renal function measurements (64%), clinical judgment (55%), and patient questionnaires (31%); 9% made no routine attempt to identify at-risk patients. The most common preventive protocols used in at-risk patients included: intravenous (i.v.) saline volume repletion (59%) or oral hydration (52%) before/after CT; use of low-osmolar CM (LOCM; 40%) or isosmolar CM (IOCM; 36%); and N-acetylcysteine (20%); 8% used no hydration regimen. While 78% of respondents used < or =100 ml of CM in high-risk patients, 14% used < or =150 ml, and 9% set no volume limit. For 57% of respondents, osmolality was the most important attribute in choosing an iodinated CM in at-risk patients; 41% agreed that CIN risk is lower with IOCM versus LOCM (31% disagreed)., Conclusion: A European radiologist survey identified a need for increased implementation of evidence-based protocols to improve CIN prevention: routine identification of at-risk patients; withdrawal of nephrotoxic drugs; use of volume repletion regimens; lowest possible volume of CM; and appropriate CM.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) have strikingly high mortality rates. In the general population, there has been a reduction in the mortality and morbidity rates for IHD through the implementation of effective risk-factor-reduction programs and better interventions for patients with established IHD. No such trend has been observed in patients with end-stage kidney disease. This review article addresses the following topics: (i) epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical CKD patients with IHD; (ii) diagnostic modalities for IHD and their limitation in CKD patients; (iii) medical treatment options and revascularization strategies for these high-risk patients; and (iv) optimal cardiovascular risk management. Generally, in CKD patients with IHD an aggressive approach to IHD is warranted, a low threshold for diagnostic testing should be employed, and awaiting a clinical trial targeting these patients they should be considered for all proven strategies to improve outcomes.

The number of patients with coexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease is growing rapidly. Treatment of these patients is challenging, primarily because of a lack of pharmacokinetic and clinical trial data associated with these combined disease entities. In this report, we discuss the cardiovascular disease risk associated with CKD and review the use of anticoagulation for acute cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD. We evaluate the potential role of direct thrombin inhibitors in patients with renal disease who have acute coronary syndromes, with particular focus on the clinical efficacy of bivalirudin. We conclude that direct thrombin inhibitors, including bivalirudin and argatroban, may be promising alternatives to heparin in patients who have renal insufficiency and are therefore at an increased risk for bleeding. In the treatment of patients with advanced renal insufficiency and cardiovascular disease, however, these agents should be used with dose modification to account for altered excretion.

Population-based studies of maintenance hemodialysis patients have demonstrated a reproducible relationship between the dose of hemodialysis and mortality and morbidity outcomes. In these analyses, which have aggregated hemodialysis patient subgroups, improved outcomes are associated with greater doses of hemodialysis. However, remarkable counterintuitive findings are observed if patients are analyzed by subgroups based on their race, gender, and anthropometric and blood-based biomarkers of nutritional state. For example, blacks generally receive lower doses of hemodialysis than whites, but enjoy relatively improved survival; patients who receive the highest doses of hemodialysis have an increased death risk; and the dose response curve between hemodialysis and survival is altered based on the patients' body mass index. These seemingly paradoxical relationships between hemodialysis dose and patient survival can be explained because of the use of mathematical urea kinetic constructs as clinical outcome predictors; they integrate a measure of solute removal (K x t) with an anthropometric surrogate of nutrition, the urea distribution volume (V). Both these measures have an independent influence on patient survival and in some clinical circumstances are of unequal power as clinical outcome predictors. These complex interactions must be kept in perspective as clinical care is delivered in the context of hemodialysis dose.

Aims: Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States, and cardiac disease is the primary cause of death in patients with CKD and diabetes. The Prevalence of Anemia in Early Renal Insufficiency (PAERI) study evaluated the prevalence of anemia and associated in a community-based sample of patients with CKD. The purpose of this post hoc analysis was to identify differences, if any, in the prevalence and severity of anemia (hemoglobin ≤ 12 g/dl (120 g/l)) and other clinical characteristics between CKD patients with diabetes and patients with CKD who did not have diabetes. Materials and methods: The PAERI study was a prospective, crosssectional, multicenter survey. Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years old with CKD, defined as serum creatinine 1.5 - 6.0 mg/dl (132.6 - 530.4 μmol/l) in females and 2.0 - 6.0 mg/dl (176.8 - 530.4 μmol/l) in males within 12 months before enrollment. Study duration for each patient was a single site visit. Results: Of the original 5,222 patients enrolled, 3,361 had diabetes and 1,861 did not. A family history of diabetes was present in 72.7% of diabetic patients vs. 27.2% of nondiabetic patients (p μ 0.0001). Patients with diabetes had a significantly higher prevalence of anemia (52.7 vs. 39.4%, p μ 0.0001) and cardiac disease (55.7 vs. 42.9%, p μ 0.0001). The prevalence of hypertension was high in both groups (91.5 and 89.3%). Significantly more diabetic patients than nondiabetic patients received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (60.4 vs. 43.8%, p μ 0.0001).Hyperlipidemia was more common in patients with diabetes (73.9 vs. 55.4%, p μ 0.0001). Patients with diabetes were slightly younger and had a significantly higher mean body mass index and lower transferrin saturation compared with nondiabetic patients. In diabetic and nondiabetic patients, more than 97% had glomerular filtration rate μ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and more than 70% had serum creatinine μ 2.5 mg/dl (221.0 μmol/l). Conclusions: These findings underscore the extent and severity of concurrent illnesses in patients with both diabetes and CKD. In those patients, diabetes was associated with a greater prevalence of serious cardiac-related comorbidities than observed in nondiabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]