Colleen M. Glennon , Sagar U. Nigwekar , Daniela Kroshinsky , J. Kevin Tucker
{"title":"Skin Disorders in Kidney Disease: Core Curriculum 2026","authors":"Colleen M. Glennon , Sagar U. Nigwekar , Daniela Kroshinsky , J. Kevin Tucker","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.03.031","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.03.031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Skin disorders occur commonly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may greatly impact their quality of life. These skin disorders have varying underlying pathophysiologies, but there are a few common mechanisms including the accumulation of uremic solutes, metabolic disturbances, and inflammation. Pruritus in the setting of CKD (CKD-associated pruritus or CKD-aP), acquired perforating disorder (APD), calcinosis cutis, calciphylaxis, cutaneous lupus, and vasculitis are skin disorders often occurring in association with kidney disease and with which clinicians should be familiar. CKD-aP is reported to have a prevalence of 40% among patients receiving dialysis and 20% with earlier stages of CKD. Acquired perforating disorder (APD) is a skin disorder seen commonly in patients with diabetes mellitus and kidney failure that presents typically with crater-shaped nodular eruptions with a central hyperkeratosis. Calcinosis cutis is a skin disorder that occurs when calcium salts deposit into skin and subcutaneous tissues. Calciphylaxis is a rare cutaneous vasculopathy characterized by microvascular calcium deposition and thrombosis leading to tissue ischemia and subsequent skin necrosis. Lupus erythematosus and the vasculitides are systemic disorders with distinct skin manifestations that may offer clues as to the underlying disorder.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"87 1","pages":"Pages 102-114"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145538206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica Potts , Camille M. Pearse , Mark Lambie , James Fotheringham , Harry Hill , David Coyle , Sarah Damery , Kerry Allen , Iestyn Williams , Simon J. Davies , Ivonne Solis-Trapala
{"title":"Patient and Center Factors in Home Dialysis Therapy Uptake: Analysis of a UK Renal Registry Cohort and a National Dialysis Center Survey","authors":"Jessica Potts , Camille M. Pearse , Mark Lambie , James Fotheringham , Harry Hill , David Coyle , Sarah Damery , Kerry Allen , Iestyn Williams , Simon J. Davies , Ivonne Solis-Trapala","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.08.012","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.08.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Rationale & Objective</h3><div>Variation in home dialysis therapy (HT) use across centers and geography may reflect the interplay between dialysis center services and patient characteristics. We examined direct and indirect associations between these factors and HT uptake in England.</div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>UK Renal Registry (UKRR) cohort linked to a national survey of renal centers.</div></div><div><h3>Setting & Participants</h3><div>Adults who initiated kidney replacement therapy (KRT) between 2015 and 2019 at 51 English renal centers, totaling 32,400 individuals identified through the UKRR with center practices captured from a 2022 national survey of dialysis centers.</div></div><div><h3>Exposure</h3><div>Patient-level (demographics and clinical characteristics) and center-level (including availability of assisted peritoneal dialysis, quality improvement initiatives, and fostering staff engagement in research) factors.</div></div><div><h3>Outcome</h3><div>Use of HT (home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) within 1 year of starting KRT.</div></div><div><h3>Analytical Approach</h3><div>Sequences of regressions, an extension of path analysis, used to examine direct and indirect associations between patient-level and center-level factors and the probability of HT uptake.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both center-level and patient-level factors were significantly associated with the probability of HT uptake. Patients at centers conducting quality improvement projects (odds ratio [OR], 1.94 [95% CI, 1.36-2.76]), offering assisted peritoneal dialysis (OR, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.39-2.57]), fostering staff research engagement (OR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.03-1.77]), or hosting HT roadshows (OR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.05-1.41]) had higher odds of HT uptake. Centers with greater stress on staff capacity to deliver HT had lower uptake (OR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.45-0.81]). Patients on transplant lists at KRT start (OR, 2.55 [95% CI, 2.35-2.77]) or who lived farther from a treatment center (OR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.08-1.12] per 10 km) had higher odds of HT uptake. Patients living in areas of higher deprivation or members of minoritized ethnic groups had lower HT uptake overall. However, some of these associations may have been indirectly mitigated in centers serving more diverse populations because these centers were more likely to implement practices associated with higher HT uptake.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Health care professional–reported and aggregated survey data.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study identified modifiable center-level factors associated with HT uptake, informing potential opportunities to reduce ethnic and area-level disparities.</div></div><div><h3>Plain-Language Summary</h3><div>Some patients are less likely to use home dialysis, possibly due to both patient characteristics and how dialysis centers operate. We studied over 32,000 patients who began kidney replacement therapy between 2015 and ","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"87 1","pages":"Pages 53-64.e1"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145314603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Breaking Down Barriers to Reproductive Health Care in CKD","authors":"Ryann Sohaney , Andrea L. Oliverio","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.10.007","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"87 1","pages":"Pages 1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145559044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thalia Porteny , Kristen Kennefick , Hillary Matos , Kelli Collins Damron , Daniel E. Weiner , Sean Kalloo , Keren Ladin
{"title":"Identifying Adaptation Needs of a Decision Aid for Older Latino Adults With Advanced CKD: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Thalia Porteny , Kristen Kennefick , Hillary Matos , Kelli Collins Damron , Daniel E. Weiner , Sean Kalloo , Keren Ladin","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.07.014","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.07.014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Rationale & Objective</h3><div>Latino adults aged 65 years and older comprise the fastest growing minoritized group in the United States and experience a disproportionate burden of kidney failure. Decision aids improve decisional quality and goal-concordant care among older patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, decision aids for kidney replacement therapy have yet to be adapted for the older Latino adult population with advanced CKD. This study assessed the acceptability, accessibility and adaptions needed to facilitate use of a Spanish version of the Decision-Aid for Renal Therapy (DART-S) for older Latino adults with advanced CKD.</div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>Qualitative study applying the Cultural Targeting and Tailoring of Shared Decision-Making Technology Framework in focus groups and structured interviews. Suggested adaptations were grouped into recommendations and analyzed qualitatively.</div></div><div><h3>Setting & Participants</h3><div>Five focus groups (N = 17) and interviews (N = 15) with Spanish-speaking patients and care partners were conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Analytical Approach</h3><div>Thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among patient participants, 55% were male, and the mean age was 68 ± 9 years. Overall, the participants found DART-S to be acceptable and accessible. Thematic analysis revealed the importance of incorporating lived experiences, including patient and family testimonials, to illustrate the mental health impact of CKD, self-care strategies, and home dialysis adaptations. Some found the delivery of prognostic information distressing, highlighting the need for more sensitive communication. The tailoring recommendations included information about financial barriers, nutrition, and lifestyle. Participants preferred that DART-S be disseminated via kidney clinicians upon CKD diagnosis and recommended leveraging social media for broader reach.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Findings are not generalizable beyond the Latino subgroups in this study. Legal status was not ascertained.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Targeting and tailoring decision aids is a necessary step in providing goal-concordant and person-centered care for older Latino adults with advanced CKD. Future research should examine the comparative efficacy of DART-S in increasing knowledge and decisional quality among Latino patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"87 1","pages":"Pages 44-52"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145254486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What’s New in Membranous Nephropathy and How to Incorporate New Antigen Discoveries Into Clinical Practice: A Review","authors":"Ladan Zand , Fernando C. Fervenza , Sanjeev Sethi","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.08.013","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.08.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults and can be seen in association with other diseases, including malignancy, drugs, infections, or autoimmune diseases. Over the last decade, great progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, resulting from the discovery of several target antigens by use of laser microdissection/mass spectrometry methodology. This technique has proven to be the most sensitive method available and has the advantage of testing for all the target antigens at one time. The discovery of these target antigens has now shifted the classification of MN from primary versus secondary to classification based on the target antigen identified. Each target antigen has its own specific clinical characteristics and known associated diseases. Identification of the target antigen can help further identify the underlying cause for a more targeted approach in looking for associated diseases. Progress has also been made in the treatment of patients with MN, with more standard risk stratification of the patients and a shift in using anti-CD20 drugs as the first line for those with moderate and high risk of progression. Trials are ongoing to further investigate the role of anti-plasma cell, anticomplement, and CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"87 1","pages":"Pages 93-101"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145319221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nadav Agam , Ohad Wormser , Ari Biller , Noam Hadar , Vadim Dolgin , Ofek Freund , Matan M. Jean , Amit Safran , Tomer Poleg , Bibi Kanengisser-Pines , Rebekka Kebesch-Assi , Masha Mazor-Oring , Osnat Cohen-Zontag , Michal Zmudjak-Olevson , Shlomit Ben-Menachem , Dror Ben-Ruby , Omer Shlomovitz , Asaf Vivante , Benjamin Dekel , Ohad S. Birk , Ruth Schreiber
{"title":"Intronic and Coding Genetic Variants in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Among Israeli Bedouins of Arabian Peninsula Ancestry","authors":"Nadav Agam , Ohad Wormser , Ari Biller , Noam Hadar , Vadim Dolgin , Ofek Freund , Matan M. Jean , Amit Safran , Tomer Poleg , Bibi Kanengisser-Pines , Rebekka Kebesch-Assi , Masha Mazor-Oring , Osnat Cohen-Zontag , Michal Zmudjak-Olevson , Shlomit Ben-Menachem , Dror Ben-Ruby , Omer Shlomovitz , Asaf Vivante , Benjamin Dekel , Ohad S. Birk , Ruth Schreiber","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.06.011","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.06.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Rationale & Objective</h3><div>Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is typically caused by biallelic <em>PKHD1</em> variants. However, some patients with a clinical diagnosis remain without a molecular diagnosis. We identified cryptic pathogenic variants in Israeli Bedouin patients of Arabian Peninsula ancestry with ARPKD.</div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>Case series.</div></div><div><h3>Setting & Participants</h3><div>Twelve Bedouin patients of 5 unrelated families of Arabian Peninsula ancestry with ARPKD whose causative variant was unknown despite standard genetic analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Observations</h3><div>Whole-genome sequencing (WGS), including short- and long-read platforms, followed by bioinformatics filtration and transcript analysis, identified a pathogenic <em>PKHD1</em> variant confirmed by functional analysis: a deep-intronic <em>PKHD1</em> variant (6:51,757,883 C>T (hg38), ENST00000340994.4: c.8643-2945 G>A) was identified in 12 patients with ARPKD within 5 families of Israeli Negev Bedouins originating from the Arabian Peninsula. Variant segregation within affected kindreds was consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. Complementary DNA (cDNA) analysis of urine-derived tubular kidney epithelial cells confirmed aberrant splicing with pseudo-exon inclusion of 121 base pairs, introducing a premature stop codon. This variant was found in 2 of 100 ethnically matched Bedouin control individuals (carrier rate 1:50). Among all known <em>PKHD1</em> splicing-disrupting variants, this variant received the lowest and most benign scores across splicing prediction tools. We also delineate 12 other <em>PKHD1</em> variants in Negev Bedouins.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Functional studies were limited to urinary-derived epithelial cells, small cohort size.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We describe a deep-intronic truncating <em>PKHD1</em> variant, as a common founder variant causing ARPKD in Israeli Bedouins of Arabian Peninsula ancestry. This <em>PKHD1</em> variant caused pseudo-exon inclusion through a donor-gain mechanism, without directly introducing a splice site. These findings highlight the diagnostic utility of WGS and transcript analysis in identifying pathogenic noncoding ARPKD variants.</div></div><div><h3>Plain-Language Summary</h3><div>Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a severe genetic disorder that affects the kidneys and liver, often presenting before birth. In some patients, standard genetic tests do not detect a causative variant. We examined affected families of Israeli Bedouins originating from the Arabian Peninsula and used whole-genome sequencing and RNA studies to search beyond the protein-coding regions of DNA. We discovered a variant deep within a noncoding region of the <em>PKHD1</em> gene that interferes with RNA splicing and leads to disease. This variant is a common cause of ARPKD in this population, and its dete","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"86 6","pages":"Pages 730-739.e1"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144857694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruth Tarzi , Jennifer McKenzie , Michel Reid , Sophia Goodison , James Oyee , Thomas F. Hiemstra , Maciej J. Zamek-Gliszczynski , Mary Muoneke , Leslie A. Obert , Nneka Nwokolo , Benjamin Young , Anna Richards
{"title":"Pharmaceutical Practice Considerations Regarding Adoption of the Race-Free Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) 2021 Equations","authors":"Ruth Tarzi , Jennifer McKenzie , Michel Reid , Sophia Goodison , James Oyee , Thomas F. Hiemstra , Maciej J. Zamek-Gliszczynski , Mary Muoneke , Leslie A. Obert , Nneka Nwokolo , Benjamin Young , Anna Richards","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.06.022","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.06.022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The race-free Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) 2021 estimated glomerular filtration rate–creatinine (eGFR<sub>cr</sub>) equation is being adopted in the United States. Elsewhere there is debate regarding its validation and adoption. Absence of a perfect solution and a lack of alignment present challenges when considering global clinical trials. While acknowledging these challenges, GSK decided to adopt the CKD-EPI 2021 eGFR<sub>cr</sub> equation for new adult trials to support health equity and delivery benefits from standardized data management. The eGFR<sub>cr</sub> obtained using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation versus CKD-EPI 2009 equation is moderately lower in US Black individuals and moderately higher in non-Black individuals. Analyses before adoption suggested no major impact for study safety or efficacy evaluations although racial/ethnic representation may need to be examined in trials with an eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> inclusion criterion because enrollment of eligible Black participants could be reduced. Sensitivity analyses using 2009 and 2021 equations may be necessary to understand any effect size with population change, especially where there are kidney end points or relevant safety concerns. GSK plans to monitor the impact of adopting the CKD-EPI 2021 eGFR<sub>cr</sub> equation on adverse event reporting across studies and pharmacovigilance outcomes and to monitor the evolution of regulatory guidance for eGFR equation implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"86 6","pages":"Pages 843-853"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christina Lauren Tamargo , Derek Michael Fine , Bangchen Wang , Samir C. Gautam
{"title":"Kidney Disease With Cutaneous Clues: A Quiz","authors":"Christina Lauren Tamargo , Derek Michael Fine , Bangchen Wang , Samir C. Gautam","doi":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.07.009","DOIUrl":"10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.07.009","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7419,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Kidney Diseases","volume":"86 6","pages":"Pages A11-A16"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145536892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}