Nephrology
Clinical discussions on kidney disease management, dialysis, transplantation, and electrolyte disorders.
Recent Discussions
Do you recommend repeat kidney stone composition testing for a patient with recurrent nephrolithiasis who passed an additional stone but previously already had stone composition testing performed?
Yes. Although the new stone composition may be similar to previously passed stones, that is not always the case. A change in the stone composition may identify new risk factors that would prompt a change in the treatment program. Stephen B. Erickson, MD
Is the phosphorus-lowering benefit of patiromer compelling enough to switch a patient with chronic hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia from sodium zirconium cyclosilicate to patiromer?
I don't think so but I think Patiromer is a better agent anyway as it does not have sodium in it. Patients with CKD and especially dialysis patients are often volume overloaded. It definitely makes sense to use an agent that does not have sodium in it.
How long do you monitor proteinuria after starting an SGLT-2 inhibitor before considering adding another medication if proteinuria is not at goal?
I would typically wait 2-3 months. Most such patients should be on RAAS blockade which should be maximized if tolerated first.
How soon after an end stage kidney disease patient receives a MRI study with gadolinium contrast do you perform their next hemodialysis session?
Very contentious question. But as an author of the NKF and ARA position paper on this, I would follow our advice, no need to dialyze immediately after, but try to time the study with the next dialysis.Weinreb et al., PMID 33170103ASN Communities (for ASN members) had a VERY LONG post on this general...
What treatment options would you consider for a young patient with limited mobility, low bone mass and multiple vertebral compression fractures who is on dialysis for advanced kidney disease?
There are a lot of variables to this question. I would worry that the person may have a variant of OI (osteogenesis imperfecta) or some other collage problem and then add renal failure to the mix. I would try to establish the causes of each problem first such as steroid induced bone disease or a bon...
Do you recommend bedtime administration of antihypertensives in patients who exhibit nondipping on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring?
Most of the effective anti-hypertensive medications are long-acting, with therapeutic levels maintained for up to 72 hours between doses. From a pharmacokinetic perspective, dosing these meds (like amlodipine and chlorthalidone) at night would not make a difference. Data supporting nocturnal dosing ...
Would you add an additional alkali medication for patients with recurrent uric acid nephrolithiasis who are on high doses of potassium citrate and continue to have acidic urine?
Maybe. My first concern is poor compliance with potassium citrate. I would like to see the patients home pH records. I strongly encourage patients on alkali therapy to test urine pH periodically, and more frequently if a dose adjustment appears to be needed. I prefer potassium citrate to sodium bica...
For patients with kidney stone disease and chronic kidney disease, is there an eGFR threshold at which you no longer recommend pursing 24 hour urine stone risk studies?
While I agree with Dr. Erickson's comments in general, though, I have encountered patients that newly presented for stone disease at late stages of CKD and even on dialysis. The critical consideration is whether there is evidence of ongoing stone formation/growth. We must be aware that a stone passa...
How do you approach hematuria in a patient with diabetic nephropathy?
This is a difficult question to answer. If young, no risk factors for GU malignancy and only microscopic hematuria would generally not pursue but make patient aware of small risk and make sure PCP also knows. Helpful to know if red cells are dysmorphic and if there is also proteinuria. Gross hematur...
Would you recommend a SGLT2i for a non-diabetic patient with recurrent uric acid or calcium phosphate nephrolithiasis?
No. A major risk factor for uric acid stones is low urine pH. A major risk factor for calcium phosphate (as opposed to calcium oxalate) stones is high urine pH. I am not aware that SGLT2 inhibitors substantially change urine pH. Stephen B. Erickson, MD