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General Nephrology

News, opinions and meeting coverage in nephrology.

Amgen Agrees to Pay $762 Million in Aranesp Case

The biotech drug giant Amgen pled guilty Monday to promoting its blockbuster anemia drug darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) for off-label dosing regimens, agreeing to pay $762 million in fines.

Facebook Status: Need Kidney

WASHINGTON -- Promoting living kidney donation on social networks could increase the organ donor pool, researchers said here.

Second Kidney Transplant Lasts as Long as First

WASHINGTON -- Patients who have a second kidney transplant may not be as bound for failure as once thought, researchers said here.

Abuse of OTC Drug Mimics Kidney Stones

SAN DIEGO -- Stone deposits caused by abuse of an over-the-counter drug used to treat excess mucus may mimic kidney disorders, a researcher said here.

Doctors Say 45 Common Tests 'Overused'

Nine specialty groups have listed tests and treatments that are frequently overused, such as antibiotics for sinus attacks and CT scans for low back pain, in the first phase of a long-term project.

Renal Function Key in C. Diff Therapy Choice

SAN DIEGO -- Patients with Clostridium difficile infection and underlying impaired renal function fared better with fidaxomicin treatment than with vancomycin, a researcher said here.

Shire Quits on Fabry Drug

Shire PLC has withdrawn its U.S. application to market an enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease, citing an expected FDA demand for controlled clinical trials.

FDA Adds Diabetes Warning to Statin Label

WASHINGTON -- The FDA is changing the labeling on statins to include a warning about increased risks of hyperglycemia and transient memory problems, but the agency is no longer recommending routine liver function testing.

Systolic BP That's Too Low After Stroke Not Good Either

Systolic blood pressure that is too low -- as well as too high -- may put patients who have had a noncardioembolic ischemic stroke at risk for another one, researchers found.

High Blood Pressure May Spark Facial Nerve Pain

Patients with hypertension appear to carry a higher risk for developing trigeminal neuralgia, a Taiwanese study showed.

Abnormal Liver Enzymes No Reason to Avoid Statins

Statins are not only safe and effective for patients with liver enzyme abnormalities but also appear to improve their liver function, researchers found.

Common Antibiotic Linked to Elevated Potassium

Among older individuals, the commonly used antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is associated with the development of hyperkalemia requiring hospitalization, researchers found.

Kidney Disease Raises Risk of Hypoglycemia

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Dangerous hypoglycemic episodes are a significant risk for patients with chronic kidney disease, whether they have diabetes or not, researchers said.

Survival on Peritoneal Dialysis Varies by Age, Health, Timing

ADELAIDE, Australia -- The choice between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis does not have a one-size-fits-all answer, researchers found.

Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) Plus Calcium Warning Extended to Adults

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- For any patient at any age, calcium and ceftriaxone (Rocephin) are a dangerous combination that can increase the risk of lethal precipitates forming in the lungs and kidneys, according to the FDA.

Scleroderma Patients Are Living Longer

WASHINGTON -- The lifespan for patients with scleroderma has increased significantly since the 1970s, in large measure because of a decline in deaths from renal disease.

FDA Orders Black Box Warning for Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The FDA today ordered black-box warnings for all gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, detailing an increased risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis with kidney-disease patients.

Cleansing the Bowel for Colonoscopy May Harm the Kidneys

NEW YORK - Oral sodium phosphate solutions are great at cleaning out the bowel prior to colonoscopy, but in some patients these powerful purgatives can also do a serious number on the kidneys, caution Columbia researchers.

IBD Patients Prone to Other Autoimmune or Inflammatory Disorders

PHILADELPHIA-Patients with the inflammatory bowel disorders ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are significantly more likely to suffer from other conditions with an inflammatory or autoimmune basis, said researchers in two separate studies.

Crestor Called Less Safe Than Other Statins

BOSTON-Adverse event reports from the FDA suggest that Crestor is more likely to cause muscle and kidney damage than other major statins (Lipitor, Pravachol or Zocor), researchers here reported in the journal Circulation.

Comedian George Lopez Has Genetic Kidney Disease

LOS ANGELES-Comedian George Lopez, who had a kidney transplant last week, is said to be suffering from a genetic kidney disorder, possibly polycystic kidney disease.