Topic Discussion: What is the incidence of MGRS?

There is a new entity that is now being defined as MGRS ( when MGUS affects the kidney). The incidence of MGUS rises with age and there is lifetime 1% risk of transforming to myeloma or other cancers such as amyloidosis.

What is the incidence of MGRS? So what percentage of MGUS patients develop renal disease? Turns out, no published work has this answer.  An abstract presented at American society of Hematology (ASH) in 2013 might have the closest answer.

The study looked at a large database of lab values and 15 year follow up analyzed.   425 confirmed MGUS patients with no progression to Myeloma were evaluated.  297 patients had MGUS and normal renal function at baseline.  Over median of 852 days , 21/297 developed renal Impairment.  15/21 had monoclonal free light chain production.  Time to renal impairment was shorter with the higher free light chain ratio at baseline. Patients with involved Free light chain >100mg/dl were at the highest risk of renal failure.   So based on this one study, there is about 7% risk of MGRS from MGUS.  Seems high but we really need to wait published data on this topic. If it is truly 7%, screening with UA and protein/crt ratio with a complete metabolic panel might be indicated in patients with rising FLC ratios. 

Drug Induced GN quiz

Based on the recent CJASN article.

ASN and NBPAS

Recent changes to MOC and criticism of ABIM, where does nephrology stand.  Bold move by ASN to interview with founder of the new organization National Board of Physicians and Surgeons(NBPAS).

I think starting this discussion now is so critical. Hats off to Tod Ibrahim and ASN to take this initiative as we need to redefine that is reasonably priced and truly looks at clinical work that we do.

http://asn-online.org/media/podcast.aspx?p=kidneynews&e=2015_06_25_Teirstein.mp3

IN the NEWS: GN Types and ESRD

How do different GN types do on ESRD? A recent USRDS analysis looked at this very question.

1.      Over 84,000 patients were found to have GN that were on ESRD In the time period reviewed

2.      Interestingly IgA nephropathy had the fewest other comorbidities and the lowest use of hemodialysis

3.      Crude mortality was also lowest in IgA nephropathy patients

4.      Highest mortality was in Lupus nephritis and diabetic nephropathy patients when compared to IgAN

5.      Patients with ADPKD had a relatively favorable comorbidity and laboratory profile, comparable with that in IgAN.

6.      Overall, LN patients did the worst of all GNs.

7.      Cardiovascular disease accounted for the highest proportion of deaths within all GN subtypes, ranging from 34.2% in vasculitis to 44.6% in FSGS.

8.      The highest proportion of infection-related deaths was observed in LN

9.      There were marked survival discrepancies that persisted even after adjustment for socio demographic and clinical factors.

10.  Some GN subtypes (e.g., IgAN) conferred a particularly favorable prognosis, superior to that in ADPKD as stated above but, LN displayed shortened survival, similar to in patients with ESRD caused by diabetes.

These are some very important findings of the study. Categorizing GNs as on major cause of ESRD might be not helping us figure out the long term outcomes. As expected IgA and ADPKD have better survivals and some of the autoimmune and immunosuppressive prone GNs had worse outcomes.  

OncoNephrology Conference 2015

We are conducting a one day symposium on OncoNephrology: Cancer, chemotherapy and the Kidney at Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine on Sept 26th, 2015 from 7:30AM to 4PM
The conference will highlight and review the latest happenings in OncoNephrology

Talks and Speakers highlighted;

AKI in Cancer Patients;  Joseph Bonventre, Harvard Medical School
Chemotherapy Toxicities:  Mark Perazella, Yale University
Targeted Therapy and the Kidney: Kenar Jhaveri, Hofstra University
Hypercalcemia of Malignancy: Naveed Masani, Winthrop University
Anemia, CKD, ESKD and cancer: Steven Fishbane, Hofstra University
Renal Cancer, an update: Thomas Bradley, Hofstra University, NSLIJ Cancer Institute
Paraneoplastic GN; Hitesh H Shah, Hofstra University
TMA:  Bradley Dixon, Cincinnati Children Hospital
Post Kidney Transplant Cancers: Vinay Nair, Mt Sinai Medical Center
Paraproteinemias, an update: Gerald Appel, Columbia University Medical Center
Cases with the Onconephropathologist: Glen Markowitz, Columbia Medical Center

Course directors:  Kenar Jhaveri, Steven Fishbane and Thomas Bradley( Division of Nephrology and Hematology/Oncology at Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine)
Planning committee: Kenar Jhaveri, Steven Fishbane and Thomas Bradley, Hitesh H Shah, Pravin Singhal, Jyotsana Thakkar and Rimda Wanchoo( all from Division of Nephrology, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine)

To Register: go here
Full brochure coming soon.

This conference is endorsed by