What we do and do not know about women and kidney diseases; Questions unanswered and answers unquestioned: Reflection on World Kidney Day and International Woman’s Day

On behalf of the World Kidney Day Steering Committee Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 10% of the world’s adult population: it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women’s health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world’s population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, offering an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also a state where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for child bearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men, and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this editorial, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease, and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide

Acute Kidney Injury in Pregnancy: The Need for Higher Awareness. A Pragmatic Review Focused on What Could Be Improved in the Prevention and Care of Pregnancy-Related AKI, in the Year Dedicated to Women and Kidney Diseases

Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (pAKI), preeclampsia (PE), and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are closely related conditions, which are, in turn, frequently linked to pre-existing and often non-diagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD). The current literature and research mainly underline the effects of pregnancy complications on the offspring; this review strongly emphasizes the maternal health as well. These conditions not only negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, but have a relevant effect on the future health of affected mothers and their children. Therefore, dedicated diagnostic and follow-up programs are needed, for optimizing materno-foetal health and reducing the impact of pregnancy-related problems in the mothers and in the new generations. This narrative review, performed on the occasion of the 2018 World Kidney Day dedicated to women's health, focuses on three aspects of the problem. Firstly, the risk of AKI in the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (the risk is the highest in developing countries; however PE is the main cause of pregnancy related AKI worldwide). Secondly, the effect of AKI and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on the development of CKD in the mother and offspring: long-term risks are increased; the entity and the trajectories are still unknown. Thirdly, the role of CKD in the pathogenesis of AKI and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: CKD is a major risk factor and the most important element in the differential diagnosis; pregnancy is a precious occasion for early diagnosis of CKD. Higher awareness on the importance of AKI in pregnancy is needed to improve short and long term outcomes in mothers and children

Pregnancy in Chronic Kidney Disease: Need for Higher Awareness. A Pragmatic Review Focused on What Could Be Improved in the Different CKD Stages and Phases

Pregnancy is possible in all phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its management may be difficult and the outcomes are not the same as in the overall population. The prevalence of CKD in pregnancy is estimated at about 3%, as high as that of pre-eclampsia (PE), a better-acknowledged risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. When CKD is known, pregnancy should be considered as high risk and followed accordingly; furthermore, since CKD is often asymptomatic, pregnant women should be screened for the presence of CKD, allowing better management of pregnancy, and timely treatment after pregnancy. The differential diagnosis between CKD and PE is sometimes difficult, but making it may be important for pregnancy management. Pregnancy is possible, even if at high risk for complications, including preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction, superimposed PE, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Results in all phases are strictly dependent upon the socio-sanitary system and the availability of renal and obstetric care and, especially for preterm children, of intensive care units. Women on dialysis should be aware of the possibility of conceiving and having a successful pregnancy, and intensive dialysis (up to daily, long-hours dialysis) is the clinical choice allowing the best results. Such a choice may, however, need adaptation where access to dialysis is limited or distances are prohibitive. After kidney transplantation, pregnancies should be followed up with great attention, to minimize the risks for mother, child, and for the graft. A research agenda supporting international comparisons is highly needed to ameliorate or provide knowledge on specific kidney diseases and to develop context-adapted treatment strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes in CKD women

What we do and do not know about women and kidney diseases; Questions unanswered and answers unquestioned: Reflection on World Kidney Day and International Woman’s Day

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 10% of the world’s adult population; it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women’s health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world’s population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, which not only offers an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also states where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for childbearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this editorial, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide

Corrigendum to �Tonelli M, Nkunu V, Varghese C, et al. Framework for establishing integrated kidney care programs in low- and middle-income countries� Kidney Int Suppl. 2020;10:e19�e23 (Kidney International Supplements (2020) 10(1) (e19�e23), (S2157171619300164), (10.1016/j.kisu.2019.11.002))

The authors regret that Bassam Bernieh was inadvertently left out as an author of the article. The authors and affiliations are as follows. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. © 2020 International Society of Nephrolog

International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas: structures, organization, and services for the management of kidney failure in the Middle East

Kidney failure is the permanent impairment of kidney function associated with increased morbidity, hospitalization, and requirement for kidney replacement therapy. A total of 11 countries in the Middle East region (84.6) responded to the survey. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the region ranged from 5.2 to 10.6, whereas prevalence of treated kidney failure ranged from 152 to 826 per million population. Overall, the incidence of kidney transplantation was highest in Iran (30.9 per million population) and lowest in Oman and the United Arab Emirates (2.2 and 3.0 per million population, respectively). Long-term hemodialysis services were available in all countries, long-term peritoneal dialysis services were available in 9 (69.2) countries, and transplantation services were available in most countries of the region. Public funding covered the costs of nondialysis chronic kidney disease care in two-thirds of countries, and kidney replacement therapy in nearly all countries. More than half of the countries had dialysis registries; however, national noncommunicable disease strategies were lacking in most countries. The Middle East is a region with high burden of kidney disease and needs cost-effective measures through effective health care funding to be available to improve kidney care in the region. Furthermore, well-designed and sustainable health information systems are needed in the region to address current gaps in kidney care in the region. © 2021 International Society of Nephrolog

Increasing access to integrated ESKD care as part of Universal Health Coverage

The global nephrology community recognizes the need for a cohesive strategy to address the growing problem of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In March 2018, the International Society of Nephrology hosted a summit on integrated ESKD care, including 92 individuals from around the globe with diverse expertise and professional backgrounds. The attendees were from 41 countries, including 16 participants from 11 low- and lower-middle–income countries. The purpose was to develop a strategic plan to improve worldwide access to integrated ESKD care, by identifying and prioritizing key activities across 8 themes: (i) estimates of ESKD burden and treatment coverage, (ii) advocacy, (iii) education and training/workforce, (iv) financing/funding models, (v) ethics, (vi) dialysis, (vii) transplantation, and (viii) conservative care. Action plans with prioritized lists of goals, activities, and key deliverables, and an overarching performance framework were developed for each theme. Examples of these key deliverables include improved data availability, integration of core registry measures and analysis to inform development of health care policy; a framework for advocacy; improved and continued stakeholder engagement; improved workforce training; equitable, efficient, and cost-effective funding models; greater understanding and greater application of ethical principles in practice and policy; definition and application of standards for safe and sustainable dialysis treatment and a set of measurable quality parameters; and integration of dialysis, transplantation, and comprehensive conservative care as ESKD treatment options within the context of overall health priorities. Intended users of the action plans include clinicians, patients and their families, scientists, industry partners, government decision makers, and advocacy organizations. Implementation of this integrated and comprehensive plan is intended to improve quality and access to care and thereby reduce serious health-related suffering of adults and children affected by ESKD worldwide

Tuberculosis of the arterio-venous graft in a renal transplant recipient

A 44-year-old Pakistani lady with end-stage renal disease secondary to rapidly proliferative glomerulonephritis underwent successful renal transplantation. Three years later, she was referred to the surgeon with an abscess in the axillary region at the site of a previous arterio-venous (AV) graft. She underwent repeated incision and drainage of the abscess, which was constantly recurring. Nine months later, she presented with a tender swelling at the site of the AV graft with purulent discharge. The graft was removed; culture and histology confirmed the presence of tuberculosis (TB). This patient presents a rare case of TB infection in the AV graft

Что мы знаем и чего не знаем о заболеваниях почек у женщин; вопросы без ответов и ответы на незаданные вопросы: размышления по поводу Всемирного дня почки и Международного женского дня

Chronic Kidney Disease affects approximately 10% of the world's adult population: it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women's Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women's health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world's population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, offering an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also a state where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for child bearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men, and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this review, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease, and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide.On behalf of the World Kidney Day Steering Committee.Members of the World Kidney Day Steering Committee are: Ph. Kam Tao Li, G. Garcia-Garcia, M. Benghanem-Gharbi, K. Kalantar-Zadeh, C. Kernahan, L. Kumaraswami, G.B. Piccoli, G. Saadi, L. Fox, E. Zakharova, S. Andreoli.Около 10% взрослого населения планеты страдает хронической болезнью почек, которая входит в список 20 основных причин смерти во всем мире и ведет к пагубным последствиям как для самих пациентов, так и для членов их семей. Всемирный день почки в 2018 совпадает с Международным женским днем, что дает повод задуматься об особой важности состояния здоровья женщин и в особенности о «почечном здоровье» для ныне живущей популяции и будущих поколений. Нам представляется уникальная возможность не только как можно больше узнать об особенностях заболеваний почек у женщин, но и шире использовать полученные знания. Женщины, девушки и девочки в целом составляют примерно 50% населения мира. Очевиден их огромный вклад в  жизнь общества, не говоря уже о  важнейшей роли в семейной жизни. Вместе с тем гендерные различия в доступе к образованию, медицинской помощи и участию в клинических исследованиях все еще существуют практически повсеместно. Беременность, создающая особую нагрузку на организм женщины и нередко оказывающаяся поводом для выявления уже существующих заболеваний почек, может также приводить к манифестации острых и хронических почечных заболеваний, которые, в свою очередь, могут сказываться на потомстве, в том числе и на состоянии почек. Многие аутоиммунные и другие заболевания чаще развиваются у женщин,  чем у мужчин, и неблагоприятно сказываются на способности к  деторождению и  на состоянии плода. Осложнения диализа у  женщин отличаются от осложнений у мужчин, и кроме того, женщины с большей вероятностью оказываются донорами, нежели чем реципиентами почечного трансплантата. В этой обзорной статье мы сконцентрировали внимание на том, что мы знаем и чего мы не знаем о «почечном здоровье» и заболеваниях почек у женщин, и на том, что мы можем и должны узнать в будущем для улучшения исходов заболеваний почек во всем мире.Авторы выступают от имени Организационного комитета Всемирного дня почки.Члены Организационного комитета Всемирного дня почки: Кам Тао Ли Ф., Гарсиа-Гарсиа Г., Венджамен-Гариби М., Калантар-Заде К., Кернан Ч., Кумарасвами Л., Пикколи Д.Б., Саади Г., Фокс Л., Захарова Е.В., Андреоли Ш