EMPA-KIDNEY: expanding the range of kidney protection by SGLT2 inhibitors

Chronic kidney disease; Normoalbuminuria; Primary preventionMalaltia renal crònica; Normoalbuminúria; Prevenció primàriaEnfermedad renal crónica; Normoalbuminuria; Prevención primariaIn the EMPA-KIDNEY (The Study of Heart and Kidney Protection With Empagliflozin) trial, empagliflozin reduced cardiorenal outcomes by 28% (hazard ratio 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.64–0.82; P 50% were not diabetic. It expanded the spectrum of CKD that may benefit from sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition to participants with urinary albumin: creatinine ratio 20 mL/min/1.73 m2 or even lower (254 participants had an eGFR 15–20 mL/min/1.73 m2). EMPA-KIDNEY was stopped prematurely because of efficacy, thus limiting the ability to confirm benefit on the primary outcome in every pre-specified subgroup, especially in those with more slowly progressive CKD. However, data on chronic eGFR slopes were consistent with benefit at any eGFR or urinary albumin:creatinine ratio level potentially delaying kidney replacement therapy by 2–27 years, depending on baseline eGFR. The representation of diverse causes of CKD (>1600 participants with glomerular disease, >1400 with hypertensive kidney disease, >450 with tubulointerstitial disease and >600 with unknown cause) was higher than in prior SGLT2 inhibitor trials, although polycystic kidney disease was excluded. Around 15% (almost 1000) of participants were not on renin–angiotensin system blockade. The clinical characteristics of the cohort differed from DAPA-CKD (A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dapagliflozin on Renal Outcomes and Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease), as did the frequency of individual components of the primary outcome in the placebo arm. Thus, rather than compare EMPA-KIDNEY with DAPA-CKD, the results of both trials should be seen as complementary to those of other SGLT2 inhibitor trials. Overall, EMPA-KIDNEY, a recent meta-analysis and post hoc analyses of participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but no baseline CKD in other trials, indicates that SGLT2 inhibitor treatment will benefit an expanded CKD population with diverse baseline albuminuria or eGFR values, presence of T2DM or cause of CKD, as well as providing primary prevention of CKD in at least the T2DM setting.FIS/Fondos FEDER (PI20/00744, PI19/00588, PI19/00815, PI21/01292, PI21/00251), ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00064, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009), ERA-PerMed-JTC 2022 (ONAKI-ICI AC22/00029) Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Sociedad Madrileña de Nefrología (SOMANE), FRIAT, Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-CM. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001, RD21/0005/0016) funded by European Union—NextGenerationEU, Mecanismo para la Recuperación y la Resiliencia (MRR), SPACKDcPMP21/00109, FEDER funds, and Marató TV3 2020 421/C/2020, Marató TV3 2021 215/C/2021

Lecciones aprendidas del SENCOVAC: estudio prospectivo que evalúa la respuesta a la vacunación frente a SARS-CoV-2 en los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica

SARS-CoV-2; Hemodialysis; VaccinesSARS-CoV-2; Hemodiálisis; VacunasSARS-CoV-2; Hemodiàlisi; VacunesSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has negatively impacted on patients of the whole CKD spectrum, causing high rates of morbi-mortality. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines opened a new era, but patients with CKD (including kidney transplant, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) were systematically excluded from pivotal clinical trials. The Spanish Society of Nephrology promoted the multicentric national SENCOVAC study aimed at assessing immunological responses after vaccination in patients with CKD. During the first year after vaccination, patients with non-dialysis CKD and those on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis presented good anti-Spike antibody responses to vaccination, especially after receiving the third and fourth doses. However, kidney transplant recipients presented suboptimal responses after any vaccination schedule (initial, third and fourth dose). Especially worrisome is the situation of a patients with a persistently negative humoral response that do not seroconvert after boosters. In this regard, monoclonal antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 have been approved for high-risk patients, although they may become obsolete as the viral genome evolves. The present report reviews the current status of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the CKD spectrum with emphasis on lessons learned from the SENCOVAC study. Predictors of humoral response, including vaccination schedules and types of vaccines, as well as the integration of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral agents are discussed.Síndrome agudo respiratorio severo coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ha impactado negativamente en todos los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC), causando elevadas tasas de morbimortalidad. La vacunación frente a SARS-CoV-2 han abierto una nueva era, aunque precisamente los pacientes con ERC (incluyendo los portadores de un injerto renal y aquellos en programas de hemodiálisis y diálisis peritoneal) han sido sistemáticamente excluidos de los ensayos clínicos. La Sociedad Española de Nefrología (S.E.N.) promovió el estudio multicéntrico SENCOVAC para evaluar la respuesta inmunológica tras la vacunación en todo el espectro de la ERC. Un año después de haber recibido la pauta inicial de vacunación, los pacientes con ERC sin necesidad de diálisis, y aquellos en hemodiálisis y diálisis peritoneal, han presenado una adecuada respuesta humoral (monitorizada con el desarrollo de anticuerpos frente a la proteína Spike), especialmente después de recibir la tercera y la cuarta dosis. Sin embargo, los portadores de un injerto renal han presentado una constante respuesta subóptima en cualquier momento de la vacunación (dosis inicial, tercera y cuarta dosis). Especialmente preocupante es la situación de los pacientes con respuesta humoral persistentemente negativa que no seroconvierten incluso ni tras recibir las dosis de recuerdo o boosters. En ese contexto, el manejo probablemente pasa por el uso de anticuerpos monoclonales dirigidos frente a SARS-CoV-2 que han sido recientemente aprobados, asumiendo que pueden perder efectividad con el cambio del genoma viral. La presente revision tiene por objeto resumir y analizar la situación actual de la vacunación frente a SARS-CoV-2 en el espectro de la ERC enfatizando en los resultados del estudio SENCOVAC. Asimismo, a lo largo de la revisión se discuten los predictores de la respuesta a las diferentes dosis y tipos de vacunas y la integración de estas con los anticuerpos monoclonales y los agentes antivirales.The present project has been supported by Diaverum, Vifor Pharma, Vircell, Fundación Renal Iñigo Álvarez de Toledo and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001) funded by European Union – NextGenerationEU, Mecanismo para la Recuperación y la Resiliencia (MRR), FEDER funds

Intravenous fluid therapy in accordance with kidney injury risk: when to prescribe what volume of which solution

Acute kidney injury; Colloid solution; Intravenous fluid therapyLesión renal aguda; Solución coloidal; Fluidoterapia intravenosaLesió renal aguda; Solució col·loïdal; Fluidoteràpia intravenosaAcute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized patients while common risk factors for the development of AKI include postoperative settings, patients with baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) or congestive heart failure. Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is a crucial component of care for prevention and treatment of AKI. In this narrative review, we update the approach to IV fluid therapy in hospitalized patients including the timing of fluid prescription, and the choice of fluid type, amount and infusion rate along with the potential adverse effects of various crystalloid and colloid solutions, addressing specifically their use in patients with acute kidney disease, CKD or heart failure, and their potential impact on the risk of hospital-acquired AKI

Tirzepatide and prevention of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease; Diabetes mellitus; ObesityMalaltia renal crònica; Diabetis mellitus; ObesitatEnfermedad renal crónica; Diabetes mellitus; ObesidadTirzepatide is a twincretin recently approved to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). More specifically, tirzepatide is an agonist of both the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) receptors. In recent clinical trials in persons with obesity or overweight with associated conditions, tirzepatide decreased body weight and other cardiorenal risk factors (blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin and albuminuria). Moreover, in a post hoc analysis of the SURPASS-4 randomized clinical trial, tirzepatide decreased albuminuria and total estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slopes and nearly halved the risk of a pre-specified composite kidney endpoint (eGFR decline ≥40%, renal death, kidney failure or new-onset macroalbuminuria) in participants with T2DM and high cardiovascular risk when compared with insulin glargine. Similar to other kidney-protective drugs, tirzepatide, alone or combined with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, caused an early dip in eGFR. Moreover, tirzepatide also decreased eGFR slopes in participants with eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or with normoalbuminuria. We now review the potential kidney health implications of tirzepatide, addressing its structure and function, relationship to current GLP1 receptor agonists, impact of recent results for the treatment and prevention of kidney disease, and expectations for the future.FIS/Fondos FEDER (PI18/01366, PI19/00588, PI19/00815, PI20/00744, DTS18/00032, ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 KIDNEY AT390 TACK AC18/00064 and PERSTIGAN AC18/00071, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Sociedad Madrileña de Nefrología (SOMANE), FRIAT, Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina (B2017/BMD-3686 and CIFRA2-CM). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program (RICORS2040-395 , RD21/0005/0001) and SPACKDc PMP21/00109, FEDER funds funded by European Union—Next Generation EU’, Mecanismo para la Recuperación y la Resiliencia (MRR) and RD16/0009

Novel strategies in nephrology: what to expect from the future?

Artificial kidney; Chronic kidney disease; XenotransplantationRonyó artificial; Malaltia renal crònica; XenotrasplantamentRiñón artificial; Enfermedad renal crónica; XenotrasplanteChronic kidney disease (CKD) will become the fifth global case of death by 2040. Its largest impact is on premature mortality but the number of persons with kidney failure requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is also increasing dramatically. Current RRT is suboptimal due to the shortage of kidney donors and dismal outcomes associated with both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Kidney care needs a revolution. In this review, we provide an update on emerging knowledge and technologies that will allow an earlier diagnosis of CKD, addressing the current so-called blind spot (e.g. imaging and biomarkers), and improve renal replacement therapies (wearable artificial kidneys, xenotransplantation, stem cell-derived therapies, bioengineered and bio-artificial kidneys).Research by A.O. is supported by IS/Fondos FEDER (PI18/01 366, PI19/00 588, PI19/00 815, DTS18/00 032, ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00 064) and PERSTIGAN AC18/00 071, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, FRIAT, Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-CM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001) and SPACKDc PMP21/00 109, FEDER funds. RD16/0009

Cardiorenal benefits of finerenone: protecting kidney and heart

Albuminuria; Enfermedad renal crónica; FinerenonaAlbuminúria; Malaltia renal crònica; FinerenonaAlbuminuria; Chronic kidney disease; FinerenonePersons with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high residual risk of developing cardiovascular (CV) complications despite treatment with renin-angiotensin system blockers and sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors. Overactivation of mineralocorticoid receptors plays a key role in the progression of renal and CV disease, mainly by promoting inflammation and fibrosis. Finerenone is a nonsteroidal selective mineralocorticoid antagonist. Recent clinical trials, such as FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD and the combined analysis FIDELITY have demonstrated that finerenone decreases albuminuria, risk of CKD progression, and CV risk in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and CKD. As a result, finerenone should thus be considered as part of a holistic approach to kidney and CV risk in persons with T2D and CKD. In this narrative review, the impact of finerenone treatment on the CV system in persons with type 2 diabetes and CKD is analyzed from a practical point of view

Finerenona: completando el abordaje del paciente con enfermedad renal y diabetes

Chronic kidney disease; Fibrosis; InflammationEnfermedad renal crónica; Fibrosis; InflamaciónMalaltia renal crònica; Fibrosi; InflamacióDespite current treatments, which include renin angiotensin system blockers and SGLT2 inhibitors, the risk of progression of kidney disease among patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unacceptably high. The pathogenesis of CKD in patients with diabetes is complex and includes hemodynamic and metabolic factors, as well as inflammation and fibrosis. Finerenone is a highly selective nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid antagonist that, in contrast to current therapies, may directly reduce inflammation and fibrosis, thus adding value in the management of these patients. In fact, finerenone decreases albuminuria and slows CKD progression in persons with diabetes. We now review the mechanisms of action of finerenone, the results of recent clinical trials, and the integration of the kidney and cardiovascular protection afforded by finerenone in the routine care of patients with diabetes and CKD.A pesar de los tratamientos actuales, que incluyen los inhibidores del sistema renina angiotensina y los inhibidores SGLT2, el riesgo de progresión de la enfermedad renal en los sujetos con diabetes y enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) continúa inaceptablemente alto. La patogenia de la ERC en el paciente con diabetes es compleja, e incluiría factores hemodinámicos, metabólicos, y de inflamación y fibrosis. La finerenona es un antagonista no esteroideo altamente selectivo del receptor mineralocorticoide que, a diferencia de los tratamientos actuales, podría disminuir directamente la inflamación y la fibrosis, aportando un valor añadido al abordaje de estos pacientes. De hecho, finerenona disminuye la albuminuria y enlentece la progresión de la ERC en personas con diabetes. La presente revisión aborda el mecanismo de acción de la finerenona, los resultados de ensayos clínicos recientes y la integración en práctica clínica de la nefroprotección y cardioprotección de la finerenona en el abordaje terapéutico integral del paciente diabético con ERC

Anti-Spike antibodies 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster dose in patients on hemodialysis: the prospective SENCOVAC study

SARS-CoV-2; Booster; HemodialysisSARS-CoV-2; Refuerzo; HemodiálisisSARS-CoV-2; Reforç; HemodiàlisiBackground Patients on hemodialysis are at high-risk for complications derived from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present analysis evaluated the impact of a booster vaccine dose and breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on humoral immunity 3 months after the booster dose. Methods This is a multicentric and prospective study assessing immunoglobulin G anti-Spike antibodies 6 and 9 months after initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients on hemodialysis that had also received a booster dose before the 6-month assessment (early booster) or between the 6- and 9-month assessments (late booster). The impact of breakthrough infections, type of vaccine, time from the booster and clinical variables were assessed. Results A total of 711 patients [67% male, median age (range) 67 (20–89) years] were included. Of these, 545 (77%) received an early booster and the rest a late booster. At 6 months, 64 (9%) patients had negative anti-Spike antibody titers (3% of early booster and 29% of late booster patients, P = .001). At 9 months, 91% of patients with 6-month negative response had seroconverted and there were no differences in residual prevalence of negative humoral response between early and late booster patients (0.9% vs 0.6%, P = .693). During follow-up, 35 patients (5%) developed breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody titers at 9 months were independently associated with mRNA-1273 booster (P = .001), lower time from booster (P = .043) and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection (P < .001). Conclusions In hemodialysis patients, higher titers of anti-Spike antibodies at 9 months were associated with mRNA-1273 booster, lower time from booster and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection.The present project has been supported by Fresenius Medical Care, Diaverum, Vifor Pharma, Vircell, Fundación Renal Iñigo Álvarez de Toledo and ISCIII FEDER funds RICORS2040 (RD21/0005)

What should European nephrology do with the new CKD-EPI equation?

Nephrology; CKD-EPI equationNefrologia; Equació CKD-EPINefrología; Ecuación CKD-EP

Evolving spectrum but persistent high mortality of COVID-19 among patients on kidney replacement therapy in the vaccine era: the Spanish COVID-19 KRT Registry

COVID-19; Kidney transplant; DialysisCOVID-19; Trasplantament de ronyó; DiàlisiCOVID-19; Trasplante de riñón; DiálisisBackground Kidney replacement therapy (KRT) conferred a high risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related mortality early in the pandemic. We evaluate the presentation, treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients on KRT over time during the pandemic. Methods This registry-based study involved 6080 dialysis and kidney transplant (KT) patients with COVID-19, representing roughly 10% of total Spanish KRT patients. Epidemiology, comorbidity, infection, vaccine status and treatment data were recorded, and predictors of hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality were evaluated. Results Vaccine introduction decreased the number of COVID-19 cases from 1747 to 280 per wave. Of 3856 (64%) COVID-19 KRT patients admitted to the hospital, 1481/3856 (38%) were admitted during the first of six waves. Independent predictors for admission included KT and the first wave. During follow-up, 1207 patients (21%) died, 500/1207 (41%) during the first wave. Among vaccinated patients, mortality was 19%, mostly affecting KT recipients. Overall, independent predictors for mortality were older age, disease severity (lymphopaenia, pneumonia) and ICU rejection. Among patient factors, older age, male sex, diabetes, KT and no angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) were independent predictors of death. In KT recipients, individual immunosuppressants were independent predictors of death. Over time, patient characteristics evolved and in later pandemic waves, COVID-19 was mainly diagnosed in vaccinated KT recipients; in the few unvaccinated dialysis patients, ICU admissions increased and mortality decreased (28% for the first wave and 16–22% thereafter). Conclusions The clinical presentation and outcomes of COVID-19 during the first wave no longer represent COVID-19 in KRT patients, as the pandemic has become centred around vaccinated KT recipients. Vaccines lowered the incidence of diagnosed COVID-19 and mortality. However, mortality remains high despite increased access to ICU care.We want to thank all the implicated Spanish centres for their altruist collaboration. A.O. research is supported by FIS/Fondos FEDER [PI18/01366, PI19/00588, PI19/00815, DTS18/00032, ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00064 and PERSTIGAN AC18/00071, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009)], Sociedad Española de Nefrología, FRIAT, Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-CM. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001), FEDER funds