Integrity Continuing Education: Podcast Series

In this next episode of the series, experts George L. Bakris, MD and Biff F. Palmer, MD take another stab at the health implications of HK in patients with ESRD and the available strategies for optimizing management. Listen closely as they discuss the challenges in HK identification, the key causes of HK, the importance of appropriate monitoring, & more! For additional information and to claim credit visit, https://integrityce.com/hkpodcast2 View the figures referenced during this podcast...

In the first podcast of this series Nephrology experts Christos Argyropoulos, MD, PhD, FASN and Edgar Lerma, MD discussed the development and use of mineralocorticoid antagonists for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this next episode, they further that discussion by diving into the burdens and complex pathophysiology of CKD, followed by the complexities and considerations for screening and diagnosis. They then close out the conversation with a brief review of the emerging...

Though rare in the general population, hyperkalemia often occurs among patients with CKD, particularly among older individuals in advanced stages of the disease. Patients with hyperkalemia are predisposed to cardiac hyperexcitability & depression, both of which can be fatal, particularly if not treated rapidly. This educational activity will provide a review of hyperkalemia, including a discussion of the associated health burden, risk factors, & evidence-based management strategies. In...

Patients with CKD and anemia experience substantially increased burdens to morbidity and mortality. The use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) and iron supplementation are mainstays of therapy, yet ESA has been associated with increased cardiovascular adverse events. Furthermore, some patients are resistant to ESA, resulting in higher doses to reach target hemoglobin levels and increasing the risk of adverse events. Increased understanding of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) have led...

Although much remains unknown about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), knowledge is expanding every hour, and many healthcare providers, overwhelmed by infected patients and a struggling healthcare infrastructure, are unable to keep up with the changing landscape. Furthermore, the lag in peer-reviewed publication timelines means that the most critical information, when not disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or national and international organizations, will...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a complex disorder. Overactivation of the mineralocorticoid receptor plays a substantial role, with binding of aldosterone causing inflammation and fibrosis that leads to kidney disfunction. Targeting the mineralocorticoid receptor by blocking aldosterone was first explored in the 1930s, and in 1960, the first mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, spironolactone, was introduced. The first of these agents were steroidal agents, and while they are still widely...

Experts discuss how to be best prepared to incorporate these agents into clinical practice once FDA-approved, nephrologists must be educated on the burdens associated with anemia in CKD, pathophysiological mechanisms involved in CKD-related anemia, and recent outcomes from clinical trials evaluating HIF-PHIs in patients with CKD. This educational activity will address these knowledge gaps among nephrologists, and application of this knowledge will improve outcomes for patients with anemia...