Dialysis

The Renal Division at Washington University has one of the oldest, largest and most respected dialysis practices in the United States. Many of the original studies performed that define the way dialysis is practiced throughout the world were done here. The division, part of the Department of Internal Medicine, was created as a separate entity in 1956. Its physicians have reputations that are international in scope. The division has been recognized as one of the best by U.S. News & World Report every year since ratings began.

The Chromalloy American Kidney Center is owned and operated by Washington University School of Medicine and is the largest kidney dialysis center in the St. Louis region. It is also the largest of five dialysis units in the St. Louis area that are staffed by the University's renal division, and it is a major base for the teaching and research activities of the division.

For more information about dialysis or renal disease, check out the news stories and experts below. Related medical links may be found to the right.

Faculty Experts:

Showing 1 Dialysis Experts.

Keith Hruska Professor of nephrology Hruska is a leader in studies of the links between the kidney and the skeleton, which can cause devastating side effects for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidneys and bones produce factors that support each other's development and maintenance, and when CKD damages the kidney and reduces ... Expertise: kidney, chronic kidney disease, bone, bone weakening, adynamic bone disorder, secondary hyparathyroidism, bone morphogenetic protein Media assistance: (314) 286-0122 / purdym@wustl.edu

Showing 1 Dialysis Experts.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

Showing Dialysis Stories 1 through 3 of 19.  - Show More

Precious gift Grad student's kidney gives life to stranger March 9, 2009 -- Last year, Chuck Rickert, a fifth-year student in the M.D./Ph.D. program at the School of Medicine, heard a show about kidney donation on National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation." One of the callers, a man in his 50s on dialysis, said his blood type did not match any friends or family, and his only option for a new kidney was to wait for something bad to happen to a younger person. The distressed man's call stuck with Rickert, who eventually decided to anonymously donate one of his own kidneys.

Igniting a recall Quick thinking by WUSM physician leads to international investigation May 1, 2008 -- In early January, two patients undergoing kidney dialysis at St. Louis Children's Hospital had sudden life-threatening allergic reactions that caused their eyes, lips and tongues to swell, raised their heart rates and dropped their blood pressures dangerously low. After the dialysis staff treated the children with medication that relieved the symptoms, they called infectious diseases specialist Alexis Elward, who sprung into action to help determine the cause. Little did she know it would spark an international investigation into a common blood thinner and a recall of the drug from the market.

Avoiding vascular calcification Readily available treatment could help prevent heart disease in kidney patients April 17, 2008 -- The estimated 19 million Americans living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a high risk of death from cardiovascular disease, usually related to high levels of blood phosphate. Now researchers at the School of Medicine have demonstrated that high blood phosphate directly stimulates calcification of blood vessels and that phosphate-binding drugs can decrease vascular calcification.

Showing Dialysis Stories 1 through 3 of 19.  - Show More

Related News Clips:

Showing Dialysis Clips 1 through 5 of 10.  - Show More

Show More Dialysis Clips

New hope for folks with high blood pressure USA Today March 31, 2009 -- As many as 25 million people who can't beat high blood pressure no matter how many drugs they take may soon have a couple of new options, including a new kind of pacemaker that contains sensors that regulate blood pressure, according to a report by WUSTL renal specialist Marcos Rothstein.

Cutting Phosphate May Protect Kidney Patients From Heart Trouble The Washington Post and 11 others April 24, 2008 -- Readily available phosphate-binding drugs could help prevent heart disease in people with chronic kidney disease, a new study in the the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology finds. WUSTL researchers led by pediatric nephrology specialist Keith Hruska and pediatrics instructor Suresh Mathew comment.

Dr. Louis Arrone discusses new research showing some obesity may be caused by virus NBC Today Show Aug. 23, 2007 -- Matt Lauer hosts this segment and speaks with nutrition experts about new research that suggests that some types of obesity may be linked to a common virus. WUSTL nutrition researcher Samuel Klein is one of the experts commenting.

Study Urges Caution on Anemia Drug Use Associated Press Online and 55 others April 18, 2007 -- A flawed Medicare payment plan encourages aggressive use of a risky and costly anti-anemia drug on many kidney dialysis patients, say researchers who warn the system should be changed. In an accompanying editorial in JAMA, WUSTL renal expert Daniel Coyne said kidney doctors who work with dialysis centers may not know they are "making dubious dosing decisions" because they sign multipage standing orders and turn over anemia management to chain employees.

Doctors' Ties to Drug Makers Are Put on Close View The New York Times and 3 others March 21, 2007 -- A 2002 survey found that more than 80 percent of the doctors on panels that write clinical practice guidelines had financial ties to drug makers. This article looks at the serious conflict of interest problem that arises when drug companies pay for drug research. WUSTL professor and kidney specialist Daniel Coyne recently wrote an editorial in an influential journal decrying guidelines written last year by the kidney foundation that encourage doctors to use more of Amgen's drugs to treat anemia in kidney patients despite studies showing that increased use led to more deaths.