Decline is not inevitable.
A daily, evidence-graded view of everything moving in kidney research : the drugs that slow decline, the science of regeneration, and the mind-body work.
Today's strongest study looks at how dialysis fluid affects artery stiffness.
- The best-graded study today pooled many trials to compare calcium levels in dialysis fluid and found the amount may affect how stiff patients' arteries become, though stiffness is a warning marker and not a direct measure of survival.
- Two early journal club writeups covered new drug trials, one for the scarring kidney disease FSGS and one for membranous nephropathy, but neither reported patient numbers or firm results yet.
- A large Korean study found that people exposed to more long heatwaves lost kidney function faster, a reminder that staying cool and hydrated may help protect the kidneys.
- Most of today's other items are new trials just starting or observational studies, so they show links rather than proof and have little to act on yet.
Today was a quiet day for firm results. The clearest evidence was a pooled analysis of dialysis fluid calcium and artery stiffness, while the newer drug trials for FSGS and membranous nephropathy are still too early to judge. Several observational studies, including one linking heatwaves to faster kidney decline and one on the DASH diet, point to helpful habits but only show patterns, not cause and effect.
Comparison of Dialysate Calcium Concentrations and Arterial Stiffness in Dialysis Patients: A Network Meta-analysis
This is a network meta-analysis, which pools many studies together, the strongest kind of evidence. It compared different calcium levels in dialysis fluid and how stiff patients' arteries became. Stiffer arteries can strain the heart and blood vessels. Note that artery stiffness is a warning marker, not a direct measure of who lived longer.
Is TRPC6 inhibition for FSGS a trick or a treat? — NephJC
Researchers ran an early (phase 2) trial of a drug called BI 764198 for FSGS, a disease that scars the kidney's tiny filters. The drug blocks a channel called TRPC6 that may drive that scarring. This entry is a journal club writeup of the Lancet paper and does not list how many people joined or the exact results. As a phase 2 trial, it is an early test, not final proof.
Heir to the Throne? Obinutuzumab in the membranous nephropathy MAJESTY trial — NephJC
This trial compared two drugs for primary membranous nephropathy, a disease where the kidney's filter leaks large amounts of protein. It tested obinutuzumab, an antibody drug, against tacrolimus, a drug that calms the immune system. The results were published in a major journal in 2026. This entry is a journal club writeup and does not give the number of people or the exact outcomes.
Hepatic fibrosis severity assessed by FIB-4 index is independently associated with reduced kidney function in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a nationwide multicenter study from Türkiye.
In a large study across Türkiye, people with more liver scarring also tended to have worse kidney function. Liver scarring was estimated with a score called FIB-4. This shows a link between the two, not proof that one causes the other.
Comparative effectiveness of finerenone versus steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists on sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy in patients with diabetic kidney disease: a real-world cohort study.
In people with diabetes and kidney disease, this study compared the drug finerenone with older water-pill-type drugs (steroidal MRAs). It looked at heart muscle damage caused by severe infection. Because it just tracked people already on these drugs, it shows a link, not proof of cause.
The HFpEF-ABA Score, Incident Heart Failure, and Finerenone in Chronic Kidney Disease with Type 2 Diabetes.
This study built a risk score to spot people with kidney disease and type 2 diabetes who are more likely to develop heart failure. It also looked at how the drug finerenone fit in. It used existing patient data, so it shows patterns, not proof of cause.
Association of fluid creep and maintenance fluids on major adverse kidney events in critically ill patients - An observational cohort study.
In very sick hospital patients, this study looked at whether extra IV fluids raised the risk of serious kidney problems. It found a link between more fluid and more kidney harm. Because it only watched patients, it shows a link, not proof of cause.
[Risk factors for perioperative acute kidney injury following partial nephrectomy in patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease].
This study looked at people with moderate (stage 3) kidney disease having part of a kidney removed. It searched for what raised their risk of sudden kidney injury around surgery. It reviewed past cases, so it shows links, not proof of cause.
Chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder among maintenance hemodialysis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: prevalence, guideline adherence, complications, and quality of life
This study looked at bone and mineral problems in people on dialysis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It measured how often care followed guidelines, what complications came up, and patients' quality of life. It describes what was found in this group. It shows patterns, not cause and effect.
Renal Outcomes of Triglyceride-Targeting Lipid-Lowering Therapies versus Statins in Patients with CKD
This study compared two kinds of cholesterol drugs in people with kidney disease. One type mainly lowers triglycerides, a blood fat. The other type is statins. It looked at how the kidneys did on each. It shows a link, not proof that one is better.
Blood pressure Time in Target Range and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease
This study measured how much time people with kidney disease kept their blood pressure in a healthy range. It then looked at who had better health outcomes. More time in range was tied to better results. This shows a link, not proof of cause.
Factors of Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Hospitalized Patients at Chud-ba in Parakou in 2026
This study looked at hospital patients in Parakou, Benin. It searched for things that make kidney disease get worse faster. It reports which factors were tied to faster decline. These are links, not proof of cause.
Efficacy and Safety of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in the Very Elderly with Chronic Kidney Disease: a Retrospective Cohort Study Using Real-World Data
SGLT2 drugs, also called flozins, protect the kidneys in most adults, but people over 80 were rarely in the big trials. This real-world study looked at how these drugs worked in the very elderly with kidney disease, tracking deaths, kidney outcomes, and heart problems. It shows a link, not proof, and it is a preprint not yet peer reviewed.
Genetic and environmental risk factors for intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid haemorrhage among patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited disease that can also raise the risk of a brain aneurysm, a weak spot in a blood vessel that can burst. This study looked at genes and lifestyle to see who is most at risk. Today, screening mainly targets people with a family history. It shows links, not proof, and it is a preprint.
The Urine Ammonium-pH Index is a Measure of Kidney Tubular Function
This study tested a simple urine measure that reflects how well the kidney's tiny tubes are working. The health of these tubes is an early driver of kidney disease getting worse. The measure predicted who would lose kidney function faster. It shows a link, not proof, and it is a preprint.
Long-Term Heatwave Exposure and Kidney Function Decline in Korean Adults: A Nationwide Cohort Study
This large Korean study followed adults over years. People with more exposure to long heatwaves lost kidney function faster. It shows a link, not proof that heat itself caused the harm. It suggests staying cool and well hydrated may matter for the kidneys.
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet score and its association with the Risk of Kidney Function Decline and Mortality among Veterans in the Million Veteran Program
This study scored how well 251,921 U.S. veterans followed a DASH-style diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat foods. People who followed it more closely tended to keep their kidney function longer and lived longer. Because it only watched people, it shows a link, not proof. It is a preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists.
Change of prognostic nutritional index after three months of initial hemodialysis is a predictor of long-term outcomes for patients with uremia
This study followed people starting dialysis for kidney failure. It tracked a score of nutrition and immune health over the first three months. People whose score dropped tended to do worse over the long run. It shows a link, not proof, and it is a preprint.
Prediction of depression risk in chronic kidney disease using PSO-optimized random forest: a web-based application based on CHARLS data
Many people with kidney disease also struggle with depression. This study built a computer tool to predict who is most at risk, using survey data from older adults in China. The tool spots patterns of risk. It is not a treatment and does not prove what causes depression.
[Incidence and associated factors of anemia within six months after kidney transplantation in pediatric recipients].
Doctors tracked how often children got low blood counts, called anemia, in the first six months after a kidney transplant. They looked for what made anemia more likely. This shows links, not causes. It can help care teams watch for anemia early in children after a transplant.