Ali Khaled Abu-Alfa MD, FASN

Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Medicine (Nephrology)

Research Interests

Delivery and methods of peritoneal dialysis; Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium Containing Contrast Agents;(epidemiology, mechanism of disease, policy and risk reduction); Chronic kidney disease care optimization (anemia management and treatment of CKD-Mineral Bone Disorders); Caner-related renal disorders

Current Projects

  • Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: Epidemiology, risk factors and risk estimation
  • Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: Therapy
  • Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Imaging: Risk reduction and management
  • Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Imaging: Screening for at-risk patients in MRI
  • Anemia management in CKD and hospitalized patients
  • Peritoenal Dialysis Physiologic studies

Research Summary

My primary research interests are:

  1. The delivery and methods of peritoneal dialysis as well as patient choice in renal replacement therapy.
  2. Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium Containing Contrast Agents. focusing on epidemiology, mechanism of disease, policy and risk reduction.
  3. Optimizing the care of patients with chronic kidney disease with particular focus on anemia management and treatment of CKD-Mineral Bone Disorders.

Extensive Research Description

I am primarily interested in improving the delivery and methods of peritoneal dialysis, especially Automated Peritoneal Dialysis and new dialysate solutions. I am also interested in optimizing the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with particular focus on anemia management and CKD-MBD, and on the transition to the renal replacement therapy phase.
A recent and active interest has been Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and its association with Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents, focusing on risk reduction and policy. An annual mutli-disciplinary international conference has been held at Yale for the past 3 years, devoted to the issue with the fourth meeting being held in May 2010 in collaboration with the New York Academy of Sciences.
Cancer-related kidney diseases and complications are also within my areas of interest.

Selected Publications

  • Kuo PH, Abu-Alfa A, Bucala R, Griffith J, Carlson K, Girardi M, Weinreb J and Cowper S: MRI in the era of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: Review, controversies and suggestions for risk reduction. Applied Radiology, 2009, ePUB April 09.
  • Huen S, Hall I, Topol J, Mahnensmith R, Brewster U and Abu-Alfa A: Successful Use of IP Daptomycin in the Treatment of VRE Peritonitis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2009; 54:538-541.
  • Abu-Alfa, AK , Sloan L, Charytan C, Sekkarie M, Scarlata D, Globe D and Audhya P. Darbepoetin alfa The association of darbepoetin alfa with hemoglobin and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease not receiving dialysis. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 Apr 24(4):1091-100.
  • Abu-Alfa , AK : The Impact of NSF on the Care of Patients with Kidney Disease. Proceedings of the First Annual Symposium on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium Based MR Contrast Agents. J Am Coll Radiol 2008 5: 45-52.
  • Saab G and Abu-Alfa, AK: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis-Implications for nephrologists. Eur J Radiol. 2008 May 66(2):208-12.
  • Kuo, PH, Kanal, M, Abu-Alfa, AK and Cowper, SE: Gadolinium-based MR Contrast Agents and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. Radiology 2007, 242(3):647-9.
  • Saab G and Abu-Alfa, AK: Are Patients with Moderate Renal Failure at Risk for Developing Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis? Radiology 2007 244: 930.
  • Saab G and Abu-Alfa, AK: Will Dialysis Prevent the Development of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis After Gadolinium-Based Contrast Administration? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Sep 189 (3): W169.
  • Finkelstein F, Healy H, Abu-Alfa, AK, Ahmad A, Brown F, Gehr T, Nash K, Sorkin M and Mujais S, on behalf of the Icodextrin High Transporter Trial Group. Superiority of Icodextrin Compared to 4.25% Dextrose for Peritoneal Ultrafiltration. J Am Soc Nephrol 2005, 16: 546-554.

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