2024
Ethics in humanitarian settings—relevance and consequences for dialysis and kidney care
Luyckx V, Van Biesen W, Ponikvar J, Heering P, Abu-Alfa A, Silberzweig J, Fontana M, Tuglular S, Sever M. Ethics in humanitarian settings—relevance and consequences for dialysis and kidney care. Clinical Kidney Journal 2024, 17: sfae290. PMID: 39417070, PMCID: PMC11481472, DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae290.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKidney careHumanitarian settingsEthical principlesPublic health ethics principlesKidney care communitiesTransparent priority settingEthical guidanceEthical standardsEthical challengesEthicsMaximization of benefitsCare communityDialysis carePriority settingStakeholder engagementCareKidney healthPublic healthPractical realitiesHumanitarian emergenciesHealthSeverity of disastersHumanitarian actionPrinciplesResponse plansThe role of international renal disaster preparedness working groups in difficult settings: bridge over troubled water
Yoo K, Chao C, Lee J, Abu-Alfa A. The role of international renal disaster preparedness working groups in difficult settings: bridge over troubled water. Current Opinion In Nephrology & Hypertension 2024, 33: 636-640. PMID: 39234876, DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0000000000001024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCapacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology Middle East region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA)
Karam S, Amouzegar A, Alshamsi I, Al Ghamdi S, Anwar S, Ghnaimat M, Saeed B, Arruebo S, Bello A, Caskey F, Damster S, Donner J, Jha V, Johnson D, Levin A, Malik C, Nangaku M, Okpechi I, Tonelli M, Ye F, Abu-Alfa A, Savaj S, Authors R, Abou-Jaoudeh P, Al Hussain T, Al Salmi I, Alrukhaimi M, Alyousef A, Bahous S, Cai G, Hassan H, Cho Y, Davids M, Davison S, Diongole H, Divyaveer S, Ekrikpo U, Ethier I, Fung W, Ghimire A, Hooman N, Houston G, Htay H, Ibrahim K, Irish G, Jindal K, Kelly D, Lalji R, Mitwali A, Mortazavi M, Nalado A, Neuen B, Olanrewaju T, Osman M, Ossareh S, Petrova A, Riaz P, Saad S, Sakajiki A, See E, Sozio S, Tiv S, Tungsanga S, Viecelli A, Wainstein M, Wannous H, Yeung E, Zaidi D. Capacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology Middle East region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA). Kidney International Supplements 2024, 13: 57-70. PMID: 38618498, PMCID: PMC11010631, DOI: 10.1016/j.kisu.2024.01.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic kidney disease registryImprovement of early detectionHealth-related quality-of-life scoresLower health-related quality-of-life scoresGlobal Kidney Health AtlasChronic kidney diseaseHealth information systemsConservative kidney managementLevels of careBurden of kidney diseaseQuality-of-life scoresPrevalence of chronic kidney diseaseManagement of kidney failureIncidence of kidney transplantationKidney failure treated with dialysisSymptom burdenKidney diseaseKidney managementPeritoneal dialysisTailored guidelinesKidney transplantationKidney failureMiddle East regionEast regionRegistryWCN24-2555 AN UNUSUAL CASE OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY DUE TO SULFADIAZINE CRYSTAL NEPHROPATHY AND SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH URINE ALKALINIZATION
Hoteit M, Ghaddar M, Kfoury H, Abu-Alfa A. WCN24-2555 AN UNUSUAL CASE OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY DUE TO SULFADIAZINE CRYSTAL NEPHROPATHY AND SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH URINE ALKALINIZATION. Kidney International Reports 2024, 9: s643-s644. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2024.02.1354.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWCN24-2589 Metformin Misuse Unveiled: Navigating Severe Lactic Acidosis in the Spectrum of Eating Disorders
Hoteit M, Khattab N, Abu Alfa A. WCN24-2589 Metformin Misuse Unveiled: Navigating Severe Lactic Acidosis in the Spectrum of Eating Disorders. Kidney International Reports 2024, 9: s644. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2024.02.1355.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAn update on the global disparities in kidney disease burden and care across world countries and regions
Bello A, Okpechi I, Levin A, Ye F, Damster S, Arruebo S, Donner J, Caskey F, Cho Y, Davids M, Davison S, Htay H, Jha V, Lalji R, Malik C, Nangaku M, See E, Sozio S, Tonelli M, Wainstein M, Yeung E, Johnson D, Group I, Abu-Alfa A, Amouzegar A, Anand S, Arogundade F, Ashuntantang G, Bavanandan S, Coppo R, Diongole H, Divyaveer S, Ekrikpo U, Ethier I, Fung W, Gaipov A, Ghimire A, Houston G, Ibrahim K, Irish G, Jindal K, Kelly D, Lightstone L, Madero M, Nalado A, Neuen B, Olanrewaju T, Osman M, Parekh R, Petrova A, Prasad N, Prikhodina L, Racki S, Riaz P, Saad S, Sakajiki A, Savaj S, Shah D, Suzuki Y, Tesar V, Tiv S, Tungsanga S, Tzanno-Martins C, Viecelli A, Wang A, Wong M, Zaidi D. An update on the global disparities in kidney disease burden and care across world countries and regions. The Lancet Global Health 2024, 12: e382-e395. PMID: 38365413, DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00570-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConservative kidney managementLow-resource settingsCountry income levelKidney replacement therapyKidney careHealth workforce shortagesWHO building blocksLiterature review of published reportsGlobal Kidney Health AtlasWorld Bank income groupsKidney care deliveryBurden of chronic kidney diseaseBurden of kidney diseaseGlobal burden of kidney diseaseAnnual median costsChronic kidney diseaseHigh-income countriesKidney disease burdenPhases of data collectionPrevalence of chronic kidney diseaseIncome levelPoint of deliveryAffordability of medicinesCare deliveryWorkforce shortagesImpact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Middle East and Africa Perspective
Elkeraie A, Al-Ghamdi S, Abu-Alfa A, Alotaibi T, AlSaedi A, AlSuwaida A, Arici M, Ecder T, Ghnaimat M, Hafez M, Hassan M, Sqalli T. Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Middle East and Africa Perspective. International Journal Of Nephrology And Renovascular Disease 2024, 17: 1-16. PMID: 38196830, PMCID: PMC10771977, DOI: 10.2147/ijnrd.s430532.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic kidney diseaseSodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitorsCotransporter 2 inhibitorsDiabetes mellitusKidney diseaseType 2 diabetes mellitusMajor public health concernAldosterone system inhibitorsBetter clinical outcomesCause of deathPublic health concernNephrology referralCKD managementClinical outcomesSystem inhibitorsCardioprotective propertiesEarly initiationTreatment pathwaysConsensus recommendationsHigh riskPatientsBetter careHealth concernEarly detectionHypertension
2023
Biospecimen Repositories in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights From an American University of Beirut and Memorial Sloan Kettering Collaboration
Faraj W, Robson M, Tawil A, Reuter V, Mahfouz R, Cambria R, Saheb N, Ferrer C, Vemuri S, Yaghi M, Kanso M, Abdullah A, Nounou G, Jabbour M, Muenkel K, Kaufman K, Wakim J, Badson S, Wilson R, Houston C, Drobnjak M, Hoballah J, Ziyadeh F, Zaatari G, Brennan M, O'Reilly E, Abu-Alfa A, Abou-Alfa G. Biospecimen Repositories in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights From an American University of Beirut and Memorial Sloan Kettering Collaboration. JCO Global Oncology 2023, 9: e2300140. PMID: 37883726, PMCID: PMC10846789, DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterMiddle-income countriesPatients age 18 yearsBiospecimen repositoryPatient participation ratesAge 18 yearsPotential participantsDocumentation of reasonsPrimary physicianCancer CenterJoint tissuesTherapeutic interventionsBody sitesPatientsAbnormal tissueConsentFamily membersTissueResearch awarenessAUBParticipation ratesBiospecimensParticipantsCancer genomicsKidney failure in Sudan: thousands of lives at risk
Hassan H, Hafez M, Luyckx V, Tuğlular S, Abu-Alfa A. Kidney failure in Sudan: thousands of lives at risk. The Lancet 2023, 402: 607. PMID: 37572679, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01370-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchISPD Catheter-related Infection Recommendations: 2023 Update
Chow K, Li P, Cho Y, Abu-Alfa A, Bavanandan S, Brown E, Cullis B, Edwards D, Ethier I, Hurst H, Ito Y, de Moraes T, Morelle J, Runnegar N, Saxena A, So S, Tian N, Johnson D. ISPD Catheter-related Infection Recommendations: 2023 Update. Advances In Peritoneal Dialysis 2023, 43: 201-219. PMID: 37232412, DOI: 10.1177/08968608231172740.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDialysis catheter-related infectionsExit-site infection rateAntibiotic treatment durationCatheter exit siteExit-site infectionDuration of therapyCatheter-related infectionsImportant risk factorExit siteCatheter lossCatheter removalTunnel infectionSite infectionCuff removalAntibiotic creamCatheter interventionRisk factorsTreatment durationClinical monitoringInfection rateInfectionNew targetsNew recommendationsDurationPeritonitisChronic Kidney Disease Management in the Middle East and Africa: Concerns, Challenges, and Novel Approaches
Al-Ghamdi S, Abu-Alfa A, Alotaibi T, AlSaaidi A, AlSuwaida A, Arici M, Ecder T, Koraie A, Ghnaimat M, Hafez M, Hassan M, Sqalli T. Chronic Kidney Disease Management in the Middle East and Africa: Concerns, Challenges, and Novel Approaches. International Journal Of Nephrology And Renovascular Disease 2023, 16: 103-112. PMID: 37051319, PMCID: PMC10084934, DOI: 10.2147/ijnrd.s363133.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic kidney diseaseManagement of CKDChronic kidney disease managementKidney disease managementManagement of patientsNovel therapeutic optionsTherapeutic optionsKidney diseaseProtective therapyOverall burdenEarly diagnosisAvailable evidenceDisease managementHealthcare specialistsHealthcare systemHealthcare policyPatientsSteering CommitteeBurdenRiskHypertensionComorbiditiesDiabetesReferralTherapy
2022
Recommendations for Early and Comprehensive Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Its Related Cardio-Renal Complications
Abu-Alfa A, Atallah P, Azar S, Dagher E, Echtay A, El-Amm M, Hazkial H, Kassab R, Medlej R, Mohamad M. Recommendations for Early and Comprehensive Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Its Related Cardio-Renal Complications. Diabetes Therapy 2022, 14: 11-28. PMID: 36517708, PMCID: PMC9880119, DOI: 10.1007/s13300-022-01340-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchType 2 diabetesGlycemic statusGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonistsSodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitorsMajor randomized clinical trialsPeptide-1 receptor agonistsCardio-renal benefitsCardio-renal complicationsMultifactorial risk assessmentCotransporter 2 inhibitorsGlucose-lowering agentsIndividualized management planDisease-modifying drugsPrevalence of T2DRandomized clinical trialsPatient's glycemic statusFavorable health outcomesMedical societiesInternational medical societiesScientific Medical SocietiesGlobal health problemAppropriate pharmacological therapyPatient-centered approachLocal medical practiceSuboptimal screening
2021
May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Lebanon
Najem RN, Halawi A, Tanios B, Ambriss R, Bikai RE, Partington G, Beaney T, Poulter NR, Abu Alfa A. May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Lebanon. European Heart Journal Supplements 2021, 23: b92-b94. PMID: 34248434, PMCID: PMC8263084, DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/suab037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlood pressureAntihypertensive medicationsLebanese populationImportant public health concernPrevalence of hypertensionBlood pressure readingsTreatment of hypertensionSilent killer diseasePublic health concernCross-sectional surveyOne-thirdHypertensive populationHypertension prevalenceDiastolic BPAnnual screeningBetter prognosisLifestyle factorsMean ageHigh prevalenceHypertensionMortality rateKiller diseasePressure readingsRapid interventionHealth concernInternational Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas: structures, organization, and services for the management of kidney failure in the Middle East
Amouzegar A, Abu-Alfa AK, Alrukhaimi MN, Bello AK, Ghnaimat MA, Johnson DW, Jha V, Harris DCH, Levin A, Tonelli M, Lunney M, Saad S, Khan M, Zaidi D, Osman MA, Ye F, Okpechi IG, Ossareh S, Board I. International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas: structures, organization, and services for the management of kidney failure in the Middle East. Kidney International Supplements 2021, 11: e47-e56. PMID: 33981470, PMCID: PMC8084726, DOI: 10.1016/j.kisu.2021.01.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic kidney diseaseKidney replacement therapyKidney diseaseKidney failureKidney careReplacement therapyNephrology Global Kidney Health AtlasNondialysis chronic kidney diseaseGlobal Kidney Health AtlasPeritoneal dialysis servicesHealth care fundingKidney transplantationDialysis RegistryKidney functionTransplantation servicesHigh burdenPermanent impairmentDialysis servicesDisease strategiesHemodialysis servicesHealth information systemsHealth AtlasSustainable health information systemsDiseaseCare fundingControversies in optimal anemia management: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Conference
Babitt J, Eisenga M, Haase V, Kshirsagar A, Levin A, Locatelli F, Małyszko J, Swinkels D, Tarng D, Cheung M, Jadoul M, Winkelmayer W, Drüeke T, Participants C, Abu-Alfa A, Afsar B, Pai A, Besarab A, Moore G, Casadevall N, Cases A, de Francisco A, Eckardt K, Fishbane S, Fried L, Ganz T, Ginzburg Y, Gómez R, Goodnough L, Hamano T, Hanudel M, Hao C, Iseki K, Ix J, Johansen K, Ketteler M, Kovesdy C, Leaf D, Macdougall I, Massy Z, McMahon L, Minutolo R, Nakanishi T, Nemeth E, Obrador G, Parfrey P, Park H, Pecoits-Filho R, Robinson B, Roger S, Shah Y, Spinowitz B, Tanaka T, Tsukamoto Y, Tungsanga K, Walther C, Wang A, Wolf M. Controversies in optimal anemia management: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Conference. Kidney International 2021, 99: 1280-1295. PMID: 33839163, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.03.020.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsChronic kidney diseaseKidney diseaseAnemia guidelinesHypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitorOptimal anemia managementErythropoiesis-stimulating agentsTreatment of anemiaIron homeostasisSignificant adverse consequencesControversies ConferenceIron therapyAnemia managementRandomized trialsDiagnostic challengePatient outcomesEpidemiological studiesHydroxylase inhibitorTreatment targetsGlobal outcomeLatest evidenceDiseaseAnemiaPrevious recommendationsAdverse consequencesOngoing controversyGroup II GBCM Can Be Used Safely for Imaging in Stage 4/5 CKD Patients: COMMENTARY.
Abu-Alfa A. Group II GBCM Can Be Used Safely for Imaging in Stage 4/5 CKD Patients: COMMENTARY. Kidney360 2021, 2: 16-19. PMID: 35378016, PMCID: PMC8785741, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0006002020.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersGroup II GBCM Can Be Used Safely for Imaging in Stage 4/5 CKD Patients
Abu-Alfa, AK. Group II GBCM Can Be Used Safely for Imaging in Stage 4/5 CKD Patients: COMMENTARY. Kidney360. 2021;2(1):16-19.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2020
Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy in a kidney transplant recipient: A first report
Jdiaa SS, Moeckel GW, Kfoury H, Medawar WA, Abu‐Alfa A. Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy in a kidney transplant recipient: A first report. American Journal Of Transplantation 2020, 21: 1948-1952. PMID: 33206467, DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16399.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesConceptsKidney transplant recipientsCollagenofibrotic glomerulopathyTransplant recipientsRenal dysfunctionType 3 fibresProgressive diseaseKidney diseaseDefinitive diagnosisUnknown causeRare diseaseDiseaseFirst caseRecipientsFirst reportHematuriaProteinuriaGlomerulopathyPatientsDysfunctionGlomeruliDiagnosisProgressionKDIGO Controversies Conference on onco-nephrology: kidney disease in hematological malignancies and the burden of cancer after kidney transplantation
Małyszko J, Bamias A, Danesh F, Dębska-Ślizień A, Gallieni M, Gertz M, Kielstein J, Tesarova P, Wong G, Cheung M, Wheeler D, Winkelmayer W, Porta C, Participants C, Abu-Alfa A, Amer H, Beutel G, Chapman J, Chen X, Chudek J, Cosmai L, Danesi R, De Stefano F, Iseki K, Jaimes E, Jhaveri K, Jurczyszyn A, Kazancioğlu R, Kitchlu A, Kollmannsberger C, Lahoti A, Li Y, Macía M, Matsubara T, Mitropoulos D, Noiri E, Perazella M, Ronco P, Rosner M, Romeo M, Sprangers B, Stadler W, Stevens P, Tesař V, da Costa e Silva V, Vesole D, Vijayan A, Viklický O, Workeneh B, Yanagita M, Zakharova E. KDIGO Controversies Conference on onco-nephrology: kidney disease in hematological malignancies and the burden of cancer after kidney transplantation. Kidney International 2020, 98: 1407-1418. PMID: 33276867, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2020.07.012.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsChronic kidney diseaseKidney diseaseHematological malignanciesControversies ConferenceKidney transplantationModerate stage chronic kidney diseaseKDIGO Controversies ConferenceAcute kidney injuryKidney transplant recipientsBurden of cancerKidney injuryTransplant recipientsKidney transplantRegistry analysisMultiple myelomaClinical challengeCancer riskGlobal outcomeMalignancyCancerPatientsDiseaseTransplantationBidirectional relationshipRiskCorrigendum to “Tonelli M, Nkunu V, Varghese C, et al. Framework for establishing integrated kidney care programs in low- and middle-income countries” Kidney Int Suppl. 2020;10:e19–e23
Tonelli M, Nkunu V, Varghese C, Abu-Alfa A, Alrukhaimi M, Bernieh B, Fox L, Gill J, Harris D, Hou F, O'Connell P, Rashid H, Niang A, Ossareh S, Tesar V, Zakharova E, Yang C. Corrigendum to “Tonelli M, Nkunu V, Varghese C, et al. Framework for establishing integrated kidney care programs in low- and middle-income countries” Kidney Int Suppl. 2020;10:e19–e23. Kidney International Supplements 2020, 10: e186. PMID: 33304641, PMCID: PMC7716082, DOI: 10.1016/j.kisu.2020.11.001.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements