Participation in the Navigate-Kidney intervention, a culturally tailored program, was associated with lower fluid retention in Hispanic and Latino patients with kidney failure. Accumulated fluid between dialysis sessions averaged 3.26% among the intervention group, compared with 3.72% among the standard-care group. The intervention involves education, dietary modification and community health workers following a framework to support patients' social needs and help them navigate the health care system.

A Phase 2b trial published in The Lancet found the investigational nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist balcinrenone, when added to the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin, reduced albuminuria for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The trial included 324 patients and showed a 22% to 33% reduction in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio by week 12.

Stanford University researchers have developed an AI tool that significantly enhances the efficiency of organ transplants by predicting donor viability more accurately. The tool reduces futile organ procurements by 60%, outperforming traditional surgeon judgment. This advancement could optimize organ use, reduce costs and potentially increase the number of successful transplants, addressing the global shortage of available organs. The AI model, trained on data from over 2,000 donors, uses neurological, respiratory and circulatory data to predict donor death timelines. Details were published in the Lancet Digital Health journal.

Do you have patients who are interested in home dialysis? Encourage them to join AKF on Thursday, Nov. 20 for the fourth annual Dialysis at Home event. This is a free, one-day virtual event dedicated to educating the kidney community about home dialysis. Dialysis at Home provides a space to connect with one another while learning about home dialysis. Register today.

Kidney Kitchen Pro is AKF's free, digital resource for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) who work with people who have or are at risk for kidney disease. Use this tool to help patients adhere to their kidney-friendly food and fluid plan.

Medication changes for patients with kidney disease are less likely when the visit is via telehealth than with in-person visits, according to the results of a study that analyzed records from 37,728 nephrology visits from 2020 to 2024. Researchers found that in-person visits were more likely than telehealth visits to result in new prescriptions and medication adjustments. They also found that telehealth is more likely to be used for follow-up visits, and patients who are younger, have fewer comorbidities or have less severe kidney disease are the most likely to use telehealth.

Tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, outperformed the GLP-1 dulaglutide in improving kidney outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and high-risk CKD, according to a post-hoc analysis of the phase 3 SURPASS-CVOT trial. The study found tirzepatide slowed kidney function decline and reduced albuminuria progression, potentially delaying the need for dialysis by seven to eight years. The analysis was presented at the American Society of Nephrology's annual meeting.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health have identified immune reactions that lead to the rejection of gene-edited pig kidneys in humans. The study revealed that specific antibodies and T cells trigger this immune response. By measuring biomarkers, the team can detect potential rejection five days before it becomes visible in tissue, allowing for earlier intervention. This understanding could improve the success rate of pig organ transplants.

Researchers are studying the unique composition of snake urine, which lacks uric acid, as a potential treatment for kidney stones and gout. Snakes convert uric acid into solid urates, preventing crystallization, a process that could inspire new treatments for humans.

Jared Higginbotham, a WBZ-TV photojournalist in Boston, spent five years on the kidney transplant list while managing the exhausting realities of dialysis and CKD. His life took a hopeful turn when coworker Andrea Courtois, inspired by a story on kidney donation and discovering she shared Higginbotham's Type O blood, began the donor testing process in secret. After months of medical evaluations and setbacks, Courtois was confirmed as a match, and the two recently underwent transplant surgery.