CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), is the 7th leading cause of death among Filipinos. One Filipino develops chronic kidney disease (CKD) every hour or about 120 Filipinos per million populations per year. More than 12,000 new patients underwent dialysis in 2012 and approximately 1.1 million people worldwide are on renal replacement therapy (RRT).
In the past, chronic glomerulonephritis was the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Today, diabetes mellitus and hypertension have taken center stage in the causation of ESRD which together account for almost 60% of dialysis patients.[1]
In the US, it is estimated that more than 10% of adults —more than 20 million people— may have chronic kidney disease (CKD), of varying levels of seriousness. Chances of having CKD increase with age (Figure 1); it increases after age 50 years and is most common among adults older than 70 years. Like in the Philippines, adults with diabetes or high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing CKD than those without these diseases (Figure 2). Approximately 1 of 3 adults with diabetes and 1 of 5 adults with high blood pressure has CKD. Other risk factors for CKD include cardiovascular disease, obesity, high cholesterol, lupus, and a family history of CKD. Men with CKD are 50% more likely than women to have kidney failure.[2] (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2014)
Patients with CKD generally experience progressive loss of kidney function and are at increased risk for ESRD. The rate of progression depends on age, diagnosis, success of implementation of secondary preventive measures and the individual patient. Timely initiation of chronic renal replacement therapy (RRT) is imperative to prevent the uremic complications of CKD that can lead to significant morbidity and death.
The mortality rates associated with CKD are striking. After adjustment for age, gender, race, comorbidity, and prior hospitalizations, mortality in patients with CKD in 2009 was 56% greater than that in patients without CKD. For patients with stages 4-5 CKD, the adjusted mortality rate is 76% greater.[1]
RRT would mean either dialysis in the form of peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD), and kidney transplant (KT). Without RRT, ESRD patients will not survive and die.
Hemodialysis is a form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) wherein the patient’s own blood is dialyzed and cleared of toxic wastes by a hemodialysis machine. It is done 4hours per session 2 to 3 times a week. While peritoneal dialysis is a form of RRT using patient’s peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) as the “dialyzer” done by continuous or intermittent infusion of dialysate fluid in the abdomen by means of a catheter. Usually done 3 to 4 exchanges per day or maybe modified to be done when patient goes to sleep using a cycler.
The mortality rates associated with CKD are striking. After adjustment for age, gender, race, comorbidity, and prior hospitalizations, mortality in patients with CKD in 2009 was 56% greater than that in patients without CKD. For patients with stages 4-5 CKD, the adjusted mortality rate is 76% greater.[1]
RRT would mean either dialysis in the form of peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD), and kidney transplant (KT). Without RRT, ESRD patients will not survive and die.
Hemodialysis is a form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) wherein the patient’s own blood is dialyzed and cleared of toxic wastes by a hemodialysis machine. It is done 4hours per session 2 to 3 times a week. While peritoneal dialysis is a form of RRT using patient’s peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) as the “dialyzer” done by continuous or intermittent infusion of dialysate fluid in the abdomen by means of a catheter. Usually done 3 to 4 exchanges per day or maybe modified to be done when patient goes to sleep using a cycler.
Treatment of choice for most patients with ESRD is kidney transplant. According to the most current report from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 107,241 Americans were waiting for organ transplantation as of May 2010. In 2009, 28,464 patients had transplants, and approximately 40% of listed candidates on waiting list were younger than 50 year.[1] Studies have shown that KT prolongs patient lifespan when compared with dialysis.[2]
Sources of kidneys for transplant include living donor or cadaver. With the growing number of wait-listed ESRD for patients, sources for kidney donors have been scarce. Problems on human trafficking and illegal trade of organs have been on the news all over the world.
Our company, RENAL REPLACEMENT INNOVATIONS CORPORATION (RRIC) aims to discover, develop and provide innovative kidney replacement technologies for kidney failure patients and our vision is to offer hope, mobility and extension of life among kidney failure patients.
We offer 5 innovative technologies in Renal Replacement, namely:
1. Wearable Kidney (the AWAK system)
2. Artificial Implantable Kidney
3. Bio artificial Kidney using Nanotechnology
4. Xenotransplantation
5. Stem cell technology for Kidney transplant
Our company, RENAL REPLACEMENT INNOVATIONS CORPORATION (RRIC) aims to discover, develop and provide innovative kidney replacement technologies for kidney failure patients and our vision is to offer hope, mobility and extension of life among kidney failure patients.
We offer 5 innovative technologies in Renal Replacement, namely:
1. Wearable Kidney (the AWAK system)
2. Artificial Implantable Kidney
3. Bio artificial Kidney using Nanotechnology
4. Xenotransplantation
5. Stem cell technology for Kidney transplant