Matteo Floris

The hemodialysis population has progressively aged over the past two decades; in several settings, adults aged ≥75 years represent one of the fastest-growing populations receiving dialysis. Frailty, characterized by reduced physiological reserve and heightened vulnerability to stressors, has emerged as a critical determinant of outcomes and is commonly assessed using validated instruments such as the Fried Frailty Phenotype or the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Reported frailty prevalence in hemodialysis varies widely (approximately 20% to >80%), largely depending on the assessment instrument and the population studied, with consistently higher prevalence in older cohorts. It is consistently associated with older age, female sex, diabetes, lower serum albumin, cardiovascular disease, longer dialysis vintage, and lower physical activity. Compared with non-frail patients, frail hemodialysis patients have a substantially higher risk of death (approximately two-fold in pooled analyses). Seminal trials and large observational programs that shaped hemodialysis targets underrepresented very old, frail, and highly comorbid patients, limiting generalizability. In frail older adults with limited life expectancy and substantial comorbidity burden, standard thrice-weekly schedules, higher ultrafiltration intensity, and a uniform ‘fistula-first’ approach may increase treatment burden without clear proportional gains in patient-centered outcomes. This review examines evidence supporting individualized hemodialysis strategies in frail older adults. As the dialysis population continues to age, proficiency in goal-concordant, personalized prescribing is increasingly important for nephrologists and dialysis teams.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common among cancer patients and complicates anticancer drug dosing due to altered pharmacokinetics and increased risk of nephrotoxicity. This narrative review summarizes current strategies for safe and effective therapy in CKD, emphasizing accurate renal function assessment, personalized dose adjustment, and ongoing monitoring. The CKD-EPI equation is preferred for dosing decisions, while direct GFR measurement remains crucial in borderline cases. The ADDIKD guideline offers a standardized framework for kidney function–based dosing, although evidence is limited for patients with advanced CKD and those on dialysis. Practical considerations across different drug classes highlight agents that require renal-guided dosing, monitoring only, or no adjustment. Multidisciplinary collaboration and including CKD patients in future trials are vital to improving cancer care outcomes.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive renal cyst development and variable trajectories toward end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Hypertension is both common and prognostically significant in ADPKD. However, the escalating need for antihypertensive agents beyond RAAS inhibition on disease progression remains underexplored. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center cohort study including 133 ADPKD patients followed for a median of 5 years. Baseline clinical, biochemical, and genetic data were collected. The primary outcome was a ≥25% decline in eGFR over 5 years. All patients achieved a blood pressure target range of 110/70 to 130/85 mmHg during follow-up. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of rapid progression. Results: Patients with hypertension resistant to RAAS (i.e., those requiring additional antihypertensive drugs on top of RAAS inhibitors) had significantly higher odds of rapid eGFR decline (multivariate OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.03–1.57; p = 0.0248). The presence of hypertension resistant to RAAS was interpreted as a potential clinical surrogate for a more aggressive cystic phenotype and intrarenal hemodynamic dysregulation. Conclusions: Hypertension resistant to RAAS is an independent predictor of accelerated renal function decline in ADPKD. Its identification may aid in early risk stratification and prompt consideration of disease-modifying therapies such as tolvaptan. Further validation in larger cohorts is warranted.

Hypomagnesemia is a frequent and often underrecognized electrolyte disturbance with important clinical consequences, especially in hospitalized and critically ill patients. This multifactorial condition arises from impaired intestinal absorption, renal magnesium wasting, and the effects of various medications. Magnesium, the second most abundant intracellular cation, is crucial in enzymatic and physiological processes; its deficiency is associated with neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and metabolic complications. This narrative review focuses on the mechanisms and clinical consequences of drug-induced hypomagnesemia, highlighting the major drug classes involved such as diuretics, antibiotics, antineoplastic agents, and immunosuppressants. Management strategies include magnesium supplementation and adjunctive therapies like amiloride and SGLT2 inhibitors to reduce renal magnesium losses. Recognizing and addressing drug-induced hypomagnesemia is essential to improve patient outcomes and prevent long-term complications.

Onconephrology is a rapidly evolving subspeciality that covers all areas of renal involvement in cancer patients. The complexity of the field may benefit from well-defined multidisciplinary management administered by a dedicated team. Since there is an increasing need to address the needs of this population in dedicated outpatient clinics, it is critical to highlight basic characteristics and to suggest areas of development. In this brief perspective article, we analyse the requirements of an onconephrology clinic in terms of logistics, critical mass of patients and building a multidisciplinary team. We will further discuss which patients to refer and which conditions to treat. The last part of the article is dedicated to education and performance indicators and to analysis of the potential advantages of applying the hub-and-spoke model to this field. The ultimate aim of this experience-based article is to initiate debate about what an onconephrology outpatient clinic might look like in order to ensure the highest quality of care for this growing population of patients.

Metformin associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is a well-known serious side effect of biguanides. However, the best treatment strategy remains a matter of debate. In the last 14 years, we observed a significant increase in hospitalizations for MALA to our Center. We report the outcomes of our clinical and therapeutic approach. This is a single-center case series. Twenty-eight patients affected with MALA and acute kidney failure admitted between January 2000 and September 2014 were included. We analyzed comorbidities, laboratory tests and clinical parameters at admission, at 36 h and at discharge. All patients were treated with sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) until normalization of serum lactate (≤ 3 mmol/L), bicarbonate (between 20 and 25 mmol/L) and potassium (between 4.0 and 5.1 mmol/L). The mortality rate was 21.4%, with all of the events occurring within 24 h from admission, and before or during the first hemodialysis treatment. Precipitating causes included; acute dehydration (86.4%), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (57.1%), sepsis (10.7%), nephrolithiasis (14.6%) and exposure to iodinated contrast (7.1%). No further episodes of lactic acidosis were described after discontinuing the drug over a mean follow-up of 27.2 months. Furthermore, while in 2010, we had a peak incidence of MALA of 76.8 cases per 100,000 patients on metformin, this rate fell after an education campaign conducted by specialists on the proper usage of metformin in patients at risk of MALA. Although the fall in incidence after the educational program was not necessarily causal, in 2014 the incidence was 32.9/100,000. We report an improved mortality rate in patients affected with MALA and acute kidney injury treated with SLED compared with other series published in literature. Rapid introduction of effective hemodialysis is critical in improving outcomes.

When and in whom to initiate continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a highly controversial topic with large practice variation around the world. Even within countries, practice variation exists and recommendations for clinical practice are not specific. In this article, we report the consensus recommendations for timing and patient selection for CRRT - the results of the 2016 Acute Disease Quality Initiative XVII conference on ‘precision CRRT'. We suggest that these recommendations could serve to develop the best clinical practice and standards of care for use of CRRT in patients with AKI. Finally, we identify and highlight the areas of ongoing uncertainty and propose an agenda for future research.

Onconephrology is an emerging medical subspecialty focused on the numerous interconnections between cancer and kidney diseases. Patient with malignancies commonly experience kidney problems including acute kidney injury, tumor lysis syndrome, fluid and electrolyte disorders and chronic kidney disease, often as a consequence of the anti-cancer treatment. Conversely, a number of glomerulopathies, tubulopathies and vascular renal diseases can early signal the presence of an underlying cancer. Furthermore, the administration of immunosuppressive drugs, especially cytotoxic drugs and calcineurin inhibitors, may strongly impair the immune response increasing the risk of cancer. The objective of this review article is to: (i) discuss paraneoplastic glomerular disease, (ii) review cancer as an adverse effect of immunosuppressive agents used to treat glomerulopathies, and (iii) in the absence of international approved guidelines, propose a screening program based on expert opinion aimed at guiding nephrologists to early detect malignancies during their clinical practice.

Hyperkalemia contributes significantly to high mortality among ESRD patients. Excess intake and inadequate removal are the most common etiologies in HD patients. Although dialysis is the definitive treatment, classical medical therapy must be employed as a temporizing measure to acutely lower serum potassium. Reducing potassium intake through dietetic/nutritional support is critical to reducing the K+ load in ESRD patients and preventing this condition.