First drugs ever approved for lupus nephritis
Rima Kang, MD, is developing the first specialized clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to treat patients with polycystic kidney disease.
This genetic disorder, called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), causes cysts to grow in the kidney. These cysts lead to enlarged kidneys and destruction of renal parenchyma, the kidney’s ability to filter waste and excess water out of the blood.
ADPKD is the fourth-leading cause of end-stage renal disease in adults. Until now, we managed symptoms. Eventually, many patients required dialysis or kidney transplantation.
“In our new, specialized clinic, we offer patients an aggressive, multifaceted treatment approach,” says Dr. Kang. “We’ll care for renal manifestations, such as hypertension and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). We’ll also use tools to identify patients at high risk for disease progression.”
Dr. Kang will work with a dedicated team of radiologists who will image the kidneys to assess total kidney volume – a strong predictor of decline in kidney function.
The goal is to identify high-risk patients who might benefit from therapies to delay end-stage renal disease.
One recently approved medication – Tolvaptan – blocks vasopressin receptors to slow the development of cysts. In two landmark studies, Tolvaptan slowed the decline of kidney function. Dr. Kang and the outpatient nursing team are well-versed in patient enrollment and approval for Tolvaptan.
This new treatment has the potential to improve outcomes for kidney patients and pave the way for future targeted therapies.
