Treatments for ADPKD May Not Reduce Patients’ Need for Dialysis or Transplantation

Conventional CKD treatments do not reduce the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), according to a new analysis of 315,444 patients starting RRT in 12 countries from 1991 to 2010 (with 20,596 due to ADPKD). There was no change over time in the incidence of RRT for ADPKD up to age 50, while the incidence in patients over age 70 increased. The increased age at RRT onset was most likely due to increased access for elderly ADPKD patients or lower competing risk prior to RRT rather than effective emerging treatments. The findings were published in Kidney International.