In this episode of A Pinch of Salt, you'll get the unique opportunity of trying to experience what it's actually like to be a dialysis patient, a kidney failure patient, what are the issues they're dealing with and how can we as physicians help them get through the day. I think it's one of the valuable opportunities that you really shouldn't miss because at the end of the day we really want to help them, don’t we? Listen to the episode with Malene Deele, a kidney failure patient, also chairma...

We’re focusing on a challenging topic: anticoagulation in CKD patients with atrial fibrillation. With up to 25% of CKD patients affected, managing this common arrhythmia is no easy task. How do we balance stroke prevention and bleeding risks? What’s the role of DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists? And should dialysis patients even receive anticoagulation? Are there any new treatment options? To help us untangle these questions, we’re joined by Frida Welander from Karolinska University, Sweden,...

Steroids have long been a cornerstone in treating ANCA-associated vasculitis, but their toxicity remains a significant challenge. Could Avacopan, a selective oral C5a receptor antagonist, provide a safer and more effective alternative? In this episode, you’ll hear about what’s new in the pathophysiology of ANCA vasculitis, current remission induction therapies, the place of Avacopan in the treatment protocols and future possibilities for managing this complex condition. Guiding us through the...

We’ve probably all noticed that our nurses have a different perspective of our patients than the one we do ourselves and maybe we can say that often their perspective is closer to what the patient is feeling, so it’s definitely a fresh outlook. We will be talking about this with Jeanette Finderup in our episode on the nurse’s perspective, where you can expect to hear about what she thinks the role of the nurse is, what she thinks the role of the nurse is not, and how we could collaborate for ...

Today, we address a crucial and evolving topic: the Approach to Conservative Care for ESKD Patients. This area has garnered increasing attention at national and international levels, reflecting the need for better detection, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies tailored to this growing patient population. We’re joined by Prof. Holly Koncicki, Associate Professor at Mount Sinai Health System, New York, USA, who will help us explore whether conservative care could be considered a legitimate th...

In this episode, we explore sex and gender disparities in the epidemiology and outcomes of chronic kidney disease. Did you know that women are less likely to receive a CKD diagnosis, visit a nephrologist, or access guideline-recommended therapies—even in developed countries? To help us unpack these critical issues, we're joined by Professor Adeera Levin, Head of the Division of Nephrology at the University of British Columbia in Canada Together, we’ll discuss the biological, societal, and sys...

In this episode, we explore the latest insights on treating arterial hypertension in 2025. With updates from the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology, the standards for blood pressure management are evolving rapidly. Joining us is Pantelis Sarafidis from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. What’s new in these guidelines? How do they redefine hypertension management, particularly for patients with kidney disease? And what does the treatment algorithm look l...

In this ANCA vasculitis episode we will be talking to Vladimir Tesar about the new KDIGO guidelines – what are the novelties, how we should treat ANCA vasculitis patients in this day and age, some difficult cases will be discussed, plasma exchange, rituximab, and much, much more.

You’ve probably all heard about Imlifidase, the new miracle drug which is capable of bringing down IgG from normal levels to virtually zero in a matter of hours. Is this going to be a revolution in transplantation, particularly for allosensitized patients? You can get the answers to these questions by listening to our podcast with Rainer Oberbauer on Imlifidase. You can expect to hear how the drug works, how well it performs, particularly in allosensitized individuals, and what are the tips a...

Renal pathology is about much more than diagnosis, it’s about decoding the mechanisms of diseases like glomerular and tubulointerstitial disorders to shape more effective, personalized treatments. In this episode, we’ll dive into the methodologies behind renal biopsies, and the critical role they play in guiding treatment strategies. Looking ahead, we’ll also discuss the future of renal pathology and its impact on the care we provide. Joining us is Ingeborg Bajema from the University of Groni...

In today’s episode, we’re focusing on a crucial yet often under-discussed subject: the role of vaccination in chronic kidney disease. Patients with CKD are at a markedly increased risk of infections, a vulnerability compounded by factors like impaired immunity, dialysis, and immunosuppressive therapies. Vaccination, therefore, plays an indispensable role in safeguarding their health. In this episode, we’ll examine which vaccines are recommended for CKD patients. We’ll also address the challen...