Options of renal replacement therapy in CKDu

• Main Authors: Santosh Varughese, Sanjay K Agarwal, T Ravi Raju, Tripti Khanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Nephrology
• Subjects: hemodialysis; insurance; pd first; peritoneal dialysis; transplantation
• Online Access: http://www.indianjnephrol.org/article.asp?issn=0971-4065;year=2020;volume=30;issue=4;spage=261;epage=263;aulast=Varughese
• ISSN: 0971-4065; 1998-3662

Patients with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown origin (CKDu) need to plan for renal replacement therapy. The patients usually affected are probably best served with living-related renal transplantation. Potential donors from the same area are possibly at risk for developing CKDu and need close monitoring post kidney donation. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is probably a better option as hemodialysis (HD) centers are located in urban areas only and patients have the convenience of receiving therapy at home. The “PD first” pilot project of Sri Lanka is a unique initiative that trains community physicians to offer PD to patients with advanced CKDu. In Telengana and Andhra Pradesh, the Aarogyasri insurance scheme provides for poor patients to avail of free HD and transplantation in government and private hospitals. Much more needs to be done to care for all those who are affected. A public–private partnership model for providing comprehensive care to patients with advanced CKDu can be undertaken in all areas affected by CKDu that makes renal replacement therapy (RRT) available and accessible, irrespective of financial and social limitations.