Prague, Czech Republic (ots) - The randomised, double-blind,
placebo-controlled multi-centre study (abstract no. 2511)
investigated the efficacy and safety of the monoclonal antibody
rituximab (RTX) in 197 ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients.
This study showed that in patients with severe AAV a single course of
rituximab for remission induction and maintenance over a period of 18
months proved to be as effective as standard therapy.

Hemodiafiltration reduces mortality only if high substitution
volumes are used

The prospective, randomised CONTRAST study (abstract no. 2507)
aimed to evaluate whether treatment with HDF reduces overall
mortality compared with low-flux HD. In the outcome there was no
difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of overall
mortality, but a subgroup analysis indicated that patients who had
reached a substitution volume of over 20 litres/treatment had a
significantly lower mortality risk than patients with lower
substitution volumes (HR 0.66; p = 0.03).

The prospective, randomised, controlled TURKISH HDF study
(abstract no. 2506) compared HDF with large pore hemodialysis (HD) in
terms of morbidity and mortality. The difference in terms of
mortality was not significant (p = 0.28), but a subgroup analysis
showed that HDF patients with a high substitution volume of > 17.4
litres/treatment had a significantly better cardiovascular and
overall survival rate.

Bardoxolone improves renal function in type II diabetics with
nephropathy

A double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre phase II study
(abstract no. 2501) randomized 227 type II diabetics with moderate to
severe CKD (eGFR 20-45 ml/min/1.73m2) in four different groups.

Significant improvements in GFR were reported in all the
bardoxolone groups compared to the placebo group (p renal function parameters (creatinine and urea) were also better in
the Bardoxolone group.

For further information, please see:
http://www.eraedta2011.org/press.html

Bettina Albers
+493643776423
albers@albersconcept.de

Quelle: OTS