31 million Americans have chronic kidney disease.

For patients with irreversible kidney problems, dialysis is a life-saving therapy.

But, it's also a tough treatment that requires a lot of time.

Now, an artificial kidney may offer patients more freedom.

Dialysis patient Toby Muñoz Junior sits in a chair, three times a week for up to five long hours at a time.

“It just drives me up the wall,” says Toby. “I'm not a sit down person. I can barely make it through a movie theatre watching a movie."

Toby needs dialysis to do the work of his failing kidneys. But the treatments have taken over his life, even forcing him to quit his job.

"The quality of life of dialysis patients leaves a lot to be desired," says Dr. Victor Gura, a kidney specialist at UCLA.

Now, researchers are studying a wearable artificial kidney. It does the same job as dialysis but it's portable, so it offers patients the ability to move while they receive therapy.

"[Patients can] live their life and move around not be tethered to a machine while receiving dialysis therapy,” says Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington.

The artificial kidney runs continuously on batteries and weighs 10 pounds. Researchers will study the device in up to 10 patients as part of a clinical trial. The goal is to give dialysis patients more freedom.

"We hope to give them basically their life back," says Dr. Gura.

Toby says it would be a welcome change; he wouldn't miss sitting in the dialysis chair.

This clinical trial will be the first human study in the U.S. conducted on the wearable artificial kidney.

The researchers hope the device will allow patients to walk, shop or perform other chores while receiving their treatments.

They believe the portable device would also save money because patients will require fewer medications and hospital visits.

While the current prototype weighs 10 pounds, they hope to make a smaller, lighter version soon.

BACKGROUND: Kidney disease is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and more than 10 percent of the U.S. population suffers from chronic kidney disease. Kidney disease is the gradual loss of the function of the kidneys. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from your blood which is then excreted through urination. Kidney disease is so dangerous because once it reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluids, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body. The buildup of these wastes can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue or weakness, sleeping problems, changes in urine output, muscle twitches and cramps, swelling of feet and ankles, and a decrease in mental sharpness. Many of the signs and symptoms of kidney disease can be nonspecific and can also be caused by other illnesses. It is best to be checked by a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms.
(Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-disease/basics/treatment/con-20026778, http://www.kidneyfund.org/about-us/assets/pdfs/akf-kidneydiseasestatistics-2012.pdf)

TREATMENT: There are several treatments for chronic kidney disease. The correct treatment for you depends on the stage of the illness. Many treatments include:
* High blood pressure medications
* Cholesterol lowering medications
* Anemia medications
If your kidneys are not able to keep up with the waste and fluid clearance on their own, you may go into near or complete kidney failure. This is called end-stage kidney disease. Treatment for end stage kidney disease includes dialysis or a kidney transplant. Many patients with end-stage kidney disease are put on dialysis in order to remove waste products and extra fluid from the blood. A machine is able to filter waste and excess fluids from your blood and return the blood back into your body cleaned. The downside to dialysis is that it is a long process and requires patients to sit for many hours weekly while receiving treatment.
(Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-disease/basics/treatment/con-20026778)

NEW TECHNOLOGY: A new wearable artificial kidney has been developed and is being tested in clinical trials. In essence, patients will be able to receive dialysis while on the go. The new artificial kidney machine will be wearable and will allow patients to have the freedom from traditional stationary dialysis machines. The wearable artificial kidney does the same job as regular dialysis machines just in a more physiological, or natural way.
(Source: Victor Gura, MD)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Victor Gura, MD, FASN
310-550-6240
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