KDIGO Releases New Guideline for Lipid Management in CKD

Full press release below

For Release:
November 4, 2013

Brussels, Belgium - - - Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) has announced the publication of a new evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline making recommendations on treatment of dyslipidemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The guideline will appear in the November issue of Kidney International Supplements.

 The Clinical Practice Guideline for Lipid Management in Chronic Kidney Disease is KDIGO’s ninth global guideline, and is available for download on KDIGO.org. KDIGO is dedicated to the creation and implementation of guidelines to assist clinicians and patients in making treatment decisions based on the latest and most comprehensive analysis of published scientific data.

 KDIGO Co-Chair, Dr. Bertram Kasiske of the University of Minnesota, said, “Control of cholesterol and other lipid factors is very important for all our patients. This guideline is truly groundbreaking in its recommendations for putting and keeping CKD patients on lipid lowering medications.

“These recommendations can guide clinicians in the interpretation of initial lipids blood tests and the efficacy of treatment. It also recommends that once on this treatment, patients do not need frequent new tests. Once on treatment, patients should stay on the treatment,“ Dr. Kasiske added.

KDIGO’s rigorous scientific process for evidence review and guideline development was followed by a prestigious Work Group of internationally known experts led by Dr. Christoph Wanner of the University of Würzburg in Germany and Dr. Marcello Tonelli of the University of Alberta in Canada.

KDIGO’s next step is the worldwide implementation of this guideline through its network of Implementation Task Force members in 80 countries and in collaboration with local representatives of the International Society of Nephrology. Educational tools, speaker’s guides, presentations at local congresses and local translations are also core elements of KDIGO’s implementation strategy.

Dr. David Wheeler of University College London, said, “This guideline suggests what may prove to be a controversial approach to lipid management. After measurement of blood lipid levels and initiation of lipid-lowering therapy, the Work Group found little evidence to justify ongoing assessment of dyslipidemia. Thus patients can be treated with statins or statin/ezetimibe combinations without the need for follow-up blood tests. This ‘fire and forget’ approach is simple, cost-effective and will improve outcomes for patients.”

KDIGO is the world’s only organization developing and implementing global guidelines in kidney disease. It was founded on the principle that science is not regional or country specific. Rather it is global in nature; only implementation should be locally designed to take into account variations in practice and medication availability.

For further information please contact KDIGO Communications at kdigocommunications@kdigo.org.