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Latest Nephrology research

The 10 most useful nephrology studies published this week, chosen from Q1 journals and graded on the Oxford CEBM evidence hierarchy. Each paper links to a short summary and the original on PubMed. Updated 22 September 2026.

Top 10 this week

Week of 20 September 2026

  1. 1

    Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in slowing chronic kidney disease progression and reducing mortality: a meta-analysis

    Frontiers in pharmacology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 31 August 2026

    Meta‑analysis shows SGLT2 inhibitors slow CKD progression and reduce mortality

  2. 2

    A randomized cross-over trial of pre-and post-filter hemodiafiltration modalities in children on maintenance dialysis -- effects on solute removal and blood pressure

    Kidney international · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 September 2026

    In a crossover trial of 21 children on dialysis, pre-filter hemodiafiltration removed significantly more α1-microglobulin, β2-microglobulin and myoglobin than post-filter HDF, while small-molecule clearance and albumin remained unchanged. It also lowered inflammatory markers but was linked to higher diastolic blood pressure, likely from greater sodium load. Further work is needed to balance toxin removal with blood pressure effects.

  3. 3

    Evaluation of eculizumab for the prevention of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation in adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

    American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 September 2026

    In a double-blind trial of 288 adult deceased-donor kidney recipients, delayed graft function occurred in 35.9% of patients receiving eculizumab versus 41.7% with placebo-a modest 6% absolute drop that was not statistically significant. Post-hoc analysis hinted a larger benefit (about 18% fewer cases) in recipients of expanded-criteria, cold-stored kidneys, but this finding requires confirmation.

  4. 4

    Systematic review and network meta-analysis for the 2026 update of the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management with immunosuppressive therapies and biologic agents of membranous nephropathy

    Clinical and experimental nephrology · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 September 2026

    In a network meta-analysis of 52 trials, oral cyclophosphamide was the only therapy shown to lower the chance of kidney failure, while ACTH, tacrolimus and cyclophosphamide (IV or oral) improved remission rates compared with placebo or standard care. However, most efficacy and safety findings were based on low-certainty evidence, underscoring the need for larger, well-designed trials.

  5. 5

    Improving Medication Safety in Chronic Kidney Disease Using Rule-Based and Artificial Intelligence-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

    F1000Research · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 28 August 2026

    A systematic review of 20 randomized trials found that rule-based or AI-driven decision support increased the rate of correctly dosed kidney-related medications (about 1.8-fold higher) compared with usual care, though results varied widely across settings. Documentation of CKD in electronic records also improved by about 20%, but alert fatigue limited clinician compliance, leaving real-world effectiveness uncertain.

  6. 6

    The Population Representativeness of Randomized Controlled Trials and Real-World Evidence Studies for Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease in the United States

    Journal of evidence-based medicine · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

    Population representativeness of RCTs and RWE in US ESKD patients

  7. 7

    Physical exercise and circulating α-Klotho in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis with emphasis on older adults

    Frontiers in sports and active living · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 3 September 2026

  8. 8

    Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in patients undergoing haemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    International urology and nephrology · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

    A meta-analysis of 11 small trials (346 patients) found NMES increased handgrip strength by roughly 3 kg, but the effect vanished when a single study was removed. No meaningful gains were seen in walking distance, sit-to-stand performance, lab markers, or quality-of-life domains, leaving its overall clinical value uncertain.

  9. 9

    Examining the multidimensional implications of oral health in chronic kidney disease: A systematic review

    Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 17 September 2026

  10. 10

    Effects of Renin-Angiotensin Inhibitors, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors, Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists on Kidney Outcomes in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 13 September 2026

    Meta‑analysis of kidney‑protective drugs in T1DM

Paper of the day, last two weeks

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For healthcare professionals. Summaries are generated by AI from the published abstract and are not medical advice. Read the original paper before changing practice.