April 2026 CKD Insider Newsletter
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- 5 min read
Welcome to the Chronic Kidney Disease Insider Newsletter. If you are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis, have had a kidney transplant or are helping care for someone who is, this newsletter was created for you! The CKD Insider Newsletter provides actionable information for you and your family to help you manage your health in consultation with your doctor.
In this month’s CKD Insider:
Latest News from Kidney Organizations
AAKP Annual Global Summit on Kidney Disease Innovations
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is co-hosting this event with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. This event is a great opportunity for you to learn and engage will people in the same situation as you, whether you have CKD, are on dialysis or have had a kidney transplant, this is an informative conference worth your time. If you register and miss it you can always watch the video rewind videos.
Global Summit on Kidney Disease Innovations
May 18th and May 19th
Virtual Event
Learn more and register here.
April is National Phosphorus Awareness Day
When your kidneys aren’t working well, phosphorus can quietly build up in your blood without symptoms, but this can raise your risk for serious problems like heart attack, stroke, or even death. About 80% of people on dialysis need phosphate-lowering medications in addition to following a low-phosphorus diet. Access educational resources on phosphorus and kidney disease at the AAKP, including a phosphorus pocket guide and recipes.
Your Fun Tip of the Day
Stop and Smell the Flowers 🌸
This is one of the best times of year to enjoy blooming flowers, flowering trees, and colorful gardens. Even a short trip to see tulips, cherry blossoms, daffodils, or magnolias can lift your mood and give you something beautiful to look forward to.
You don’t need a big day trip. A quick visit to a local park, botanical garden, neighborhood garden, or even a walk down a tree-lined street can do the trick.
Ideas for a mini flower outing:
Visit a botanical garden or public park with spring blooms
Sit on a bench under flowering trees for 10–15 minutes
Ask a friend or family member to take a short “flower drive” with you
Don’t forget: Take a photo of YOU with the flowers!
It's a great way to keep the memory close and on hard days, these photos can transport you out of where you are and brighten your mood all over again. A picture is a great reminder that you saw something beautiful, smiled fully and made a memory. Later, looking back at these moments can brighten your mood all over again.
Start a Flower album on your phone with your flower photos from this season.
Sometimes a little color therapy is exactly what the day needs. 🌷
Good News for Children with Kidney Disease
FDA Approves Filspari for Adult and Pediatric Patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
What it is: In April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Filspari for both adults and children eight years of age and older with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). This is the first FDA-approved treatment for FSGS.
Why it’s important: FSGS is a rare kidney condition where scar tissue forms in the glomeruli. For many, it results in kidney disease and the requirement for dialysis or transplantation. Until now, there were no approved therapeutic options for FSGS. Check with your nephrologist if you or your child has FSGS to see if this new medicine is an option for you.
Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients at Rady Children’s Hospital Celebrate Donate Life Month
What it is: April is Donate Life Month. This April, fourteen pediatric kidney transplant recipients at Rady Children’s Hospital are celebrating Donor Life Month. They returned to Rady Children’s Hospital to ring the Transplant Bell. Learn more about their stories here.
Why it’s important: The last decade has seen major improvements in treatment options and outcomes for pediatric patients with kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients. The event at the Rady Children’s Hospital highlights the impact of this work on student populations.
SAVE-FistulaS Clinical Trial to Test SelfWrap Device to Strengthen AV Fistulas
What it is: A nationwide clinical trial called the SelfWrap-Assisted ArterioVEnous Fistulas Study (SAVE-FistulaS) is testing a new device designed to help maintain dialysis fistulas. The SelfWrap Bioabsorbable Perivascular Wrap wraps around the vein-artery junction, offering support and preventing failure. It is applied during the creation of the arteriovenous (AV) fistula. There are 28 participating sites, including St. David’s in Austin, TX, and in 13 states nationwide.
Why it’s important: About half of all AV fistulas narrow and fail over time. If successful, the SelfWrap device could help reduce failure and ensure consistent, long-term access to dialysis care. In Austin, approximately 50 spots remain for adult participants, and sites across the country are still recruiting. The study sites and contact information are available on the clinical trial website.
Bringing Kidney Disease Screening into Communities Through Mobile Health Units
What it is: Researchers at Wayne State University have shown that mobile health units can be an effective way to screen people for risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in communities with limited access to healthcare. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, was conducted in Detroit, Michigan, a city with both a high risk of kidney disease and significant gaps in access to care. By bringing screening directly into the community, mobile units were able to reach individuals who might otherwise lack access to preventative screening.
Why it’s important: Detecting kidney disease risk factors early is strongly associated with better long-term outcomes. This is especially important now that effective medications are available to slow disease progression, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
Community-based screening using mobile health units may help you identify if you or a family member is considered an at-risk individual sooner and connect you and your loved one to the care you need. Find out if there is a mobile health unit in your area, this might be the easiest way to get screened depending on your location.
Advances in Robotic Surgeries Improve Outcomes for Kidney Transplant Recipients
What it is: Robotic surgical techniques have advanced significantly in recent years, expanding what is possible in organ transplantation. Surgeons at Mayo Clinic recently performed the first robotic pancreas-kidney transplant. For many people with diabetes, kidney failure is caused by long‑term damage from diabetes itself. In these cases, transplanting a kidney alone does not address the underlying disease, whereas a combined pancreas-kidney transplant can restore kidney function while also treating diabetes. At the same time, surgeons at Cleveland Clinic, who have been refining robotic transplant techniques for years, recently performed the first transvaginal robotic‑assisted dual kidney transplant. This approach avoids a large abdominal incision, resulting in significantly less postoperative pain.
Why it’s important: Robotic surgical tools help surgeons operate with more precision, better visibility, and finer control than traditional methods. They also make it possible to perform surgery through smaller openings rather than large incisions.
If you plan on having a surgery and the surgeons use the latest robotic surgical tools, this can mean less bleeding, less pain, fewer complications, and a quicker recovery. As these techniques improve, they may make kidney transplantation safer and less invasive and reduce the burden of post-transplant recovery.
Know someone who could use a kidney health boost and a smile? Share this newsletter and help them stay inspired and informed!
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