Cochrane Kidney and Transplant is concerned with the evaluation of care relevant to patients with kidney disease and with complications of diabetes and hypertension. We also evaluate the means of managing problems associated with interventions for kidney diseases (chronic care, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and side effects of medication).
Cochrane Kidney and Transplant's scope covers the following major areas of kidney disease:
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease (pre-dialysis, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis)
- Diabetic kidney disease
- Glomerulonephritis (including nephrotic syndrome, IgA nephropathy, lupus nephritis, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, and other glomerular diseases)
- Kidney transplantation
- Solid organ transplantation
- Urinary tract infections
- Effect of drugs on kidney function
Attention focuses mainly on clinical outcomes, such as death or the need for dialysis treatment, and quality of life issues. Non-clinical outcomes such as renal function measurement and proteinuria may be acceptable as secondary outcomes.
Cochrane Kidney and Transplant does not cover treatment for renal tumours or stones (this is covered by Urology) or interstitial cystitis (this is covered by Incontinence).
Possible overlaps may occur with the following Cochrane groups:
- Anaesthesia, Critical & Emergency Care (protection of kidney function)
- Common Mental Disorders (treatment of depression in CKD population)
- Hypertension
- Injuries (causes of acute kidney injury)
- Incontinence (catheters and UTIs)
- Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders (diabetic kidney disease). The Metabolic and Endocrine Group looks after primary prevention of diabetic kidney disease, and the Kidney and Transplant Group looks after treatment and prevention of progression of diabetic kidney disease
- Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care (renal colic, loin pain, advanced care planning)
- Vascular (renal artery stenosis, vascular access for dialysis treatment)