Kidney Center, Turku University Central Hospital
PET Diagnostics to Cardiovascular Complications: A Kidney Center with Great Spirit
Home dialysis can be a life-changing option for patients with reduced kidney function, giving the option to retain a more normal life despite the challenges of kidney disease. In Finland, the Kidney Center at Turku University Central Hospital has been a pioneer of this approach, training patients how to operate the equipment in their own home. Today, two thirds of patients with chronic kidney disease opt for home dialysis.
This approach to innovation and the optimisation of patient care for the people living in the region reflects the overall values of Turku’s Kidney Center. From clinical nephrological research to the education of residents and medical students, the Kidney Center provides a versatile, collaborative and talented team driving basic and clinical research in order improve diagnostics and treatment of patients in the future.
The Kidney Center has long-standing success using PET studies to advance their understanding of the way kidney and other associated diseases work. For Mineral & Bone Disorder in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD-MDB), a debilitating condition that renders bone metabolism inert, the team are working with histopathologists to use PET to assess metabolic activity non-invasively.
For Diabetic Kidney Disease, researchers are combining PET with MRI and Ultrasound for better kidney imaging in the Prognostic Imaging Biomarkers for Diabetic Kidney Disease (iBEAt). The PET based research relies on a close collaboration with some of Turku University Central Hospital’s endocrinologists – building and optimising metabolic experimental equipment to best serve the needs of the Kidney Center.
With great research and an excellent working environment, the Kidney Center attracts some of Finland’s top nephrology residents, with residents getting the chance to develop their own research projects. One example is an ongoing epidemiological study looking at the cardiovascular risk factors surrounding kidney disease – which can commonly lead to atrial fibrillation and arrythmia in predialysis patients.
With all these activities, the Kidney Center at Turku University Central Hospital is fully focused on improving patient outcomes. In order to maintain a high standard of care and evaluate their activity, the Center are using Finland’s national register, known as the BCB register, to measure outcomes for predialysis, dialysis, and transplantation patients – ensuring the work they do continues to be impactful and effective.