Bringing Advanced Kidney care to UAE: Leading global Nephrologists come together to share best practices at Nephrology Critical Care Symposium

With kidney care gaining priority amongst other healthcare issues in the country, the symposium provided a learning opportunity for many professionals

• Doctors shared the latest trend on specialized critical care for kidney, emerging technology, causes and incidence of acute kidney injury
• The symposium was attended by leading nephrologists from John Hopkins, Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Society, Abu Dhabi Health Services, Birmingham Hospital, San Diego School of Medicine, Tawam Hospital and University Hospital Ghent- Belgium to name a few
• With high incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure cases, acute kidney injury is becoming increasingly common

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 13, 2013: The Nephrology Critical Care Symposium organized by Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Society (EMAN) in partnership with Roche brought together around 100 leading experts from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to share best practices on the management of acute kidney injury.

Renal failure or acute kidney injury develops rapidly. Caused by diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure, injury or severe reaction to medicine, it can lead to serious complications like permanent kidney damage and even death. Specialized critical care is often needed to treat the condition and save patients from further complications. The symposium highlighted the best method for early diagnosis, treatment and therapy options, link to other organs and emerging techniques.

“We are aiming to take nephrology care to the next level of global excellence in this region. The symposium allowed us the perfect platform to exchange our knowledge and learn immensely from our experiences in the different regions,” says Dr. Mona Al Rukhaimi- President of Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Society. “With kidney failure becoming an increasingly common phenomenon amongst us, we need to be fully equipped with the best techniques to save our patients,” she added.

Highly commending the symposium Dr. Yousef A. Boobes, Deputy Medical Director for Royal and Governmental Affairs and Senior Consultant Nephrologist Tawam Hospital said, “It is brilliant to see so many great minds gather together to share knowledge and improve upon critical care practices like kidney transplant, dialysis and kidney injury management.”

The program saw attendance from some key nephrologists as below:

• Dr. Mona Al Rukhaimi- President of Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Society
• Dr. Yousef A. Boobes- Deputy Medical Director for Royal and Governmental Affairs and Senior Consultant Nephrologist – Tawam Hospital
• Dr. Bassam Bernieh, Consultant Nephrologist & Chief of Division of Nephrology, Tawam Hospital.
• Dr. Joseph V. Bonventre- Chief of the Renal Unit and Director of the Bioengineering Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Dr. Norbert Lameire- Head of Nephrology at University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
• Dr. Patrick Honore- Director of Critical Care Nephrology Dept at Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), Belgium

Some of the key highlights from the discussion are:

• Diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease in UAE, followed by hypertension. There is a high prevalence of kidney disease in this region.
• Urine test can provide the earliest signs for acute kidney injury
• Cardio-renal syndrome(dysfunction of the heart leading to dysfunction of kidney or vice versa) is becoming an increasing cause of concern for doctors

About Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Society (EMAN)

The Emirates Medical Association Nephrology Society was formed with the intention of advancing the science and practice of nephrology related diseases through mutual professional interaction among doctors in the UAE with an active interest in this field.

Currently this forum has nephrologists from leading hospitals in UAE. The society organizes regular courses and discussion sessions on nephrology. Headed by Dr. Mona Al Rukhaimi, the society aims to maintain a high standard of nephrology care in the country.