Nephrology Journal Club
nephjc.bsky.social
Nephrology Journal Club
@nephjc.bsky.social
A twice monthly nephrology journal club that used to meet on Twitter. Hashtag #NephJC

www.nephjc.com
Pinned
To say it took a while is an understatement, because #NephJC has been around for 11 years (and still counting)...

๐Ÿฅ We opened an Instagram account, so if you're around, can follow and interact ๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿ’ž

#NephSky #Medsky
To say it took a while is an understatement, because #NephJC has been around for 11 years (and still counting)...

๐Ÿฅ We opened an Instagram account, so if you're around, can follow and interact ๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿ’ž

#NephSky #Medsky
January 31, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Nephrology Journal Club
Up next on #NephJC we will be unpacking SGLT2i in transplant recipients๐Ÿ‘‡

journals.lww.com/cja...

January 28, 2026 at 2:56 AM
#NephJC
Massive thanks as well to our mentors Brian Rifkin Cristina Popa Milagros Flores
January 28, 2026 at 3:00 AM
January 28, 2026 at 2:59 AM

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www.nephjc.com/merch...

January 28, 2026 at 2:58 AM
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January 28, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Up next on #NephJC we will be unpacking SGLT2i in transplant recipients๐Ÿ‘‡

journals.lww.com/cja...

January 28, 2026 at 2:56 AM
T3n

Bottomline?
In ICD patients with mildโ€“moderate CKD, raising plasma K safely cut arrhythmias, HF/arrhythmia hospitalizations, and death

But is it practice-changingโ€ฆ or still a โ€œwait and seeโ€? ๐Ÿค”#NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:55 AM
T3m

โœ…Strengths: Strong recruitment, adjudicated endpoints
โš ๏ธLimitations: Single country, ICD-only patients, eGFR <30 excluded, <50% reached Kโบ target, unclear separation of MRA vs Kโบ effects #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:54 AM
T3l

POTCAST interventions are widely available
๐ŸŒ diet
๐Ÿ’Š MRAs
๐Ÿง‚ KCl supplements
๐Ÿ’ง reducing Kโบ-losing diuretics
<50% hit the target but ~75% stayed on therapyโ€ฆ enough to improve outcomes #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:53 AM

T3k

If K is the answer for arrhythmias, maybe itโ€™s time to rethink โ€œnormalโ€ ranges for high-risk patients Hyperkalemia risk exists in those w/ CKD but careful monitoring keeps high-normal K safe-ish #NephJC

January 28, 2026 at 2:52 AM
T3j

Could the benefits of ACEi/ARBs, ARNIs, MRAs, and beta-blockers be partly just potassium doing its thing?
They do nudge Kโบ up a bitโ€ฆ

Letโ€™s hear your thoughts ๐Ÿ’ญ #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:51 AM
T3i

It seems like nephrologists are somehow quietly saving cardiology
And yes, Iโ€™m talking about the pillars of HF management ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘€#NephJC


January 28, 2026 at 2:50 AM
T3h

Interestingly, benefits werenโ€™t limited to HF patients
๐Ÿ‘‰~40% of participants without HF also showed improved outcomes!

And potassium may be the unifying mechanism ๐Ÿ’ฅ#NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:49 AM
T3g

Traditionally, this K rise was seen as a side effect, needing close observation and possible intervention,
but POTCAST suggests it might actually contribute to the benefit #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:48 AM
T3f

In the landmark MRA trials (RALES, EPHESUS, EMPHASIS-HF, FINEARTS-HF), patients taking MRAs for HF had improved survival, including fewer sudden cardiac deaths #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:47 AM
T3e

POTCAST showed us that this modest increase translated into:
โš ๏ธfewer arrhythmias, hospitalizations, and deathsโ€ฆ
And this is despite less than half of participants reaching the exact target.
So what is the exact target? #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:46 AM
T3d

This study show us that physiology supports a rise from 4.0 to 4.3 mmol/L which leads to:
โšกFewer hypokalemia episodes
๐Ÿซ€Stabilized resting potential
๐Ÿ”‹Fewer ICD shocks & arrhythmias #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:45 AM
T3c

Most of the benefit came from fewer ICD therapies (shocks or pacing) and documented ventricular tachycardia. Effects were consistent across subgroups & independent of the drug used #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:44 AM
T3b

Most of the benefit came from fewer ICD therapies (shocks or pacing) and documented ventricular tachycardia. Effects were consistent across subgroups & independent of the drug used #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:43 AM
T3a

This study suggests that a small dietary & treatment-induced increase in Kโบ (~0.3 mmol/L) lowered the risk of arrhythmias, ICD therapy, CV hospitalizations, and death in high-risk ICD patients #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:42 AM
T3: Discussion

Feeling the K rush? Weโ€™ve charged through the resultsโ€ฆ now letโ€™s talk
Is aiming for high-normal potassium the real shock therapy for arrhythmias? #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:41 AM
T2l #NephJC

Safety endpoints
โš ๏ธ High-normal Kโบ = no extra hospitalizations or deaths
โš ๏ธ Creatinine barely budged (~0.1โ€“0.2 ยตmol/L)

Seems reassuring! #NephJC

January 28, 2026 at 2:40 AM
T2k

Discontinuations: 67 participants stopped meds due to side effects:
โš ๏ธ 27% MRA
โš ๏ธ 34% Kโบ supplements
โš ๏ธ 39% both
Although, the side effects were manageable #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:39 AM
T2j

Only 41.5% reached the target 4.5โ€“5.0 mmol/L
Reasons: max dose reached, declined meds, protocol limits, or other factors

๐Ÿ“ˆMean Kโบ rose to 4.36 mmol/L, a difference of only 0.3 treatment vs control
Is it really Kโบ driving the results? #NephJC
January 28, 2026 at 2:38 AM