12 doctoral dissertations have already been defended in the field of Nephrology:
- Analysis of the Development of Haemodialysis Quality in Lithuania in 1996-2000. Dr. Edita Žiginskienė, 2002.
- The Clinical, Morphological Features of the Most Common Glomerulopathies and the Prediction of the Development of Chronic Renal Failure. Dr. L. Razukevičienė, 2002.
- Metal Ion Changes in the Blood of Patients with Chronic Renal Failure. Dr. I. Skarupskienė, 2003.
- Determination of Survival and Related Factors in Lithuanian Haemodialysis Patients. Dr. A. Stankuvienė 2010.
- Assessment of Factors that Determine the Inpatient Status of Haemodialysis Patients. Dr. R. Vaičiūnienė 2010.
- Quality of Life, Factors and Prognosis of Survival in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure. Dr. N. Kušleikaitė, 2012.
- Study of Possibilities of Prolongation of Functioning of Arteriovenous Connections in Dialysis Patients. Dr. S. Kybartienė, 2012.
- Study of the Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and its Risk Factors in Primary Care Centres Among Patients. Dr. A. Žilinskienė, 2015.
- Evaluation of Factors that Determine the Survival of Transplanted Kidneys and Recipients. Dr. E. Dalinkevičienė, 2017.
- Control of Renal Anaemia in Lithuanian Haemodialysis Patients and its Determinants. Dr. K. Petrulienė, 2017.
- The Causes and the Factors Determining the Solution of Severe Acute Kidney Damage. Dr. V. Balčiuvienė, 2018.
- Vascular Calcification: Associated Factors and Significance for Outcomes in Patients With End Renal Failure. Dr. V. Petrauskienė, 2019.
Currently, 3 new doctoral dissertations are being prepared at the Department of Nephrology:
- Influence of Cadaveric Donor Characteristics on Kidney Transplant Outcomes. Dr. R. Auglienė
- Application of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Experimental Acute Renal Failure. Dr. A. Gryguc
- Study of Possibilities of Forecasting and Optimising Immunosuppression of Renal Transplant Outcomes. R. Maslauskienė
Other research is being carried out:
- Prediction of Electrolyte Changes by Non-Invasive Methods in Haemodialysis Patients.
- Assessment of Changes in Diet and Metabolism in Haemodialysis Patients and Adaptation of Possible Corrective Measures.
- Hydration Status of Patients After Kidney Transplantation in the Acute Postoperative Period and Possibilities of its Correction.
- The Impact of Physical Activity on the Quality of Life and the Possibilities of Application of Haemodialysis Patients.
- Evaluation of Body Composition Changes in Haemodialysis Patients Using Bioelectric Impedance Analysis Method.
- Treatment With Wormwood (Lat. Artemisia absinthium) in Glomerulonephritis.
Doctors of the clinic prepare and read presentations at Lithuanian and international conferences, regularly prepare and publish articles in journals with citation indexes, annually organise scientific practical conferences on various contemporary Nephrology topics, often world-famous Nephrologists are invited as lecturers.
Participation in international studies, projects and programmes:
The Department of Nephrology cooperates with colleague nephrologists from different countries of the world, the doctors of the clinic are members of many international organisations of nephrology.
The Department of Nephrology participates in the programme of the International Society of Nephrology Sister Renal Centres (SRC). The nephrologists of our clinic have gained experience at Ghent (Belgium) University Hospital Nephrology Clinic. After a decade of cooperation between LSMU and Ghent University Nephrology Clinic, , the LSMU Department of Nephrology was awarded the main prize of the International Association of Nephrology (ISN) for the most successful programme of Sister Renal Centres at the 2007 World Congress of Nephrology in Rio de Janeiro.
From 2010 to 2015, the Department of Nephrology became a mentor to fellow nephrologists from Brest (Belarus) region hospital. Since 2016, a new trio of sisters has been established: Kaunas–Brest–Lutsk (Ukraine). Since 2016, colleagues from Brest and Lutsk have come to the LSMU Department of Nephrology twice a year for internships, and nephrologists from our clinic have been reading reports twice a year on the topics of nephrology, dialysis and transplantation in Belarus and Ukraine, as well as assisting colleagues in Brest and Lutsk in carrying out scientific work. The aim is to help develop the nephrology service in Lutsk (Ukraine).
We are involved in 2 international multi-centre research:
- “The Influence of Time of Year and Geographical Latitude on the Regulation of Vitamin D in Healthy Individuals” study was launched in spring 2015. The study takes place in 5 centres along the 24th eastern parallel of the Northern Hemisphere: Odense (Denmark), Kaunas (Lithuania), Sofia (Bulgaria), Athens (Greece) and Tampere (Finland).
- In 2016, we launched a study “A Study Programme on the Analysis of Renal Disease and Complications of Chronic Renal Failure and Their Prevention Possibilities and Treatment Optimisation – Dialysis Initiation Study” (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).
In 2017, we led LSMU-KTU project “Study of Brain Damage in Dialysis Patients Through Non-Invasive Physiological Brain Monitoring”, the results of the study were published in magazine Medicina.
Since 2017 we have been participating in the project “Individualisation of Immunosuppressive Therapy With the Help of Pharmacokinetic Modelling and Prognostic Indicators for Patients After Organ Transplantation” (with LSMU Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology).