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Round three. Elite Eight. This is the most important round, because it determined the champion of each individual region.

Toxin Region:

1 Aristolochic Acid: 69
8 Hemoperfusion: 32
3 Toxic Metals: 20
6 Fomepizole: 37
5 Chelation Therapy: 19
4 Glycyrrhizic Acid: 15
7 Osmolar Gap: 44
2 DSHEA 1994: 24

The popular vote agreed with the Game Makers.

Hypertension Region

1 ACEi ARBs combo: 51
8 Renal Artery Tx: 14
3 Systolic BP: 47
6 Diastolic BP: 8
5 Chlorthalidone: 50
4 HCTZ: 10
7 KDIGO BP in CKD: 27
2 JNC8: 53

The popular vote agreed with the Game Makers.

Renal Replacement Therapy Region

1 Convective Clearance: 30
8 Diffusive Clearance: 5
3 Buttonhole Technique: 9
6 Residual Renal Function: 70
5 Fistula First: 52
4 Urgent PD: 46
7 DreamRCT: AKI: 17
2 DreamRCT: ESRD: 31

The winner of the popular vote was residual renal function, a worthy competitor and I don’t think either of the Game Makers would have made trouble if the other had pushed hard for RRF. Second in the popular vote was Fistula First, a first round loser in NephMadness. Urgent PD the ultimate region winer limped to third place.

Regeneration Region

1 Parietal Epithelial: 33
8 Renin Lineage: 19
3 Renal Pericytes: 9
6 EMT: 7
5 Tubules Self-Duplication: 8
4 Resident Stem Cells: 38
7 Hypertrophy: 28
2 Bioartificial Kidney: 118

Bioartificial kidney soaked up all the glory in this bracket, while the winner, renal pericytes, came in a pathetic sixth out of eight.

Acute Kidney Injury Region

1 Contrast Nephropathy: 43
8 RIPC: 9
3 U/A and Indices: 38
6 AKI Biomarkers: 48
5 Balanced Solutions: 37
4 Normal Saline: 39
7 KDOQI AKI: 8
2 KDIGO AKI: 38

A balanced bracket with six of the entries soaking up at least 30 votes. The eventual winner, balanced solutions, beat only the two laggards, RIPC and KDOQI.

Electrolyte Region

1 Hypertonic Saline: 29
8 Vaptans: 38
3 Serum Anion Gap: 50
6 Urine Anion Gap: 9
5 ZS-9: 26
4 Kayexalate: 21
7 Bicarb in CKD: 72
2 Bicarb in Acute MA:15

The popular vote agreed with the Game Makers.

Kidney Stone Region

1 Surgical Acute Care: 46
8 Medical Acute Care: 54
3 CT Scan: 28
6 XO Inhibitors: 22
5 Dr. Charlie Pak: 18
4 Dr. Fred Coe: 21
7 Bariatric Surgery: 29
2 Oxalobacter: 42

A perfect match of crowd and Game Makers.

Biologics Region

1 Rituximab: 151
8 Bortezomib: 14
3 Belimumab: 7
6 Belatacept: 25
5 Eculizumab: 32
4 Soluble CR1: 4
7 ACTHAR Gel: 13
2 Abatacept: 14

The crowd loves Rituximab; Belatacept struggled to a third place behind Eculizumab.

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