Brackets everywhere are going bust as the countdown to crowning a new NephMadness champion nears its end. Has the Blue Ribbon Panel been kind or cruel? Check out the Current Standings and share your reactions with #NephMadness!

We proudly present:

Current Standings | Match Results | @NephMadness | @nephmadness.bsky.social

Many thanks to Krithika Mohan @krithicism for the scoreboard graphics!

Resistant Hypertension Region vs Disaster Nephrology Region

This was the first of many hard fought battles this round. Team Novel Drugs for Hypertension and Team Kidney Care in Natural Disasters were tied for most of the matchup. A last second half court shot sealed the victory for Novel Rx for HTN. .

Novel Rx for HTN wins 5-4

Comments from the BRP:

“Utilitarianism makes me choose HTN.”

“I am glad to see that Resistant HTN advanced (The Blue Ribbon panel agreed with me), that was my pick over renal denervation, the Charles Barkley of HTN, (great but no ring). Resistant HTN is boring historically, one failure after another, but it is not going away and it affects so many people with renal disease. Let’s finally make some progress. Resistant HTN for the win.”

“New treatments for hypertension are a win for medicine, pushing the boundaries of what we can control but when nature decides to do what it wants, all bets are off. Natural disasters don’t discriminate; they hit hard, take lives, and remind us that no matter how far we advance, we’re still playing by nature’s rules.”

“We need to improve both our diagnosis and treatment of HTN. Novel Rx (AND better using what we have, improving access to care, etc) easy winner here. Thrilled to see denervation out of here. Tough match up for natural disasters…I’m sure would have done better in any other part of the bracket.”

 

Genetics Region vs CAR-T for Kidney Disease

Team Genetics in FSGS got out to an early lead and were winning comfortably at half time, but foul trouble in the second half led to CAR-T clawing their way back into the game. A buzzer beater sealed the win for Team CAR-T for Autoimmune Diseases!

CAR-T for Autoimmune Dz Wins 5-4

Comments from the BRP:

“I’m going for the novelty of CAR-T here.”

“I’m 4 for 4 so far with what is advancing (No Blue Ribbon fail this year). Going ahead, yikes this is tough. I have to pick genetics here. CAR-T is very cool but seems to be on hold lately, Not Ready for Prime Time. I order genetic testing almost weekly in my clinic these days. You may be looking for FSGS answers but you will find other things as well. Genetics for the win.”

“This was a hard one but I feel for the future of understanding my disease, genetics can tell the story but CAR-T can possibly change it! If it can be made to stop the immune system from attacking the kidneys, then we’re talking real change, real hope. Tuff one!”

“Ugh…not my picks. Genetics in FSGS more likely to be practice changing for us in 5 years (this isn’t OncMadness). But we should not and cannot dismiss genetic counseling. Safety first! Sorry to my co-BRP panelists, but we (you) have failed on this one.”

 

Hemodialysis Region vs Green House Region

Team Tubular Toxins continues their Cinderella run, beating Team Incremental Dialysis in a close matchup. Can they be stopped?

Tubular Toxins wins 5-4

Comments from the BRP:

“Toxins. Incremental dialysis is a big idea with little to back it up.”

“Boo boo boo to my fellow BR panelists for advancing incremental dialysis- huge #BlueRibbonFail. First of all it is NOT practical for HD as provided in the US. Secondly, how can you ignore the improvement in outcome as provided by HDF, the first thing do so in decades? With that Tubular toxins (my choice over oxalate) has to advance. I am still 5 for 6 in my picks thus far with the BRP. Tubular toxins for the win.”

“Hemodialysis wins because it’s the reason I’m still here. No matter how much we talk about prevention, clean living, and better environments, when your kidneys fail, none of that changes the fact that you need dialysis to survive. I’ve been on this journey since 2007, and I know firsthand that without that machine filtering my blood, I wouldn’t be here to even have this conversation. Both great though!!!”

“Totally tubular! Let’s go! Understanding CAM/naturally occurring toxins = maybe less need for dialysis.”

 

Obesity in Kidney Transplant Region vs Minimal Change Disease Region

This highly touted matchup did not disappoint! After several lead changes and a double overtime, Team MCD Diagnosis and Pathogenesis eked out the victory!

MCD Dx and Pathogenesis wins 5-4

Current Standings | Match Results

#NephMadness | #NephMadness 

Reminder:

US-based physicians can earn 1.0 CME credit and 1.0 MOC per region through NKF PERC (detailed instructions here). The CME and MOC activity will expire on June 1, 2025.