Instead, a doctor inserted a stint into her blocked renal artery, and she was out of the hospital in six hours. Now she tests her blood pressure regularly and has yearly sonograms to monitor her renal arteries. Knight's story illustrates the benefits of early detection. Treatment usually includes dialysis. To find those who could benefit from early detection, the nurses screen patients at El Centro in Kansas City, Kan., a social service agency that works with many Hispanic families.
Statistics show why it is important to screen patients in similar community centers.
In 1998, about 230,000 Americans suffered the most serious form of kidney disease, according to the U.S. Renal Data System. About 32 percent of these patients were black. Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics also run an increased risk. These groups are prone to diabetes and high blood pressure, which often lead to kidney disease, said Brown, a kidney specialist. In the next year, program directors plan to have more regular screenings at El Centro and other locations as the program gains greater recognition.