CKD-ASSOCIATED PRURITUS CLINICAL DATA Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a chronic itching condition that is particularly common in patients on hemodialysis. It is a serious and common condition that is generally under-recognized and under-reported.CKD-aP can significantly reduce patients’ quality of life (QoL) through the urge to scratch, impaired sleep, and depression, and can lead to worsening medical outcomes in severely affected patients.The pathogenesis of CKD-aP is multifactorial; while formally attributed primarily to the accumulation of uremic toxins, new research indicates a significant role for kappa opioid receptor (KOR) dysregulation. LONG-TERM SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF DIFELIKEFALIN IN PATIENTS WITH CKD-aP: ANALYSIS FROM KALM-1 AND KALM-2 Fishbane S, et al. Poster 207. Presented at the National Kidney Foundation 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings, April 6–10, 2021.The objective of this study was to report long-term QoL and pooled safety data from the placebo-controlled and open-label extension periods of the KALM-1 and KALM-2 phase 3 studies.View this infographic to learn more about the long-term safety and efficacy of difelikefalin in patients with CKD-aP. View PDF EFFICACY OF DIFELIKEFALIN IN PATIENTS WITH MODERATE-TO-SEVERE CKD-aP: POOLED SUBGROUP ANALYSIS OF KALM-1 AND KALM-2 Topf J, et al. Poster 233. Presented at the National Kidney Foundation 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings, April 6–10, 2021.The objective of this study was to further understand the efficacy profile of difelikefalin by reporting efficacy and QoL outcomes in the pooled KALM-1 and KALM-2 study populations, including subgroup analysis based on baseline characteristics.View this infographic to learn more about the efficacy of difelikefalin in patients with moderate-to-severe CKD-aP. View PDF UNMET MEDICAL NEEDS IN PATIENTS WITH CKD-aP: EMJ NEPHROLOGY REVIEW Burton J et al. EMJ Nephrol 2021; 9(3):2–11 (supplementary appendix)CKD-aP is an under-recognized life-disrupting condition that can be difficult to manage. The kappa-opioid receptor agonist, difelikefalin, is one of the first treatments specifically targeting CKD-aP. The efficacy of difelikefalin was assessed in two large studies (KALM-1 and KALM-2), where it reduced itch intensity and improved itch-related QoL for patients with CKD-aP undergoing hemodialysis. Difelikefalin was also found to have a tolerable safety profile.View this recent EMJ Nephrology review for an update on the incidence, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of CKD-aP. This review is based on presentations and posters delivered during the 58th ERA–EDTA Congress, held virtually on June 5–8, 2021, and the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, held virtually on April 6–10, 2021. View Article