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Site is Gateway to Science-Based Information About  Chronic Kidney Disease on the Web

Launch of www.Kidneyresource.Com Provides People at Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease with Instant Access to Comprehensive Information 

Bridgewater, NJ (BlackNews.com) - The first-ever comprehensive directory of chronic kidney disease sites on the World Wide Web is now available on www.KidneyResource.com. Developed by Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., in partnership with leading patient and professional organizations, this new site gives physicians, patients and caregivers immediate access to more than 60 Web sites, many of which are operated by non-profit, educational and patient advocacy organizations.

The site also offers other important resources including an easy-to-navigate physician locator and an interactive Anemia Awareness Center, which features information about anemia related to chronic kidney disease, an important and often overlooked symptom of the disease.

Approximately 20 million Americans one in nine adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, and most don't even know it. Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition in which the kidneys are unable to function effectively. People at increased risk for this debilitating disease include those who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, or both; those who have a family history of kidney disease; and those who are over the age of 65. Chronic kidney disease also is more prevalent in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and American Indians.

"KidneyResource.com is the first Web-based directory to make the process of locating accurate information about chronic kidney disease as easy as possible," said Kris Robinson, executive director of the American Association of Kidney Patients, a national non-profit organization that serves kidney patients and their families. "It was developed based on research showing how people tend to search intuitively for information on this type of Web site. As a result, visitors will find it logical and easy to use."

KidneyResource.com is designed to help people who are at risk for chronic kidney disease learn more about the health problem and its associated symptoms. For example, anemia, or low concentrations of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, is an important and often overlooked symptom of chronic kidney disease. Anemia also is a potentially debilitating condition that results in excessive tiredness, which can gradually worsen, and a diminished ability to carry out previously routine activities. Many people with anemia may not even know they have it or that treatments are available.

"It is important for at-risk people to learn more about the symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue, dizziness or shortness of breath, because it may be a sign that they are unknowingly suffering from chronic kidney disease," said Alexander Salerno, M.D., an internal-medicine specialist based in Newark, N.J., who treats patients with chronic kidney disease. "The good news is that early assessment for chronic kidney disease and treatment of anemia can improve patients health and may be associated with higher energy and activity levels."

People who may be at risk for anemia related to chronic kidney disease can learn more about the condition by visiting the Anemia Awareness Center on KidneyResource.com. The Anemia Awareness Center features the signs and symptoms of anemia related to chronic kidney disease, explanations of the medical terms commonly associated with the condition and links to a self-assessment tool and patient materials.

KidneyResource.com also provides people at significant risk for anemia from chronic kidney disease, such as those with both diabetes and high blood pressure, with access to a new, self-administered anemia-screening test, without cost. ANEMIAPRO, which was approved recently by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will enable people at risk for chronic kidney disease to check their blood for possible signs of anemia in the privacy and convenience of their homes. People interested in obtaining ANEMIAPRO may complete a confidential screening process on KidneyResource.com or by calling 1-888-557-2854.

To develop KidneyResource.com, Ortho Biotech conducted an in-depth review of kidney disease sites on the Internet, selecting only those sites that offered the most up-to-date and scientifically accurate information available today. After compiling this information, the company enlisted a panel of independent experts, including representatives from the National Kidney Foundation, the American Association of Kidney Patients and the American Kidney Fund, among others, to serve on an advisory committee for KidneyResource.com. The advisory committee then reviewed each of the sites to ensure that the information was credible and current enough to be cited on KidneyResource.com.

"Ortho Biotech is committed to helping physicians, patients and caregivers quickly and effectively address chronic kidney disease and related anemia," said Sarbani Bhaduri, M.D., a nephrologist and assistant medical director, clinical affairs, for Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. "The first step toward improving the identification and treatment of these conditions is information, which is why we developed KidneyResource.com."

About Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

In 1990, Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. was established in Raritan, N.J. Since that time, Ortho Biotech and its worldwide affiliates have earned a global reputation for researching, manufacturing and marketing innovative healthcare products that enhance the quality of patients lives. Ortho Biotech, located in Bridgewater, N.J., is an established market leader in Epoetin alfa therapy for anemia management across multiple indications and focuses its research and marketing efforts in four clinical areas: oncology, nephrology, immunology and surgery.