Division of Nephrology

Catherine M. Clase

MB, MSc (HRM), FRCPC

Associate Professor, Nephrology, Department of Medicine

Associate Member, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University

Member, Board of Comprehensive Chairs, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University

Education and Professional Standing

  • Pathology (BA) Christ’s College, University of Cambridge 1987
  • Undergraduate medicine (MB BChir) Christ’s College, University of Cambridge 1989
  • Internal Medicine (FRCPC) Memorial University of Newfoundland 1995
  • Nephrology (Certificate of Special Competence) McMaster University 1996
  • Clinical research (MSc Health Research Methodology) McMaster University 1998

Research Interests

  • Community epidemiology of chronic renal insufficiency, including population-based studies and use of modelling to identify possible screening strategies for the prevention of morbidity, mortality and end-stage renal disease
  • Optimizing management and transition to dialysis in patients with advanced chronic renal insufficiency
  • Symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic renal insufficiency or on dialysis
  • Atherosclerotic and thrombotic events in patients with chronic renal insufficiency or on dialysis
  • Bleeding in patients with chronic renal insufficiency or on dialysis
  • Prevention of thrombotic complications in dialysis access
  • Optimal use of anticoagulation in dialysis patients

Selected Publications

Book chapter

    1. Clase CM, Ball CM. Acute Renal Failure. In: Evidence Based Medicine On Call, Oxford Medical Knowledge, Oxford, UK. Ed: Ball CM, Phillips RS. 2001, pp527-543
    2. Clase CM. Chronic Renal Failure. In: BMJ Clinical Evidence 2007. Ed: Tovey D. Suffolk UK. William Clowes Ltd. Online at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/knd/2004/2004-get.pdf

Peer reviewed: journal articles

    1. Krepinsky J, Ingram A, Clase CM. Prolonged sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Am J Kidney Dis 2000; 35:500-505
    2. Wiernikowski JT, Chan AK, Clase CM, Ingram A, Crowther M. Determination of stability and sterility of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) at -35o Celsius. Lancet 2000; 335: 2221
    3. Dominguez J, Clase CM, Mahalati K, MacDonald AS, McAlister VC, Belitsky P, Kiberd B, Lawen JG. Is routine ureteric stenting needed in kidney transplantation? A randomized trial. Transplantation 2000; 70:597-601
    4. Clase CM, Crowther MA, Ingram AJ, Cinà CS. Thrombolysis for restoration of patency to dual-lumen haemodialysis catheters: a systematic review. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2001;11:127-136
    5. Garg AX, Blake PG, Clark W, Clase CM, Haynes RB, Kiberd BA, Moist L. The association of renal insufficiency with malnutrition in older adults. Kidney Int 2001;60:1867-1874
    6. Clase CM, Garg AX, Kiberd BA. Prevalence of low glomerular filtration rate in non-diabetic Americans: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). J Am Soc Nephrol 2002;13:1338-1349
    7. Garg AX, Kiberd BA, Clark WF, Haynes RB, Clase CM. The prevalence of albuminuria and renal insufficiency: a factor that guides the utility of population screening to prevent ESRD. Kidney Int 2002;6:2157-2164
    8. Kiberd BA, Clase CM. Cumulative risk for developing end-stage renal disease in the general population. J Am Soc Nephrol 2002;13: 1635-1644
    9. Crowther MA, Clase CM, Margetts PJ, Julian J, Lambert K, Sneath D, Nagai R, Wilson S, Ingram AJ. Low-intensity warfarin is ineffective for the prevention of PTFE graft failure in patients on hemodialysis: A randomized controlled trial. J Am Soc Nephrol 2002;13:2331-1227
    10. Kiberd BA, Keough-Ryan T, Clase CM. Screening for prostate, breast and colorectal cancer in renal transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2003;3:619-625
    11. Moreland JD, Richardson JA, Goldsmith CG, Clase CM. Muscle weakness and falls in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:1121-1129.
    12. Mahoney BA, Smith WAD, Lo DS, Tsoi K, Tonelli M, Clase CM. Emergency interventions for hyperkalaemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005;2:CD003235.
    13. Jahromi AS, Cinà CS, Liu Y, Clase CM. Sensitivity and Specificity of Color Duplex Ultrasound Measurement in the Estimation of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Vasc Surg 2005;41:962-972.
    14. Keough-Ryan TM, Kiberd BA, Dipchand CS, Cox JL, Rose CL, Thompson KJ, Clase CM. Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Large Canadian Cohort: Impact of Chronic Renal Insufficiency, Cardiac Interventions, and Anemia. Am J Kidney Dis 2005;46:845-855.
    15. Gangji AS, Cukierman T, Gerstein HC, Goldsmith CH, Clase CM. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Hypoglycemia and Cardiovascular Events: A Comparison of Glyburide with Other Secretagogues and with Insulin. Diabetes Care 2007;30:389-394
    16. Clase CM, Kiberd BA, Garg AX. Relationship Between Glomerular Filtration Rate and the Prevalence of Metabolic Abnormalities: Results from Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nephron Clin Pract 2007;105:178-184
    17. Mastracci TM, Garrido-Olivares L, Cinà CS, Clase CM. Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Vasc Surg 2008;47:214-21\
    18. Keough-Ryan TM, Kiberd BA, Cox JL, Thompson KJ, Clase CM. End Stage Renal Disease Development after an Acute Cardiac Event. Kidney Int online in advance of print:
      http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/ki.2008.190

Reviews and editorials:

    1. Clase CM, Garg AX, Kiberd BA. Estimating the prevalence of low glomerular filtration rate requires attention to the creatinine assay calibration [Special Contribution]. J Am Soc Nephrol 2002;13:2812-2816
    2. Clase CM, Garg AX, Kiberd BA. Classifying kidney problems: can we avoid framing risks as diseases? [Education and Debate, opinion piece]. BMJ 2004;329:912-915.
    3. Lo DS, Rabbat CG, Clase CM. Anticoagulation and the management of thromboembolism in dialysis patients. [Invited review]. Thromb Res 2006;118:385-395.
    4. Clase C, Garg AX. Commentary on: The renoprotective effectos of ACE inhibitors and ARBs independent of blood pressure control are uncertain [Commentary]. ACP Journal Club 2006;145:36
    5. Clase CM. Glomerular filtration rate: Screening cannot be recommended on the basis of current knowledge [Editorial]. BMJ 2006;333:1030-1031
    6. Brimble KS, Clase CM. Hemoglobin variability in dialysis patients. [Editorial] J Am Soc Nephrol 2007;18:2218-2220