
Sankar Narayan Niranjan
Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine - Nephrology
Bio
Dr.Niranjan is a nephrologist (specialist in kidney diseases) with specific interests in the care of cancer patients with kidney disease (Onconephrology), high blood pressure (Hypertension) and the prevention of kidney disease.
A graduate of Kilpauk Medical College, India, he completed his medical residencies in the UK and at the University of Connecticut, where he served as Chief Medical Resident and a Nephrology Fellow. Since 2004, he served as an Attending Physician and Nephrologist at the St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and was a partner at Greater Hartford Nephrology. He was also a Medical Director at DaVita Dialysis in Bloomfield, Connecticut until December 2023.
In addition to his clinical practice, he has mentored numerous young physicians and nephrology trainees as a community-based faculty member at the UCONN School of Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut.
His passion for the prevention and early detection of kidney disease is evident in his active involvement in the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) in Connecticut. He has facilitated screenings at inner-city community events and minority places of worship, demonstrating his commitment to reaching diverse populations. Over the last five years, he has conducted kidney disease screening camps across Southern India (most recently in June 2024), screening over 500 patients in rural areas using the KEEP template.
Dr.Niranjan is fluent in conversational Tamil, one of the oldest spoken languages in the world. He loves the outdoors and fitness - specifically hiking, bicycling and yoga. He has enjoyed traveling the world with his family. He is passionate about giving back to the community, and supports the education of underprivileged children in India through a US-based non-profit.
Clinical Focus
- Nephrology
- Onco-Nephrology
- Hypertension
- Cardio-kidney-metabolic health
- Preventive nephrology
- Global health
Administrative Appointments
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Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University (2025 - Present)
Honors & Awards
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NKF Medical Advisory Board Distinguished Service Award, National Kidney Foundation USA (05/16/2024)
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Lifetime Achievement Award - CAPI, Connecticut Association of Physicians of Indian origin (06/01/2024)
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The Arthur P.Pasquarella Leadership in Action National Award, National Kidney Foundation USA (03/25/2021)
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CAPI Community Service Award, Connecticut Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (6/30/2019)
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Thomas R.Preston faculty award for excellence in teaching, University of Connecticut Internal Medicine Residency Program (06/13/2008)
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Maxwell O.Phelps Award for Scholarship in Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut Internal Medicine Residency Program (06/12/2001)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
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Member, American Society of Nephrology (2002 - Present)
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Chair of the Medical Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation serving Connecticut and Western Massachusetts (2009 - 2023)
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Board of Directors, Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding (2017 - 2023)
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Board of Directos, All India Movement for Seva (2021 - Present)
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Member, International Society of Nephrology (2024 - Present)
Professional Education
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Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology (2004)
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Fellowship: University of Connecticut School of Medicine Registrar (2004) CT
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Residency: University of Connecticut Internal Medicine Residency (2002) CT
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Board Certification, American Board of Internal. Medicine, Internal Medicine (2001)
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Board Certification, Royal College of Physicians, UK, Medicine (1998)
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Medical Education: Kilpauk Medical College (1994) India
All Publications
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Refractory DKA as first presentation of acromegaly and a potential role for continuous venovenous hemofiltration in its successful management.
Connecticut medicine
2011; 75 (7): 405-7
Abstract
Diabetic ketoacidosis is rarely encountered in acromegaly. We present a unique patient with refractory diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) as a first presentation of acromegaly. In addition to an insulin drip and intravenous fluids, our patient was managed with octreotide therapy. As he developed acute renal failure in the context of renal hypoperfusion, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) was instituted. After only three days of therapy, the growth hormone (GH) level dropped circa fourfold and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) level dropped ninefold. We postulate a hypothetical role of CVVH in removal of plasma GH and IGF-1, similar to the clearance of other medium size molecules such as brain natriuretic peptide and procalcitonin. If this is confirmed in future studies, CVVH may have therapeutic implications for the above category of patients.
View details for PubMedID 21905534
- Perioperative management of chronic kidney disease American College of Physicians - PIER . 2006
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Self-performed peritoneal dialysis in prisoners.
Advances in peritoneal dialysis. Conference on Peritoneal Dialysis
2004; 20: 98-100
Abstract
Peritoneal dialysis (PD)for renal replacement therapy (RRT) is safe and effective in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Currently, no data exist for the same in patients at correctional institutions [Department of Corrections (DOC)]. We compared demographic characteristics of, and the efficacy and outcome of self-administered continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in, DOC patients with data from the U.S. Renal Data System for the free-living population (FLP). We retrospectively reviewed the charts of DOC patients opting for CAPD (n = 10) in the last 7 years. Baseline data (age, race, cause of ESRD, serum chemistries, anemia, bone profiles, and Kt/V) were obtained for dialysis start and 6 - 12 months after dialysis start. Major events, including switches to hemodialysis (HD), hospitalizations, and deaths, were also studied. The median age of the DOC patients was 45 years. The group was 40% black, 30% white, and 30% Hispanic. Cause of renal failure was diabetes in 30%, HIV-associated nephropathy in 30%, primary glomerular disease in 20%, and hypertension or unknown in 20% of patients. The DOC patients had higher levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) at presentation, but better anemia profiles than did the FLP. Complications included peritonitis, fluid leaks, and cardiac events. Median age at dialysis start is lower for DOC patients, and HIV-associated nephropathy is more common than in the FLP. Levels of BUN/creatinine were much higher in DOC patients, but hemoglobin levels were similar to those in the FLP. Hospitalization rates for peritonitis were comparable; cardiac disease was common in both groups. Self-CAPD can be safely and effectively performed in DOC patients.
View details for PubMedID 15384805
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Blood pressure measurement in dialysis patients.
Advances in chronic kidney disease
2004; 11 (2): 134-42
Abstract
The best method and timing of blood pressure (BP) measurement in end-stage renal disease are subject to controversy. This issue is especially relevant in hemodialysis patients, where unique causes of inaccuracy may exist. The lack of standardization of BP measurement in the dialysis unit may lead to misdiagnosis, so close attention must be paid to technical methods to obtain BP. A composite of BP measurements over a period of 1 to 2 weeks rather than isolated readings should be used for guidance. Interdialytic BP monitoring with an ambulatory BP monitor is the most reproducible method and is thought to best represent BP in dialysis patients. If available, ambulatory BP is a useful tool to evaluate the quality of BP control in the interdialytic period. Alternative forms of BP measurement, such as home BP, 20-minute postdialysis BP, and short (3-hour to 4-hour) ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), could prove useful when feasible or available. In this paper, we discuss the evidence regarding BP measurement in dialysis patients, new techniques under development, and recommendations for clinical practice.
View details for DOI 10.1053/j.arrt.2004.01.005
View details for PubMedID 15216485
- CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN (Ig) ALONE DOES NOT PREVENT SEROCONVERSION IN CMV MISMATCHED KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS RECEIVING NON-LYTIC INDUCTION THERAPY. Transplantation 2004; 78 (2)