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Kook-Hwan Oh

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Kook-Hwan Oh's research lab specializes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology and pathophysiology, with a focus on understanding the interplay between aging, mineral metabolism, and cardiovascular outcomes in CKD patients. The lab leverages the large-scale KNOW-CKD cohort to investigate biomarkers such as klotho, inflammatory mediators like IL-6, and metabolic syndrome in relation to CKD progression and comorbidities. Key research directions include the role of inflammation and aging-related proteins in dialysis outcomes, cardiac structure and function, and the impact of mental health on infectious disease risk in CKD populations. The lab integrates clinical, biochemical, and longitudinal data to identify modifiable risk factors and improve patient outcomes in CKD.

chronic kidney diseaseklothoinflammationcardiovascular outcomesbiomarkers

Research Overview

Papers
458
Total Citations
9,359
Papers (5y)
135
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
135total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
2,084total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|188 citations·2014
KNOW-CKD (KoreaN cohort study for Outcome in patients With Chronic Kidney Disease): design and methods
Kook‐Hwan Oh, Sue K. Park, Hayne Cho Park, Ho Jun Chin, Dong‐Wan Chae, Kyu Hun Choi, Seung Hyeok Han, Tae‐Hyun Yoo, Kyu‐Beck Lee, Yong‐Soo Kim, Wookyung Chung, Young‐Hwan Hwang
SJR Q2BMC NephrologyOA

BACKGROUND: The progression and complications of chronic kidney disease should differ depending on the cause (C), glomerular filtration rate category (G), and albuminuria (A). The KNOW-CKD (KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease), which is a prospective cohort study, enrolls subjects with chronic kidney disease stages 1 to 5 (predialysis). METHODS/DESIGN: Nine nephrology centers in major university hospitals throughout Korea will enroll approximately 2,450 adults

NephrologyMedicine
2
Article|73 citations·2010
Intra-peritoneal interleukin-6 system is a potent determinant of the baseline peritoneal solute transport in incident peritoneal dialysis patients
Kook‐Hwan Oh, Ji Yong Jung, Myeong Ok Yoon, Ahui Song, H. Lee, Han Ro, Young‐Hwan Hwang, Dong Ki Kim, Peter J. Margetts, Curie Ahn
SJR Q1Nephrology Dialysis TransplantationOA

Our study from incident PD patients suggested that (i) dialysate the IL-6 system is a potent determinant of baseline PSTR and (ii) elevation of IL-6 in the dialysate is associated with up-regulation of intra-peritoneal inflammatory and angiogenic molecules.

NephrologyMedicine
3
Article|63 citations·2019
AICAR, an AMPK activator, protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury through the JAK/STAT/SOCS pathway
Bodokhsuren Tsogbadrakh, Hyunjin Ryu, Kyung Don Ju, Jinho Lee, Sohyun Yun, Kyung‐Sang Yu, Hyo Jin Kim, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q2Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Pathology and Forensic MedicineMedicine
4
Article|60 citations·2017
Depression and risk of tuberculosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Kook‐Hwan Oh, Heidi Choi, E. J. Kim, H. J. Kim, S. I. Cho
SJR Q1The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Patients with depression are at a higher risk for TB, and a dose-response relationship exists between depression and the subsequent risk of TB.

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
5
Article|45 citations·2018
The association between soluble klotho and cardiovascular parameters in chronic kidney disease: results from the KNOW-CKD study
Hyo Jin Kim, Eunjeong Kang, Yun Kyu Oh, Yeong Hoon Kim, Seung Hyeok Han, Tae‐Hyun Yoo, Dong‐Wan Chae, Joongyub Lee, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q2BMC NephrologyOA

BACKGROUND: Klotho, a protein linked to aging, has emerged as a pivotal player in mineral bone metabolism and might explain the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study aimed to investigate the association between serum klotho and cardiac parameters from a large-scale Korean CKD cohort. METHODS: We analyzed 2101 participants from KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) cohort who had been meas

NephrologyMedicine
6
Article|44 citations·2019
Serum klotho is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in chronic kidney disease: results from the KNOW-CKD study
Hyo Jin Kim, Joongyub Lee, Dong‐Wan Chae, Kyu‐Beck Lee, Su Ah Sung, Tae‐Hyun Yoo, Seung Hyeok Han, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q2BMC NephrologyOA

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Klotho, a protein linked to aging, is closely associated with CKD. Each component of MS and klotho has an association. However, little is known about the association between klotho and MS per se. We investigated the association between serum klotho levels and MS using baseline cross-sectional data obtained from a large Korean CKD cohort. METHODS: Of the 2238 subjects recruited in the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome

NephrologyMedicine
7
Review|44 citations·2020
The KNOW-CKD Study: What we have learned about chronic kidney diseases
Kook‐Hwan Oh, Minjung Kang, Eunjeong Kang, Hyunjin Ryu, Seung Hyeok Han, Tae‐Hyun Yoo, Soo Wan Kim, Dong‐Wan Chae, Kyu‐Beck Lee, Sue K. Park, Yeong Hoon Kim, Curie Ahn
SJR Q1Kidney Research and Clinical PracticeOA

As the nation's largest chronic kidney disease (CKD) cohort, the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) was established to investigate the clinical course, risk factors for progression, and adverse outcomes of CKD. From 2011 to 2016, the KNOW-CKD recruited 2,238 adult patients with CKD from stage G1 to G5 who were not receiving renal replacement therapy from nine tertiary care hospitals throughout Korea. As of 2019, the KNOW-CKD has published more tha

NephrologyMedicine
8
Article|44 citations·2017
Does Routine Bioimpedance-Guided Fluid Management Provide Additional Benefit to Non-Anuric Peritoneal Dialysis Patients? Results from Compass Clinical Trial
Kook‐Hwan Oh, Seon Ha Baek, Kwon Wook Joo, Dong Ki Kim, Yon Su Kim, Sejoong Kim, Yun Kyu Oh, Byoung Geun Han, Jae Hyun Chang, Wookyung Chung, Ki Ryang Na
SJR Q1Peritoneal Dialysis International

Introduction In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, volume overload is related to cardiac dysfunction and mortality, while intravascular volume depletion is associated with a rapid decline in the residual renal function (RRF). This study sought to determine the clinical usefulness of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS)-guided fluid management for preserving RRF and cardiac function in PD patients. Subjects and methods This is a multicenter, prospective, open-label study that was conducted over a 1-ye

NephrologyMedicine
9
Article|44 citations·2020
Klotho ameliorates diabetic nephropathy via LKB1-AMPK-PGC1α-mediated renal mitochondrial protection
Jinho Lee, Bodokhsuren Tsogbadrakh, Seunghee Yang, Hyunjin Ryu, Eunjung Kang, Minjung Kang, Hee Gyung Kang, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q2Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
NephrologyMedicine
10
Article|42 citations·2019
Dietary Protein Intake, Protein Energy Wasting, and the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis from the KNOW-CKD Study
Sung Woo Lee, Yong‐Soo Kim, Yeong Hoon Kim, Wookyung Chung, Sue K. Park, Kyu Hun Choi, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q1NutrientsOA

Studies on the effect of dietary protein intake (DPI) on chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, along with the potential hazard of protein-energy wasting (PEW), are scarce. We evaluated the association between DPI and kidney function both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, particularly emphasizing the role of PEW, in a large-scale, observational, multicenter, prospective study. We enrolled 1572 patients with non-dialysis CKD between 2011 and 2016. CKD progression was defined by a >50% esti

NephrologyMedicine
11
Article|40 citations·2020
Measured sodium excretion is associated with CKD progression: results from the KNOW-CKD study
Minjung Kang, Eunjeong Kang, Hyunjin Ryu, Yeji Hong, Seung Seok Han, Sue K. Park, Young Youl Hyun, Su Ah Sung, Soo Wan Kim, Tae‐Hyun Yoo, Jayoun Kim, Curie Ahn
SJR Q1Nephrology Dialysis TransplantationOA

BACKGROUND: Diet is a modifiable factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, the effect of dietary salt intake on CKD progression remains unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of dietary salt intake on renal outcome in Korean patients with CKD. METHODS: We measured 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion as a marker of dietary salt intake in the prospective, multi-center, longitudinal KoreaN cohort study for Outcome in patients With CKD (KNOW-CKD). Data were analyzed from CKD pa

Nutrition and DieteticsNursing
12
Article|37 citations·2013
Cinacalcet lowering of serum fibroblast growth factor-23 concentration may be independent from serum Ca, P, PTH and dose of active vitamin D in peritoneal dialysis patients: a randomized controlled study
Hyo Jin Kim, Hyunsuk Kim, Nara Shin, Ki Ryang Na, Yong-Lim Kim, Dae Jung Kim, Jae Hyun Chang, Young Rim Song, Young‐Hwan Hwang, Yon Su Kim, Curie Ahn, Joongyub Lee
SJR Q2BMC NephrologyOA

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum level of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is associated with adverse outcomes in dialyzed patients. OBJECTIVES: The CUPID study compared the efficacy of a cinacalcet-based regimen with conventional care (vitamin D and P binders) for achieving the stringent NKF-K/DOQI targets for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Additionally, we analyzed change in FGF23 levels between two treatments to explore the cinacalcet effect in lowering FGF23. DESIGN: Multicenter, open-label

NephrologyMedicine
13
Article|37 citations·2018
Frequent patient retraining at home reduces the risks of peritoneal dialysis-related infections: A randomised study
Jae Hyun Chang, Jieun Oh, Sue K. Park, Juyeon Lee, Sung Gyun Kim, Soo‐Jin Kim, Dong Ho Shin, Young‐Hwan Hwang, Wookyung Chung, Hyunwook Kim, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

The present study, entitled Trial on Education And Clinical outcomes for Home PD patients (TEACH), investigated the effect of frequent retraining at home on the outcomes of peritoneal dialysis (PD). TEACH is a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial with parallel arms. Patients starting PD were randomized into either the conventional retraining group (CG) or the frequent retraining group (FG). Patients in the FG were given more frequent home visits for retraining. The primary endpo

NephrologyMedicine
14
Article|32 citations·2011
Ethyl pyruvate ameliorates albuminuria and glomerular injury in the animal model of diabetic nephropathy
Kyung Don Ju, Eun Kyoung Shin, Eun Jin Cho, Hyun Bae Yoon, Hyo Sang Kim, Hwa Jung Kim, Jaeseok Yang, Young‐Hwan Hwang, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology

Pyruvate is an endogenous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance. The present study was implemented to investigate the protective effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) against the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy in an in vivo and in vitro model. Diabetic rats were prepared by injecting streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). Those that developed diabetes after 72 h were treated with EP (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Diabetic rats without pyruvate treatment and nondiabetic rats were used for c

Clinical BiochemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Article|32 citations·2017
Lower Education Level Is a Risk Factor for Peritonitis and Technique Failure but Not a Risk for Overall Mortality in Peritoneal Dialysis under Comprehensive Training System
Hyo Jin Kim, Joongyub Lee, Miseon Park, Yuri Kim, Hajeong Lee, Dong Ki Kim, Kwon Wook Joo, Yon Su Kim, Eun Jin Cho, Curie Ahn, Kook‐Hwan Oh
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Although lower education was a significant risk factor for peritonitis and technique failure, it was not associated with increased mortality in PD patients. Comprehensive training and multidisciplinary education may overcome the lower education level in PD.

NephrologyMedicine

Research Areas

NephrologyGeneticsCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineSurgeryMolecular BiologyEndocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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