TAMPA, Fla. August 23, 2005 -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), in association with Shire Pharmaceuticals, is proud to present a session featuring celebrity chef and musician, Isaac Hayes, at the AAKP 32nd Annual Convention in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 2.

This symposium will feature presentations by Hayes, a renal dietitian and a nephrologist. All attendees will receive a free copy of the “Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods” cookbook, containing 21 low-phosphorous recipes.

“We are delighted to have Mr. Hayes presenting at our Annual Convention,” said AAKP President Brenda Dyson. “Diet is such an important issue in the lives of today’s kidney patients. Our attendees will greatly benefit from this cookbook and cooking demonstration. We greatly appreciate Mr. Hayes’ dedication to the kidney disease community and we are eager to partner with him on this wonderful presentation.”

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the kidneys may not be able to remove phosphorus from the blood. This causes the blood phosphorus levels to become too high. High blood phosphorus levels may cause patients to lose calcium from their bones, weakening patients’ bones and causing them to break easily. To help control the levels of phosphorus in their blood, kidney patients are urged to consume foods low in phosphorus, which can be a difficult task when nearly all foods contain phosphorus.

Knowing the difficulties of lowering phosphorus in one’s diet, and after losing a close friend and fellow musician to kidney disease, Hayes has been traveling around the country to educate people on how to live a low phosphorus life. He is also an OscarÒ and GrammyÒ award-winning musician with a role on the animated hit-television series, “South Park.”

For more information about AAKP’s 32^nd Annual Convention, contact the AAKP National Office at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org, or click here.

AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.