A simple blood or urine test may now help better predict how chronic kidney disease is likely to progress, according to a study on Friday, which identified key biological signals of the disease.The team from The University of Manchester showed that higher levels of Kidney Injury Molecule-1(KIM-1) — a special marker of kidney damage in the blood and urine — are associated with higher risks of mortality and kidney failure.
Last month, the team measured 21 markers in blood and urine that reflect key processes driving kidney disease, inflammation, and heart disease.
Unlike the generic tests used in routine kidney clinics, these markers shine a light on the biological changes, underpinning CKD, that truly drive the disease.
By revealing the hidden drivers, the discovery opens the door to new treatments designed to target the disease at its roots.
“The progression of chronic kidney disease is highly variable between people, so it’s difficult to predict which patients will progress to kidney failure or worse,” said lead author Dr Thomas McDonnell, from the varsity.
“But our work raises the prospect of the development of simple blood or urine tests that could better predict the degree of risk — invaluable information for doctors and patients.
“We think that these models, which are more closely aligned with the underlying biological changes happening in chronic kidney disease, could allow a more tailored approach to the individual needs of patients,” McDonnell said.