Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Blood- And Urine-Based Biomarker Tests Could Identify Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 25 May 2023

Hospitalized patients who experience an acute kidney injury (AKI) often face unfavorable outcomes post-discharge, with limited effective treatment options. More...

AKI can stem from various causes, such as sepsis, medication, or inadequate blood supply during cardiac bypass. Additionally, different cell types within the kidneys can sustain damage during AKI. Current AKI diagnosis relies on simple kidney function blood tests or measuring changes in urine output. These rudimentary diagnostic methods fail to identify the precise cause of injury or predict which patients are likely to respond better to treatment or recover kidney function. However, that could now change with the advent of new tests for biomarkers to identify the treatment of AKI.

Researchers at UW Medicine (Seattle, WA, USA) led a study involving retrospective analysis of 769 patients with AKI and 769 without the condition, monitoring them for five years post-hospital discharge. They identified two molecularly distinct AKI subgroups, or sub-phenotypes, linked with different risk profiles and long-term outcomes. One group had higher instances of congestive heart failure, while the other exhibited elevated rates of chronic kidney disease and sepsis. The latter group also displayed a 40% increased risk for significant adverse kidney events five years onward, compared to the first group.

Interestingly, factors like sex, diabetes rate, or major surgical procedures as the cause of AKI did not vary across AKI subgroups. This suggests that routinely measured clinical indicators may not forecast the AKI subgroups, necessitating the assessment of blood and urine biomarkers for identification. Based on the findings, the researchers have proposed a strategy to categorize AKI patient subpopulations, aiming to identify therapies tailored to specific patient groups. Similar to how unique biomarkers guide treatments for patient subgroups with cancer or asthma, blood- and urine-based biomarkers could potentially help distinguish subgroups of patients with AKI, resulting in the development of new treatment ideas.

“We’re attempting to better understand the clinical factors and molecular drivers of acute kidney injury so that, in the long run, we can better treat the different ways that people experience this disease process,” said Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, a professor of nephrology at the UW School of Medicine and the study’s senior author. “We want to better understand the individual characteristics of people who get acute kidney injury so we can establish common characteristics of subgroup populations of these patients to know whose risk is relatively higher or lower, and work toward treatments specific to their needs.

Related Links:
UW Medicine


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Specimen Radiography System
TrueView 200 Pro
New
PSA Assay
CanAg PSA EIA
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.