Kidney disease can be detected by presence of protein in blood: study

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A research collaboration of Mayo Clinic with the University of Mississipi Medical Center reveals that early kidney disease can be identified by using a specific protein found in a patient's blood regardless of ethnicity or race.

According to the report by Medical Xpress, high levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in the blood can help identify kidney trouble.

"Early intervention and treatment can be key to stopping kidney disease progression and, potentially, preventable death events," said Dr. LaTonya Hickinson, lead author of the study and a Nephrology and Hypertension physician at Mayo Clinic. "This study demonstrates for physicians everywhere that we are getting closer toaccurately predicting future disease and death by examining this one marker. This is important, because, as with many diseases, accurate, early detection means we can more quickly recognize and efficiently treat the disease before it fully manifests-potentially improving a patient's quality and quantity of life."

For the study, the researchers studied blood samples from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study database. The study was conducted to identify the association of hypertensive disease with race and genetics, especially among African-Americans who have shown to have higher risk for the disease. The researchers studied the patients and conducted interviews after 10 years. They found and confirmed cTnT to be the marker for identifying early kidney disease which could help prevent increased disease progression and deaths with the right intervention.

"Among the overall cohort, we found that, at 10 years, those with an abnormal cTnT had a high cumulative incidence of death totaling 47 percent, compared to those with a normal cTnT (7.3 percent)," Dr. Hickson said, via EurekAlert. "In addition, 10 years after the initial testing, the cumulative incidence of end-stage kidney failure was 27 percent among those with an abnormal cTnT, compared to the substantially lower rate found in those with normal cTnT (1.3 percent)."

Hypertension is a condition where the patient has higher blood pressure than what is normal, which is abive 140 over 90 mmHG, according to Medical News Today. The condition can be caused by many factors such as a lifestyle of tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity and diet rich in salt and fatty foods. It can also be caused by other factors and diseases such as chronic stress, kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. More than 30 percent of adults 20 above in the United States are living with hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.