The Utility of Novel Renal Biomarkers in Assessment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu): A Review

T.D.K.S.C. Gunasekara, P. Mangala C.S. De Silva, Chula Herath, Sisira Siribaddana, Nipuna Siribaddana, Channa Jayasumana, Sudheera Jayasinghe, Maria Cardenas-Gonzalez and Nishad Jayasundara
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T.D.K.S.C. Gunasekara: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka
P. Mangala C.S. De Silva: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka
Chula Herath: Department of Nephrology, Sri Jayawardenapura General Hospital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 10100, Sri Lanka
Sisira Siribaddana: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale 50300, Sri Lanka
Nipuna Siribaddana: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale 50300, Sri Lanka
Channa Jayasumana: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale 50300, Sri Lanka
Sudheera Jayasinghe: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka
Maria Cardenas-Gonzalez: Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Nishad Jayasundara: The Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a globally prevalent non-communicable disease with significant mortality and morbidity. It is typically associated with diabetes and hypertension; however, over the last two decades, an emergence of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu) has claimed thousands of lives in several tropical agricultural communities. CKDu is associated with gradual loss of renal function without initial symptoms until reaching complete kidney failure and eventually death. The most impacted are young adult males of lower socio-economic strata. Since the disease progression can be successfully attenuated through early detection, the development of superior screening and management measures is of utmost importance. In contrast to the conventional biomarkers, novel biomarkers with improved sensitivity and specificity are being discussed as promising tools for early diagnosis of the disease. This review summarizes emerging novel biomarkers used in assessing CKD and discusses the current utility and diagnostic potential of such biomarkers for CKDu screening in clinical settings of different communities impacted by CKDu. Our goal is to provide a framework for practitioners in CKDu impacted regions to consider the use of these novel biomarkers through this synthesis. The increased use of these biomarkers will not only help to validate their diagnostic power further and establish potential prognostic value but may also provide critical insights into sites and mechanisms of renal damage.

Keywords: CKD; CKDu; novel biomarkers; renal function; rural farmers; Sri Lanka (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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