New Study Shows Race May Not Be Needed to Accurately Estimate Kidney Function

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Dec 07, 2020, 12:00 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study published today in the National Kidney Foundation's American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) has found that it is possible to accurately assess patients for the stages of kidney disease without using race in the equation, which is currently routinely used as part of the diagnosis process in the United States.

Kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million adults in the U.S. and can lead to life-threatening kidney failure. Most of those with the disease don't know they have it and won't know until it has progressed to critical late stages. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black people or African Americans are almost four times more likely than White Americans to develop kidney failure.

The study, "A New Panel Estimated GFR, Including β2-Microglobulin and β-Trace Protein and Not Including Race, Developed in a Diverse Population", published today in AJKD, is the work of a team lead by principal investigator Lesley A. Inker, MD, MS, Division of Nephrology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston.

"This is an exciting step towards highly accurate [glomerular filtration rate] GFR estimates that do not require race, and ultimately any demographic factors," Dr. Inker said.

Assessment of GFR is critical for many aspects of medical practice. GFR estimation based on creatinine and cystatin C together (eGFR_cr-cys) is more accurate than eGFR based on either creatinine or cystatin C alone, but the inclusion of creatinine in eGFR_cr-cys requires specification of a person's race.

Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) and beta-trace protein (BTP) are alternative filtration markers that appear to be less influenced by race than creatinine. In a pooled dataset of seven studies (5,017 participants), the investigators developed new estimating equations based on the combinations of these markers, with and without age or sex and race. In a separate pooled dataset of seven studies (2,245 participants), they showed that the equation, which used all four markers (creatinine, cystatin C, BTP and B2M), and age and sex, but not race, was as accurate as eGFR_cr-cys. A more accurate race-free eGFR could be an important advance, the investigators reported.

"Convenient and accurate ways to estimate kidney function in diverse populations are absolutely critical to increase kidney disease diagnosis rates," said Kerry Willis, PhD, NKF Chief Scientific Officer. "This new equation is a timely and important advance."

Patients and potential patients should increase their knowledge about their kidney health and know their risk for kidney disease. People can learn about their risk of kidney disease at MinuteForYourKidneys.org

According to Dr. Inker, the race-free assessment will need further study and the next steps should include obtaining approval for an assay that can be used for clinical purposes in the U.S., developing clinical and laboratory practice guidelines that consider indications and preferred diagnostic strategies for laboratory testing and reporting panel eGFRs; manufacturers and clinical chemists should develop standards as have been developed for creatinine and cystatin C; and further studies are required to understand how best to use these equations in clinical practice, especially in diverse clinical settings and geographical locations.

To read the study or learn more about the investigators, please go to: https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-63862031126-4/fulltext

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Kidney Disease Facts
In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease—and approximately 90 percent don't know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Blacks or African Americans are almost 4 times more likely than White Americans to have kidney failure. Hispanics are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics to have kidney failure.

About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.

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SOURCE National Kidney Foundation