Prevention and early detection of kidney fibrosis is crucial due to the vital role that the kidneys play, responsible for removing impurities from the blood and maintaining the balance of chemicals, such as sodium, potassium and calcium, in the body. When the kidneys stop working, it is essential to replace them, which is now only achieved through dialysis or kidney transplant.
Renal fibrosis is a cumulative process that, little by little, deteriorates kidney function. Therefore, it is essential to detect and monitor renal fibrosis as soon as possible, as this can contribute significantly to prolonging the useful life of these organs. The main difficulty in carrying out this monitoring is that kidney biopsy, a very invasive technique and not applicable to some patients, is the only way to directly measure fibrosis. A group from the Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Research Institute (IGTP), led by Francesc E. Borràs, is developing a diagnostic test that will provide an alternative to biopsy. The researchers observed that patients with a high degree of renal fibrosis, as measured by biopsy, had increased levels of a specific protein in their urine. This protein is part of the extracellular matrix, a network that supports and gives structure to the body's cells and tissues. When this matrix increases excessively, it gives rise to the phenomenon of fibrosis. From here, explains Borràs, derives the direct relationship between determining this protein in urine and the detection of renal fibrosis. “The test uses clinically applicable techniques, based on antibodies, to detect this protein in urine in a non-invasive way,” he says.
At this moment, the first functional prototypes are being developed, with very promising results. At the end of the year, the group hopes to begin trials that will define its behavior in a controlled clinical environment and begin the regulatory process necessary for its approval for clinical use.
Transparency statement: This research is funded by the “la Caixa” Foundation, an entity that supports the Big Vang scientific information channel.
