Kidney disease genes discovered
Chronic kidney disease affects one in 10 adults and can severely damage a patient's quality of life over years. This disease is linked to advanced age with one in five men and one in four women aged between 65 and 74 developing some degree of kidney damage. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the commonest causes of this condition. Apart from a regular need for dialysis there may be a need for kidney transplant. These patients are susceptible to multiple ailments like anaemia, bone disease, infections etc. that may lead to a premature death.
In a new finding, scientists have uncovered 20 genes that can explain why kidney disease happens. This can “revolutionise” treatment of kidney disease according to the researchers. According to experts this study published in Nature Genetics is "a great breakthrough". Experts say that this condition was always thought to be genetic but the actual genes have only now been discovered.
In this study nearly 70 000 people all over Europe were studied by the scientists at the University of Edinburgh. It was done in collaboration with scientists at 80 medical research institutions around the world. They unearthed 13 new genes that could have a hand in kidney function. Seven others were thought to be involved in creatinine production. Creatinine is a chemical that is one of the kidney wastes coming from the muscles. This chemical is usually the marker of kidney function. Too much creatinine in urine indicates a damaged kidney.
According to Dr Jim Wilson, a geneticist at the University of Edinburgh, who was a part of this study, "It's a very critical first step towards a completely new understanding of the biology behind CKD. Transferring what we've found into clinical benefits will take some years." Charles Kernahan, chief executive of the charity Kidney Research UK, echoed his thoughts saying, "These are still early days but it is truly a great breakthrough…No-one knows who will be affected or when kidney disease may strike next, so even more research needs to be funded to help us tackle this challenge."
