Healio: Biomarker may predict CKD progression in children

By Melissa J. Webb

Higher levels of a circulating biomarker were associated with shorter time to kidney replacement therapy and lowering of eGFR in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease, according to study results.

“I think it is remarkable that we have confirmed findings from recent adult studies demonstrating that [soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor] suPAR is a new potential biomarker for kidney progression in children,” Darcy K. Weidemann, MD, MHS, a pediatric nephrologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, told Healio Nephrology. “It is notable that the results are confirmed in a pediatric study, where the etiology of CKD is different from that of adults.”

According to Weidemann, suPAR may be especially useful in the earliest stages of kidney disease, “where our current biomarkers, like serum creatinine, are the most inadequate.” This would allow the highest risk patients to be identified “before it’s too late.” Therefore, she suggested the utility of this biomarker also be tested in children with mildly impaired kidney function, as well as in those with normal kidney function who are at high risk for the development of kidney disease, so diagnosis and treatment can occur as early as possible.

“We desperately need additional biomarkers to predict which patients are at most risk for progression so we can potentially intervene on these patients sooner, as well as adequately prepare our patients and their families for the prognosis of a potentially grave, life-long chronic illness,” she added. “Our ultimate goal would be to find molecular targets upon which we can design targeted drug therapy to halt the progression of CKD.” 

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