Protein in Blood can Predict Fatal Kidney Disease in People With Hypertension

End-stage renal disease or kidney failure is often associated with hypertension or high blood pressure, a common cardiovascular disease. Early intervention and treatment can be key to stopping the progression of kidney disease and, potentially, preventable death events. Researchers have revealed that presence of a protein in blood can be an early indicator of end-stage renal disease, and ultimately of death, in people with hypertension. Lead study author LaTonya Hickson, nephrology and hypertension physician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, US, said, "An increased level of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in the blood can be an early indicator of the disease and accurately identify patients who need intervention."

The research team studied patients using blood samples from people enrolled in the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study between June 1996 and August 2000. More than 70% of patients had hypertension, and all others were from hypertensive families. The investigators examined baseline data from 3,050 patients enrolled in GENOA and conducted follow-up assessments of death and end-stage kidney failure events nearly 10 to 12 years later.

Hickson said, "Among the overall cohort, we found that, at 10 years, those with an abnormal cTnT had a high cumulative incidence of death totaling 47%, compared to those with a normal cTnT (7.3%)."

The study appeared online in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Source-IANS