Assessment and Risk Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Fibrosis Using Non-Invasive Biomarkers.

Effective management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a major health problem worldwide, requires accurate and timely diagnosis, prognosis of progression, assessment of therapeutic efficacy, and, ideally, prediction of drug response. Multiple biomarkers and algorithms for evaluating specific aspects of CKD have been proposed in the literature, many of which are based on a small number of samples. Based on the evidence presented in relevant studies, a comprehensive overview of the different biomarkers applicable for clinical implementation is lacking. This review aims to compile information on the non-invasive diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers currently available for the management of CKD and provide guidance on the application of these biomarkers. We specifically focus on biomarkers that have demonstrated added value in prospective studies or those based on prospectively collected samples including at least 100 subjects. Published data demonstrate that several valid non-invasive biomarkers of potential value in the management of CKD are currently available.

Diagnosis and Prediction of CKD Progression by Assessment of Urinary Peptides.

Progressive CKD is generally detected at a late stage by a sustained decline in eGFR and/or the presence of significant albuminuria. With the aim of early and improved risk stratification of patients with CKD, we studied urinary peptides in a large cross-sectional multicenter cohort of 1990 individuals, including 522 with follow-up data, using proteome analysis. We validated that a previously established multipeptide urinary biomarker classifier performed significantly better in detecting and predicting progression of CKD than the current clinical standard, urinary albumin. The classifier was also more sensitive for identifying patients with rapidly progressing CKD. Compared with the combination of baseline eGFR and albuminuria (area under the curve [AUC]=0.758), the addition of the multipeptide biomarker classifier significantly improved CKD risk prediction (AUC=0.831) as assessed by the net reclassification index (0.303±-0.065; P<0.001) and integrated discrimination improvement (0.058±0.014; P<0.001). Correlation of individual urinary peptides with CKD stage and progression showed that the peptides that associated with CKD, irrespective of CKD stage or CKD progression, were either fragments of the major circulating proteins, suggesting failure of the glomerular filtration barrier sieving properties, or different collagen fragments, suggesting accumulation of intrarenal extracellular matrix. Furthermore, protein fragments associated with progression of CKD originated mostly from proteins related to inflammation and tissue repair. Results of this study suggest that urinary proteome analysis might significantly improve the current state of the art of CKD detection and outcome prediction and that identification of the urinary peptides allows insight into various ongoing pathophysiologic processes in CKD.

Cost-effectiveness of Barostim therapy for the treatment of resistant hypertension in European settings.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to simulate the cost-effectiveness and the long-term clinical performance of the Barostim neo System for the treatment of resistant hypertension when compared to optimal medical treatment. METHODS: A decision analytic model with a combination of a decision tree and Markov process was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Barostim. The clinical effectiveness of Barostim was based on the results of the randomized, placebo-controlled Rheos trial and the follow-up substudy of the DEBuT-HT trial. The cost-effectiveness was modelled from a German societal perspective over a lifetime horizon. Patients with high SBP levels have an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and end-stage renal disease. RESULTS: In a simulated cohort of 50-year-old patients at high risk of end-organ damage, Barostim therapy generated 1.66 additional life-years and 2.17 additional quality-adjusted life years with an incremental cost of &OV0556;16 891 when compared with continuation of medical management. Barostim was estimated to be cost-effective compared with optimal medical treatment with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of &OV0556;7 797/QALY. In the model, Barostim reduced over a lifetime the rates of myocardial infarction by 19%, stroke by 35%, heart failure by 12% and end-stage renal disease by 23%. The cost-effectiveness of Barostim can be greater in younger patients with resistant hypertension and in patients with significant risk factors for end-organ damage. CONCLUSION: Barostim may be a cost-effective treatment when compared with optimal medical management in patients with resistant hypertension.