This technology employs the measurement of urinary hyaluronic acid (HA) levels as a biomarker to monitor kidney injury and predict long-term dialysis dependence. By obtaining multiple urine samples over a two-week period after an acute kidney injury, it correlates persistent HA elevation with the absence of renal recovery beyond 60 days. The assay utilizes a competitive binding method similar to an ELISA test, where the interaction between HA and its binding protein is measured to assess HA concentrations. This approach provides an early indicator of patients at risk for progressing to chronic kidney disease, allowing for timely and targeted treatment interventions.
Description
The distinct advantage of this technology lies in its ability to stratify risk earlier and more accurately than traditional methods like serum creatinine measurements. The robust data analysis, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluations, demonstrates high sensitivity in predicting long-term dialysis needs. This early risk assessment empowers healthcare professionals to implement preventative strategies and customize patient care, ultimately improving outcomes in kidney disease management.
Applications
• Early dialysis dependence prediction
• Urinary biomarker diagnostic kits
• Targeted CKD prevention strategies
• Patient risk stratification systems
• Automated dialysis need monitoring
Advantages
• Facilitates early identification and stratification of patients at risk for long-term dialysis dependence following AKI.
• Enables targeted, timely interventions to prevent progression to chronic kidney disease.
• Utilizes a non-invasive urine biomarker assay for monitoring patient recovery.
• Provides reliable predictive accuracy by tracking persistent elevation of hyaluronic acid levels.
• Supports personalized management plans and improved patient outcomes in kidney disease treatment.
Invention Readiness
A pilot study, including 43 patients with AKI, identified urinary hyaluronic acid (HA) as a potential biomarker. HA, a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan, is widely distributed in the body, plays an important role in tissue repair and accumulates during tissue injury. The pilot study found those patients with persistent elevation of urinary HA in the 2 weeks following the initial AKI were most likely to require dialysis beyond 60 days, indicating lack of recovery of renal function. With the identification of HA as a biomarker of interest, further work is required to develop testing approaches and validate clinically normal ranges to allow this test to be used more widely.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8815602B2
