A new biomarker helps detect kidney fibrosis in transplant patients without invasive procedures

Measuring the levels of vitronectin in urine could improve the detection of kidney fibrosis, according to scientists from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and University Hospital (HUGTiP).

Renal fibrosis is a serious condition that can compromise the function of kidney transplants and potentially lead to transplant failure. Currently, diagnosing fibrosis often requires invasive kidney biopsies, which are uncomfortable, cannot be performed frequently, and are costly. Researchers from the Research in Kidney Affecting Diseases Group (REMAR) and Innovation in Vesicles and Cells for Application in Therapy (IVECAT) groups at IGTP, in collaboration with the Nephrology Department at HUGTiP, have identified a simpler and more accessible alternative: measuring vitronectin levels in urine.

According to Marta Clos Sansalvador, the first author of the study, the results, recently published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, "suggest that urine vitronectin levels could be a reliable indicator of renal fibrosis, with the potential to improve the monitoring and management of transplant patients".

The study included 58 kidney transplant patients who underwent biopsies to analyse the health of their kidney tissue. The patients were divided into two groups: those without fibrosis and those with significant fibrosis. The results showed that vitronectin levels were significantly higher in patients with fibrosis.

Additionally, the study highlights that combining vitronectin measurement with traditional urine tests, such as albumin levels, improves the accuracy of fibrosis detection. Specifically, this combined approach identified 20% more fibrotic cases than current standard tests.

This discovery could pave the way for a less invasive and more comfortable method to monitor kidney health in transplant patients. By using urine analyses, doctors could detect fibrosis earlier, provide better care, and potentially prevent further kidney damage, thereby improving outcomes for transplant recipients.