News Release

Metabolite secreted in urine may cause cognitive impairment in kidney failure patients

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Society of Nephrology

Highlights

  • A metabolite that is normally excreted in urine was linked with impaired cognitive function in patients with kidney failure.
  • The metabolite has been previously linked to cognitive impairment in other patient populations.

Washington, DC (July 21, 2016) -- Retention of certain metabolites in the blood may contribute to cognitive impairment in patients with kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings may lead to interventions to safeguard the mental health of patients with poor kidney function.

In patients with compromised kidney function, the retention of compounds that are normally removed from the body and excreted in urine may contribute to various health problems. To investigate a potential link between retained metabolites and cognitive impairment, Manjula Kurella Tamura, MD, MPH (Stanford University and Veterans Affairs Palo Alto) and her colleagues analyzed the blood of 141 patients with kidney failure who took tests on cognitive function.

Levels of 4 metabolites in the blood--4-hydroxyphenylacetate, phenylacetylglutamine, hippurate, and prolyl-hydroxyproline--were associated with impaired cognitive function. The first 3 are primarily produced by bacteria that reside in the gut. When the researchers screened for the metabolites in an additional 180 patients with kidney failure, the association between 4-hydroxyphenylacetate and impaired cognitive function was replicated.

"This metabolite has been previously linked to cognitive impairment in patients with liver failure and in patients with inborn errors of urea synthesis," said Dr. Tamura. "We believe these findings are timely, given recent interest in the role of the gut microbiome in human disease."

###

Study co-authors include Glenn Chertow, MD, MPH, Thomas Depner, MD, Allen Nissenson, MD, Brigitte Schiller, MD, Ravindra Mehta, MD, Sai Liu, MPH, and Tammy Sirich, MD.

Disclosures: This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01 DK03005 to GMC), a Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award in Aging (K23AG028952 to MKT) from the National Institute on Aging, a Norman S. Coplon Award from Satellite Research (to MKT), and by the Department of Veterans Affairs (CX001036-01A1 to TS). Dr. Nissenson is Chief Medical Officer of DaVita, Inc, and Dr. Schiller is Chief Medical Officer of Satellite.

The article, entitled "Metabolic Profiling of Impaired Cognitive Function in Patients Receiving Dialysis," will appear online at http://jasn.asnjournals.org/ on July 21, 2016, doi: 10.1681/ASN.2016010039.

The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.

Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has nearly 16,000 members representing 112 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.asn-online.org or contact us at 202-640-4660.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.