Simple urine test could improve kidney transplant decisions and save hundreds more donor kidneys
A new study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that a simple urine test performed on deceased kidney donors could help doctors make better transplant decisions, giving more people access to successful kidney transplants while reducing the number of deceased donor kidneys that go unused.
A new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that a simple urine test could enhance kidney transplant decisions and save more donor kidneys. By testing deceased donor kidneys for three urinary biomarkers alongside the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI), doctors can make more accurate decisions regarding organ quality.
This enhanced assessment proved to be 86% predictive of long-term graft function in 474 deceased donor kidneys, compared to 80% accuracy with the KDPI alone. The three biomarkers—uromodulin, osteopontin, and YKL-40—can be measured using inexpensive urinary flow devices, similar to at-home pregnancy tests, providing results within 30 minutes.
Incorporating these biomarkers into the kidney transplant evaluation process could reduce unnecessary kidney biopsies by 20% and potentially make an additional 700 kidneys available for transplantation, expanding access to life-saving transplants for patients on dialysis.
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