Novel blood test predicts kidney disease

Launched earlier this month, a novel blood test for detecting an individual’s risk of developing diabetic kidney disease is now available in Australia.
 
The test’s manufacturer says the test can predict the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes patients ‘up to four years before clinical symptoms appear’.
 
It suggests this ‘early warning’ provides healthcare professionals with ‘a critical window to intervene’, enabling better patient management and reducing the risk of severe kidney complications, including kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplant.
 
Dr Gary Deed, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Diabetes, said while the new test is ‘conceptually a novel idea’ he describes it as ‘a predictive test that shows risks in an asymptomatic but risk population’.
 
‘The downsides are the costs of this test, both economically but also to personal distress if a test comes back positive,’ he told newsGP.
 
Globally, diabetes is the number one cause of CKD. More than 1.5 million Australians live with diabetes and research estimates around one in two adults with diabetes will develop CKD.
 
Without early detection and optimal treatment, CKD may limit life expectancy and lead to patients requiring complex management including dialysis or kidney transplant.
 
Dr Deed says the development of the blood test is ‘a reminder for GPs that risks for diabetic kidney disease are well understood’, saying their focus should remain on the goals of management of type 2 diabetes.
 
‘If we did this for the majority, or all of our patients, then the test would not be needed,’ he said.
 
Dr Deed also emphasises the critical role of health education in the prevention of diabetic kidney disease and other potential complications of diabetes.
 
‘It would be better that we educate the public, and primary care, to start early in diabetes and use patient-centred care by applying diabetes cycle-of-care goals,’ he said.
 
‘We need to remind people with diabetes that seeing their GP regularly and having advice of ceasing smoking and changing lifestyle, while getting regular monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, will help you live to your best with diabetes.’
 
Estimated to cost around $245, how accessible the new test will be to Australians is yet to be determined.
 
The manufacturer says they want to make the test ‘accessible to all Australians living with diabetes’ and have plans to ‘explore potential reimbursement pathways’ with health insurers, patient advocacy groups, and government bodies.
 
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