Breakthrough in Kidney Disease Monitoring: Eye Scans Offer Key Insights
This innovation addresses the challenge of asymptomatic early-stage kidney disease by utilizing highly magnified images of the retina to glean crucial information about kidney health.
Marking World Kidney Day 2023 at MTRH/Photo Courtesy
Cutting-edge research reveals a novel method for tracking kidney disease progression through non-invasive eye scans. This innovation addresses the challenge of asymptomatic early-stage kidney disease by utilizing highly magnified images of the retina to glean crucial information about kidney health.
Experts suggest that this technology has the potential to facilitate early diagnosis, a critical aspect given that existing screening tests often miss the condition until significant kidney damage has occurred. Researchers, led by the University of Edinburgh, closely examined changes in the retina, the layer responsible for sensing light and transmitting signals to the brain, using advanced 3D retinal images obtained through optical coherence tomography (OCT).
In a study involving 86 healthy volunteers and 204 patients with varying stages of kidney disease, the team discovered that thinner retinas correlated with declining kidney function in chronic kidney disease patients. Remarkably, successful kidney transplants led to the reversal of retinal thinning, while severe cases showed rapid thickening post-surgery.
Routine eye exams could prove pivotal in early detection and monitoring, enabling lifestyle modifications to mitigate health risks, particularly for individuals susceptible to kidney disease due to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Moreover, the technology, supported by Heidelberg Engineering’s imaging platform, could play a significant role in drug development by measuring retinal changes indicative of kidney responses to potential treatments.
Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 7.2 million people in the United Kingdom, costing the National Health Service £7 billion annually. Dr. Neeraj Dhaun, a professor of nephrology at the University of Edinburgh, expresses optimism, stating, “This research, which shows that the eye is a useful window into the kidney, will help identify more people with early kidney disease, providing an opportunity to start treatments before it progresses.”
Dr. Aisling McMahon, Executive Director of Research and Policy at Kidney Research UK, highlights the potential for reduced invasiveness in monitoring kidney health, potentially sparing patients from additional invasive procedures. The study, funded by Kidney Research UK and supported by Edinburgh Innovations, was published in Nature Communications.
Report by Jesse Abisheck
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