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Updated: Jan 26, 2026
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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
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[Laboratory tests for kidney disease].
1Zentrum für Labormedizin und Universitätsinstitut für Klinische Chemie, Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern, Universität Bern, 3010, Bern, Schweiz. martin.fiedler@insel.ch.
Der Internist
|April 19, 2019
Summary
Kidney diseases are often diagnosed late, leading to poor outcomes. New diagnostic markers are needed to improve early detection and prognosis beyond current methods like estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Kidney diseases frequently present with poor prognoses due to late diagnosis.
- Current diagnostic guidelines rely on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using creatinine and cystatin C, and urinary albumin excretion.
- These established markers have limitations, potentially causing diagnostic delays and prognostic misinterpretations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of current kidney disease diagnostic markers.
- To emphasize the need for novel biomarkers for sensitive and specific detection of kidney damage.
- To underscore the role of urinalysis in complementing laboratory diagnostics for kidney diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of current Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines.
- Analysis of limitations associated with functional markers (creatinine, cystatin C) and urinary albumin excretion.
- Evaluation of urinalysis as a complementary diagnostic tool.
Main Results:
- Current eGFR and albuminuria methods have interpretational challenges.
- Diagnostic delays and prognostic inaccuracies can result from existing marker limitations.
- Urinalysis offers valuable insights for screening, localization, and differentiation of kidney diseases.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for new kidney damage markers.
- Novel markers should offer improved sensitivity and specificity for early and accurate diagnosis.
- Urinalysis plays a vital role in the comprehensive diagnostic workup of renal and urinary tract conditions.
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