Genome-wide association studies reconstructing chronic kidney disease

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Genetics
• Genomics

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 850 million people globally, representing a significant health burden and the 16th leading cause of years of life lost.
• Despite its prevalence, CKD faces challenges including low public awareness, inadequate clinical access, and ineffective treatments due to unclear therapeutic targets and causal ambiguity.
• While diabetes and hypertension are primary causes, genetic factors play a crucial, yet often underestimated, role in CKD predisposition and pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are fundamentally reshaping the understanding and diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• The identification of genetic variants provides crucial insights into the complex mechanisms underlying CKD.
• Genetic discoveries hold promise for developing more effective treatments and therapeutic strategies for CKD patients.