More Effective Treatment with Precise Measurements

Kidney disease is America’s ninth leading cause of death (more than 14 people out of 100,000, according to the CDC. Kidney failure causes more deaths than breast cancer and colorectal cancer combined in the US.  A more accurate way to measure kidney function has the potential to provide more effective treatment.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) 

Acute Kidney Injury refers to an abrupt decrease in kidney function. It is a deadly disease process affecting up to 20% of all U.S. hospitalized patients and 30% of Intensive Care Unit patients. The severity of kidney injury determines hospital outcomes and is directly correlated to length of hospital stay, hospital costs, the need for renal replacement therapy, and mortality rates.

There is currently no clinically viable way to quantify the severity of kidney injury.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease, also called chronic kidney failure, describes the gradual loss of kidney function. It is estimated that this disease affects 500 million people. The National Institutes of Health estimate that one in eight Americans have CKD due to an increase in diabetes mellitus and hypertension and is expected to grow due to the diabetes epidemic.

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the progression of CKD. Each year, approximately 490,000 patients are treated for ESRD. The cumulative global cost from dialysis and transplantation over the next decade is predicted to exceed $1 trillion.

Why Is Measured Kidney Function Important?

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is the body’s primary indicator of kidney health, injury, disease progression and recovery. Current measures of kidney function are primarily estimates based on surrogate markers (eGFR), which lag the decrease in kidney function. A precise assessment of GFR (mGFR) provides a better path for precise treatment and medication dosage.