A
large multicohort study, conducted by a research team at John Hopkins University
in Baltimore, found a possible association between sickle cell trait (SCT) and chronic
kidney disease (CKD.) African Americans with a sickle cell trait do not develop
sickle cell anemia but instead carry a single copy of the gene that is known to
cause the disease. Sickle cell anemia is a disease that is characterized
by misshaped red blood cells (sickle cells) that are sticky and
stiff leaving the blood vessels more prone to obstruction. In
contrast, SCT is less severe where only in very rare cases
do people develop deformed red blood cells as a result of severe dehydration.
The
researchers noted a gap in knowledge regarding possible conditions influenced by
SCT. They highlight that African Americans have a disproportionately higher
risk of developing chronic kidney disease and progression to end-stage renal
disease (ERD.) “SCT may be an important
and unrecognized risk factor for renal disease in this population.” The study
analyzed 5 US population based studies involving 2,233 African American
participants 1,248 of which has SCT. 2,233 individuals had CKD, with 19.2% of
individuals with SCT and 13.5 without the condition.
These
findings imply that there is a higher risk for developing CKD in African
Americans with SCT. In addition, researchers found that individuals with SCT
have a faster decline in the rate at which fluids are filtered through the
kidney. Further, 31.8% of people with SCT experienced albuminuria, a sign of a
kidney disorder characterized by excessive protein in urine.
This
study suggests the need for more research on kidney disease and other renal
complications. Kidney failure is the 8th leading cause of deaths in the
US. 90% of people with stage 3 CKD are unaware (Kidney Fund.Org, 2012.) This
article is specifically significant to me because I have family members who have complications
with their kidneys and who are on dialysis. If there is a better way
to detect possible links between genes and the development of kidney disease
perhaps possible interventions and medications can decrease the number of
people affected in this vulnerable population.
Additional Link: Kidney Fund. Org. (2012, August
12). Kidney Disease Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.kidneyfund.org/about-us/assets/pdfs/akf-kidneydiseasestatistics-2012.pdf
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