Could New Medical Device Predict Kidney Failure?

A recent study shows that researchers may be able to predict kidney failure or death after injury with the help of a new medical device.

According to researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, they looked at the compound called myoglobin that is commonly found in the kidneys as failure of the organ is about to occur.

"Currently doctors cannot easily predict which patients are most likely to have severe kidney failure or die from rhabdomyolysis," Gearoid McMahon, MB, BCh, a clinical fellow in BWH's Department of Medicine and lead author on this study said, via a press release. "Using routinely available clinical variables, we have developed a new risk prediction score that doctors can use to help predict a patient's expected outcome and plan for treatment accordingly."

The researchers conducted a retrospective study of 2,371 patients between 2000 and 2001, analyzing variables that are thought to be associated with poor outcomes involving this patient population, including various factors such as age, gender and CPK levels. This created a prediction score based on the variables and the outcomes, as well, in order to predict scores.

"This model may be particularly useful to evaluate and triage patients in the Emergency Department (ED)," Sushrut Waikar, MD, MPH, director of Renal and Ambulatory Services at BWH and senior author of the study said, via the release. "By current practice standards, patients with rhabdomyolysis are treated similarly regardless of the underlying cause and overall risk profile. Knowledge of the predicted risk of adverse outcomes may lead clinicians to choose different treatment options such as intravenous fluid administration in the ED followed by discharge with plans for repeat outpatient labs, rather than inpatient hospitalization for observation."

Now they look to validate this risk score in other populations in order to proberly test the tool's ability regarding treatment decisions.

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More information regarding the study can be found via JAMA Internal Medicine.