Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors found in the blood of patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes may predict incidence of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure years later. TNF proteins can trigger inflammation, which has been linked to the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease, but the researchers don’t know if this is the reason why TNF receptors are increased in some patients. They hope to learn more about the connection, which could result in a diagnostic test and improved therapies for high-risk diabetes patients.
Source:
Proteins May Warn of Diabetic Kidney Disease Risk, Science News, February 11, 2012
It is interesting to note that ukrocharity is working towards prevention,treatment and eradication of kidney diseases and also funding researches in this direction. I work on the treatment and management of chronic renal failure with alternative medicine particularly homeopathy medicine,diet and yoga and get very good results for the patients.In the patients on dialysis, kidney function recovers to a great extent and the patients manage to stay well without dialysis. There is greater need for interdisciplinary studies including alternative therapies for better treatment, management and prevention of this critical illness.