Khaberni- Scientists have revealed the main reason for the high mortality rate among chronic kidney disease patients due to cardiac complications, as the damaged kidneys secrete tiny molecules directly into the bloodstream, directly poisoning the heart.
These molecules, produced by the diseased kidneys only, carry genetic material that disrupts heart functions and may lead to its failure.
According to "Science Daily", this discovery, made by researchers at the University of Virginia Health Sciences and Mount Sinai Hospital, may help doctors identify patients at risk early and opens the door to new treatments aimed at preventing or slowing heart failure in kidney disease patients.
Uncovering the silent disease
Researcher Uta Erdbrugger said: "Kidney and heart diseases may develop silently, so they’re often only discovered after damage has already occurred. Our findings may help in identifying patients at risk of heart failure early on, allowing for early treatment and improved outcomes."
Risk of heart failure
Kidney and heart disease patients share many overlapping risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure, making it difficult to determine whether the kidneys themselves play a direct role in causing heart damage.
The new study led by Erdbrugger and her colleagues points to a clear cause, as the diseased kidneys secrete tiny particles known as "circulating extracellular vesicles" into the bloodstream.
Extracellular vesicles are produced by nearly all cells and typically function as carriers, transferring proteins and other substances between cells. However, in patients with chronic kidney disease, these vesicles carry tiny molecules of non-coding ribonucleic acid, which the researchers found to be toxic to heart tissue.
