Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern with an increasing proportion of sufferers progressing to renal replacement therapy (RRT). Early identification of those at risk of disease progression could be key in improving outcomes. We hypothesise that urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein (uL-FABP) may be a suitable biomarker for CKD progression and can add value to currently established biomarkers such as the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (uPCR). A total of 583 participants with CKD 1-5 (not receiving renal replacement therapy) entered a 2 yr prospective longitudinal study. UPCR and uL-FABP were measured at baseline and CKD progression was defined as either (i) a decline in eGFR of >5 mL/min/1.73 m2 or an increase in serum creatinine by 10% at 1 yr; (ii) a decline in eGFR of >6 mL/min/1.73 m2 or an increase in serum creatinine by 20% at 2 yrs; or (iii) the initiation of RRT. A combined outcome of initiating RRT or death was also included. Approximately 40% of participants showed CKD progression. uL-FABP predicted CKD progression at both years 1 and 2 (OR 1.01, p < 0.01). Sensitivity and specificity were comparable to those of uPCR (AUC 0.623 v 0.706) and heat map analysis suggested that uL-FABP in the absence of significant proteinuria can predict an increase in serum creatinine of 10% at 1 yr and 20% at 2 yrs. The risk of the combined outcome of initiating RRT or death was 23% higher in those with high uL-FABP (p < 0.01) independent of uPCR. uL-FABP appears to be a highly sensitive and specific biomarker of CKD progression. The use of this biomarker could enhance the risk stratification of CKD and its progression and should be assessed further.
Keywords: biomarkers; chronic kidney disease; urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein; urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio.