Abstract:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a globally prevalent non-communicable disease with
significant mortality and morbidity. It is typically associated with diabetes and hypertension; however,
over the last two decades, an emergence of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu) has claimed thousands
of lives in several tropical agricultural communities. CKDu is associated with gradual loss of renal
function without initial symptoms until reaching complete kidney failure and eventually death.
The most impacted are young adult males of lower socio-economic strata. Since the disease progression
can be successfully attenuated through early detection, the development of superior screening and
management measures is of utmost importance. In contrast to the conventional biomarkers, novel
biomarkers with improved sensitivity and specificity are being discussed as promising tools for early
diagnosis of the disease. This review summarizes emerging novel biomarkers used in assessing CKD
and discusses the current utility and diagnostic potential of such biomarkers for CKDu screening in
clinical settings of different communities impacted by CKDu. Our goal is to provide a framework for
practitioners in CKDu impacted regions to consider the use of these novel biomarkers through this
synthesis. The increased use of these biomarkers will not only help to validate their diagnostic power
further and establish potential prognostic value but may also provide critical insights into sites and
mechanisms of renal damage.
