Characterizing metabolic alterations in early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD): A Pathway for improved diagnosis and treatment

Motivation: Traditional methods for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) do not effectively identify its initial stages, resulting in a delay in treatment. Goal(s): Serum-based biomarkers identified through NMR-based metabolomics in CKD patients could be valuable for detecting the onset of the disease. Approach: Serum samples from early-stage CKD patients (n = 91) demonstrated significant metabolic differences across stages G1, G2, G3A, and G3B when compared to the disease control group (n = 21). Results: Myo-inositol, pyruvate, creatinine, carnitine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, along with 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, exhibited significant differences and may serve as early indicators of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Impact: The regular monitoring of these biomarkers aids in tracking the disease's progression and developing customized treatment plans. Furthermore, the findings guide future research into new therapeutic targets and encourage the application of metabolomic analysis in clinical environments.