New blood test could identify heart and kidney disease years before people fall ill: Patients could benefit from life-changing early interventions
A simple blood test could reveal whether a person is developing heart or kidney disease years before symptoms appear, scientists say.Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a way to detect microscopic damage inside blood vessels - changes linked to some of the world's biggest killers.The test works by analysing subtle chemical changes on red blood cells, which scientists say carry a hidden 'fingerprint' of damage occurring deep inside the body. The research, published today in Nature Communications, reveals a novel method for identifying damage to the lining of microscopic blood vessels, potentially allowing doctors to spot disease before symptoms appear.Until now, monitoring the health of the vast network of tiny blood vessels that supply vital organs with oxygen and nutrients has remained largely inaccessible to medicine.In the new study, scientists found that damage to the lining of these microscopic blood vessels signals the earliest stages of heart and kidney disease - conditions that together account for one in three deaths worldwide.Previously, detecting this type of vascular damage relied on invasive tissue biopsies and advanced microscopy techniques.The researchers focused on the glycocalyx, a thin protective coating lining blood vessels which regulates what moves in and out of the bloodstream. Researchers have discovered a way to detect microscopic damage inside blood vesselsThey found that damage to this layer appears to be one of the earliest warning signs of heart and kidney disease.Using advanced chemical techniques, the team discovered red blood cells carry a biochemical 'imprint' reflecting the health of the blood vessel lining.The findings could pave the way for a simple blood test capable of detecting blood vessel damage far earlier than current methods. However, the test remains experimental and further studies will be needed before it can be used routinely by the NHS.Dr Matthew Butler, the study's lead author, said: 'The health of our blood vessels is central to our overall health and monitoring blood vessel damage has been a routine part of healthcare for decades.'However, a huge portion of the vascular system is currently inaccessible to doctors and scientists because the vessels are too small to be seen.'Our results suggest that we can use changes occurring at the surface of red blood cells to identify microscopic blood vessel damage before other markers become detectable.'Most excitingly, we can also rapidly detect when drugs are effective at restoring the blood vessel lining.'These findings could transform our ability to spot and treat disease before it progresses to become potentially irreversible or life-threatening.'Professor Simon Satchell, Professor of Renal and Vascular Medicine at the University of Bristol, added: 'Our findings provide a powerful tool for identifying potential health issues at a much earlier stage.'This discovery could pave the way for proactive, preventative healthcare, offering the possibility of addressing diseases before they develop.'Dr David Crosby, chief research officer at Kidney Research UK, said: 'We are delighted to hear the results of this research from Dr Butler, Professor Satchell and their team at the University of Bristol.'Our cardiovascular health is closely linked to our kidney health. This novel method for assessing the health of our tiny, microscopic blood vessels is key to identifying damage happening in the early stages of kidney and heart disease.'More research is needed, but this new method may give us a window of opportunity to detect disease and intervene early, and to save lives - we're excited to see how this progresses.'The study was directly funded by the Medical Research Council and Kidney Research UK. The British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK funded one or more of the co-authors.
The findings come amid growing concern over cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome - a little-known condition experts say may affect millions of Brits.The condition links heart disease, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. When these conditions occur together, they dramatically accelerate damage to the heart, blood vessels and kidneys.Yet CKM does not have formal status within the NHS. Instead, patients are typically treated for each illness separately - a fragmented approach, clinicians say, leaves people unaware of their true level of risk and delays potentially life-saving intervention.Estimates suggest a further 40 million adults could go on to develop the syndrome in the coming years.A landmark study published last year found that treating the conditions together, rather than in isolation, significantly reduced the risk of heart attack.It reflects the reality that damage in one system can rapidly trigger damage in others, sharply increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and early death.The term was coined by the American Heart Association to help doctors identify high-risk patients earlier and treat the conditions together, instead of waiting for multiple diagnoses. In the US, it is now used to guide screening, treatment and prevention.
