A new research has discovered that sickle gene predisposes an individual to an elevated risk of kidney failure requiring dialysis. The study was pioneered by Rakhi Naik, MD, MHS and Marguerite Irvin, PhD both from John Hopkins University and University of Alabama at Brimingham respectively.
According to Medical Xpress, both Naik and Irvin have analyzed data from a large population-based study. The team has evaluated 9,909 African Americans; 739 having sickle cell trait and 243 having hemoglobin C trait. Both of the mentioned traits are common in African Americans and have been linked to chronic kidney disease. The purpose study is to discover the potential relationship of these genetic variants with kidney failure requiring dialysis.
It was found that kidney failure requiring dialysis developed in 5.4 percent (40 of 739) of individuals with sickle cell trait, 2.5 percent (6 of 243) of individuals with hemoglobin C trait, and lastly, 2.6 percent (234 of 8927) of non-carrier individuals from the median follow-up of 6.5 years. Thus, the incidence rate for the organ failure is 8.5 per 1,000 person-years for participants with sickle cell trait and 4.0 in 1000 person-years for non-carriers.
Hematology defined sickle cell trait (SCT) as an inherited blood disorder that affects one to three million Americans and eight to ten percent of African Americans. Most people with SCT suffer no symptoms and will not have any health complications. However, in the current study it has been associated to be a predisposing factor to kidney failure requiring dialysis.
People born with sickle cell trait when exposed to extreme conditions such as extensive physical activity or high altitude may develop deformed or sickled red cell. Compared with individuals without SCT, patients with SCT have a twofold increased risk of developing kidney failure. Hemoglobin C on the other hand, has no association with the kidney disease or kidney failure.
Newborn screening program in United States have included the identification of SCT. However, officials have warned that having SCT is inevitable and thus, the symptoms and underlying conditions in developing kidney failure requiring dialysis should be treated proactively.
