Washington, D.C.— Indian American scientists and their research team have made a breakthrough discovery that finally explains why people with chronic kidney disease face such a high risk of heart failure.
Researchers at UVA Health and Mount Sinai have identified that diseased kidneys release toxic particles that directly damage the heart, potentially revolutionizing how doctors diagnose and treat both conditions.
Key Facts
• More than 50% of patients with advanced kidney disease develop cardiovascular problems, according to medical studies
• Researchers discovered that damaged kidneys produce extracellular vesicles carrying toxic genetic material that harms heart tissue
• The groundbreaking study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation, with findings applicable to precision medicine
For decades, doctors have observed that kidney and heart problems often occur together, but the exact mechanism remained mysterious. Scientists struggled because patients with kidney disease typically shared other risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, making it difficult to pinpoint kidney-specific causes.
The common understanding was that fluid retention from kidney failure simply put extra strain on the heart muscle.
Then researchers from UVA and Mount Sinai decided to investigate at the cellular level. They studied tiny liquid-filled sacs called extracellular vesicles, which are produced by almost all cells as messengers in the body.
When comparing blood samples from 50 people—some with varying degrees of kidney disease and others completely healthy—scientists made a startling discovery.
The blood from kidney disease patients contained vesicles carrying a toxic type of genetic material called microRNA that actively damaged heart tissue. Crucially, these harmful vesicles were produced only by diseased kidneys and were completely absent in healthy patients.
In laboratory tests using mice, blocking these toxic particles actually improved heart function and reduced heart failure symptoms.
This discovery represents the first time scientists have proven this direct causal relationship between kidney disease and heart damage.
The implications are profound for Indian American patients and communities where kidney disease and diabetes are particularly prevalent. Early detection could become possible through blood tests measuring these cardiotoxic microRNAs before patients show any symptoms.
Doctors could then intervene more aggressively with higher drug dosages or medication combinations specifically tailored for at-risk patients.
Susmita Sahoo, the study's senior author and an associate professor at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Mount Sinai, emphasized the clinical potential:
This precision medicine approach could save countless lives by preventing heart failure before it develops.
Experts emphasize that much work remains. Researchers are now planning larger, longer-term studies to track whether kidney disease patients who have these toxic particles actually develop heart conditions. Additional validation is needed to confirm these findings apply broadly across different populations. Joseph Vassalotti, chief medical officer of the National Kidney Foundation, cautioned that these are
requiring substantial additional research.
Meanwhile, nephrologists urge people at risk for kidney disease to monitor their health closely. Simple blood and urine tests can diagnose kidney problems early.
Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of kidney disease, and for women, pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Taking action now could protect both kidney and heart health.
Do You Know?
Almost 1 in 2 individuals with heart failure will have some degree of kidney dysfunction, and kidney disease is a very powerful risk enhancer for developing heart failure, according to nephrologist Janani Rangaswami from George Washington University.
Key Terms
• Extracellular Vesicles: Tiny particles produced by cells that carry proteins and genetic material between different organs as cellular messengers
• MicroRNA: Small non-coding genetic material that controls basic life activities and can affect how organs function
• Chronic Kidney Disease: A condition where kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood over time
• Biomarkers: Measurable indicators in the body that can help doctors identify disease risk or progression
Photo by Pexels