Now, an international research team led by the University of Zurich has uncovered a major genetic risk factor. According to their study, a common variant of the AQP1 gene (also called Aquaporin-1, a gene which codes for water channels), results in fewer water channels in cell membranes, leading to a higher risk of death in dialysis patients.
NCCR scientist Olivier Devuyst coordinated the study, which followed 1,851 patients for several years. "The identification of this common genetic factor regulating the expression of Aquaporin-1, which is associated with a higher risk of death and technique failure, provides a big step for precision medicine in dialysis", says Devuyst. "The gene variant is driving the outcome of peritoneal dialysis and the choice of treatment modalities, which is very important for the care and outcome of patients with kidney failure," he adds.
Read more about these exciting findings here: https://www.media.uzh.ch/en/Press-Releases/2021/Dialysis-patients.html
The original publication can be found here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34670044/