Measuring the amount of protein lost in urine can identify individuals at risk for developing kidney disease. According to a study appearing in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) a simple urine screen can address the epidemic of kidney disease.
 
More and more individuals are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) each year, but many people are unaware of their risks of developing the disease. Researchers have been looking for ways to screen and identify people at high risk for kidney function loss at an early stage so preventive measures can be taken. Now investigators have found screening urine samples is a promising strategy.
 
Talk to your physician about getting a urine screening to identify if you are at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.

This article originally appeared in the March 2009 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter.