Grant Funds Research On Inflammation, Kidney Disease And Cardiovascular Disease, USA

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 26 Oct 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researcher Thomas P. Erlinger has received a two-year $408,000 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to advance his research on inflammation, kidney disease progression and incident cardiovascular disease.

Chronic kidney disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease share common antecedents, and markers of inflammation have emerged as highly predictive of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events in persons without chronic kidney disease. However, according to Erlinger, the prospective role of inflammation in the setting of moderately impaired renal function has received scant attention.

Erlinger plans to assess the role of inflammation on chronic kidney disease progression and on the occurrence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events using specimens collected as part of the African-American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension study.

"Ultimately, results of this study should enhance our understanding of risk factors and processes that determine the progression of kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular disease among African-Americans with hypertension," said Erlinger. "Such results might eventually lead to new strategies that delay or prevent end-stage kidney disease and its complications."

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston