For example, one study showed that patients with type 2 diabetes in the top quartile for circulating TNF receptor 1 had a cumulative 12-year incidence of end-stage renal disease of 54%, compared to just 3% in patients in the other quartiles (J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 2012;23:507-15).
"Lots of companies are looking at these now. These markers may be coming our way as indicators of people with diabetes who are likely to progress to kidney disease," Dr. Stanton said.
He reported serving as a consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim.