Acute renal failure (ARF) is a very common condition that affects around 5-20% of all hospitalized patients in Europe and worldwide and is associated with a high mortality rate. ARF can not only lead to serious complications in the short term, but also significantly increase the risk of long-term kidney dysfunction. A reliable diagnosis of ARF as early as possible is therefore a crucial prerequisite for effective treatment and the prevention of acute and long-term damage.
Based on a new type of biomarker that can be detected in urine, Prof. Dr. Worzfeld's working group is developing diagnostic tests for humans and animals that are intended to replace the previous gold standard, the determination of creatinine levels in the blood. The creatinine concentration in the blood only rises when 50% of kidney function has already been lost and depends also on muscle mass. With the help of the newly developed, non-invasive test with very high sensitivity and specificity, ANV can in future be diagnosed and treated earlier and independently of external factors as well as the genesis of ANV.