Urinary KIM-1 Concentration Interpreted in Detecting AKI
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 25 Mar 2019 |

Image: The Urisys 2400 urine analyzer (Photo courtesy of Roche Diagnostics).
Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) has been identified as a biomarker for the assessment of nephropathy in various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Extensive KIM-1 expression occurs in proximal tubule cells in patients with confirmed acute tubular necrosis.
Urinary KIM-1 concentrations were also significantly correlated with the expression of tissue KIM-1 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Such findings increase the potential use of urinary KIM-1 in the diagnosis or prognosis of CKD, but also results in the difficulties in the interpretation of urinary KIM-1 when it is used in the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI).
Scientists collaborating with those at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON, Canada) obtained 188 urine samples were obtained from adults with normal kidney filtration. Of which 83 of the 188 showed negative urine protein, erythrocytes and leucocytes were used as normal controls. The remaining 105 samples showed at least one abnormal result suggesting possible pre-existing nephropathy.
Routine urine analysis was performed on an Urysis 2400 analyzer of the hospital core laboratory, using a multi-parameter test cassette that measures pH, protein (albumin), glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, nitrite, erythrocyte, leukocyte esterase, and specific gravity. The urinary KIM-1 concentrations were measured in duplicate for each sample using the Quantikine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The limit of detection was 0.009μg/L.
The investigators reported that the results showed significantly increased urinary KIM-1 concentration in protein positive (protein +, erythrocyte +/-, leucocyte+/-) samples compared to controls that were negative for protein, erythrocytes, and leucocytes. Urinary KIM-1 concentrations were significantly higher when proteinuria was at trace concentration (0.25g/L) and correlated with the severity of proteinuria. The creatinine normalized urinary KIM-1 was significantly higher when urine protein was 0.75g/L to 5g/L. The reference interval for urinary KIM-1 was 0 to 4.19 μg/L, and for creatinine normalized urinary KIM-1 0 to 0.58 μg/mmol.
The authors concluded that baseline urinary KIM-1 concentrations were increased when there was detectable urine protein and correlated with its severity. The urinary KIM-1 concentrations should be interpreted with consideration of urine protein levels in individual patients. The study was published on March 7, 2019, in the journal Practical Laboratory Medicine.
Related Links:
Queen’s University
Urinary KIM-1 concentrations were also significantly correlated with the expression of tissue KIM-1 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Such findings increase the potential use of urinary KIM-1 in the diagnosis or prognosis of CKD, but also results in the difficulties in the interpretation of urinary KIM-1 when it is used in the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI).
Scientists collaborating with those at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON, Canada) obtained 188 urine samples were obtained from adults with normal kidney filtration. Of which 83 of the 188 showed negative urine protein, erythrocytes and leucocytes were used as normal controls. The remaining 105 samples showed at least one abnormal result suggesting possible pre-existing nephropathy.
Routine urine analysis was performed on an Urysis 2400 analyzer of the hospital core laboratory, using a multi-parameter test cassette that measures pH, protein (albumin), glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, nitrite, erythrocyte, leukocyte esterase, and specific gravity. The urinary KIM-1 concentrations were measured in duplicate for each sample using the Quantikine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The limit of detection was 0.009μg/L.
The investigators reported that the results showed significantly increased urinary KIM-1 concentration in protein positive (protein +, erythrocyte +/-, leucocyte+/-) samples compared to controls that were negative for protein, erythrocytes, and leucocytes. Urinary KIM-1 concentrations were significantly higher when proteinuria was at trace concentration (0.25g/L) and correlated with the severity of proteinuria. The creatinine normalized urinary KIM-1 was significantly higher when urine protein was 0.75g/L to 5g/L. The reference interval for urinary KIM-1 was 0 to 4.19 μg/L, and for creatinine normalized urinary KIM-1 0 to 0.58 μg/mmol.
The authors concluded that baseline urinary KIM-1 concentrations were increased when there was detectable urine protein and correlated with its severity. The urinary KIM-1 concentrations should be interpreted with consideration of urine protein levels in individual patients. The study was published on March 7, 2019, in the journal Practical Laboratory Medicine.
Related Links:
Queen’s University
Latest Immunology News
- Combined Screening Approach Identifies Early Leprosy Cases
- Antibody Blood Test Identifies Active TB and Distinguishes Latent Infection
- FDA Approval Expands Use of PD-L1 Companion Diagnostic in Esophageal and GEJ Carcinomas
- Study Identifies Inflammatory Pathway Driving Immunotherapy Resistance in Bladder Cancer
- Microfluidic Chip Detects Cancer Recurrence from Immune Response Signals
- Cancer Mutation ‘Fingerprints’ to Improve Prediction of Immunotherapy Response
- Immune Signature Identified in Treatment-Resistant Myasthenia Gravis
- New Biomarker Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Blood Test Identifies Lung Cancer Patients Who Can Benefit from Immunotherapy Drug
- Whole-Genome Sequencing Approach Identifies Cancer Patients Benefitting From PARP-Inhibitor Treatment
- Ultrasensitive Liquid Biopsy Demonstrates Efficacy in Predicting Immunotherapy Response
- Blood Test Could Identify Colon Cancer Patients to Benefit from NSAIDs
- Blood Test Could Detect Adverse Immunotherapy Effects
- Routine Blood Test Can Predict Who Benefits Most from CAR T-Cell Therapy
- New Test Distinguishes Vaccine-Induced False Positives from Active HIV Infection
- Gene Signature Test Predicts Response to Key Breast Cancer Treatment
Channels
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Immune Signatures in Blood Help Inform Cancer Risk in Lynch Syndrome
Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition that increases risk for colorectal and endometrial cancers and often results in earlier-onset disease. Clinicians need better ways to stratify asymptomatic carriers... Read more
Genetic Marker Predicts Early Heart Failure in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive condition characterized by obstructed pulmonary blood flow and strain on the right heart, with half of patients dying within five years of diagnosis.... Read more
Genomic Subtyping Assays Identify High-Risk Early-Stage Breast Cancers
Racial survival disparities in early-stage breast cancer remain a persistent clinical concern in the United States, with Black women experiencing higher mortality despite similar treatments.... Read more
cfDNA Methylation Assay Enables Multi-Disease Detection from Single Blood Sample
Early, accurate detection of cancer and organ disease remains limited by cost, reliance on targeted mutation assays, and uncertainty about the signal’s tissue of origin. Many liquid biopsy approaches require... Read moreHematology
view channel
Open Multi-Omics Platform Identifies Prognostic Subtypes in Blood Cancers
Blood cancers encompass diverse entities whose biology and clinical behavior are best understood through integrative analyses across large cohorts. However, multi‑omic datasets and outcomes information... Read more
AI-Powered Digital Workflow Standardizes Bone Marrow Aspirate Morphology
Bone marrow aspirate examination is central to diagnosing and monitoring blood cancers and other serious hematologic diseases, yet the process in many laboratories remains manual and highly dependent on... Read moreImmunology
view channelCombined Screening Approach Identifies Early Leprosy Cases
Leprosy remains a significant public health concern, with more than 200,000 new cases reported globally each year and early disease often escaping routine laboratory detection. In its initial phase, bacterial... Read more
Antibody Blood Test Identifies Active TB and Distinguishes Latent Infection
Active tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death and illness worldwide, yet distinguishing contagious disease from latent infection continues to challenge clinicians. Standard screening tools... Read more
FDA Approval Expands Use of PD-L1 Companion Diagnostic in Esophageal and GEJ Carcinomas
Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction carcinomas (GEJ) have a poor prognosis, with approximately 16,250 deaths in the United States in 2025 and a five-year relative survival of 21.9%.... Read more
Study Identifies Inflammatory Pathway Driving Immunotherapy Resistance in Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer remains a prevalent malignancy with variable responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Clinicians often observe elevated C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in affected patients, yet the... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
New Bacterial Target Identified for Early Detection of Noma
Noma is a rapidly progressing orofacial infection that begins as gingivitis and can destroy oral and facial tissues, primarily affecting young children living in extreme poverty. Without treatment, it... Read more
Genomic Analysis Links Emerging Streptococcal Strains to Specific Infections
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) infections are increasing worldwide and include variants that may lead to severe disease. Researchers now report that whole-genome sequencing of... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer often presents at an extensive stage and progresses rapidly, leaving little time to tailor first-line therapy. Clinicians currently lack biomarkers to guide which patients will benefit... Read more
Tumor-Specific Biomarker Predicts Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Response in Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with China bearing nearly half of the global burden. Only a subset of patients benefit from... Read moreTechnology
view channel
New AI Tool Enables Rapid Treatment Selection in Pediatric Leukemia
Children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia face an aggressive disease that remains difficult to treat. Although remission rates have improved, many survivors experience long-term effects from intensive... Read more
Breakthrough Mass Spectrometry Design Could Enable Ultra-Low Abundance Detection
Mass spectrometry is central to identifying and quantifying molecules in complex biological samples, but conventional instruments typically analyze ions sequentially, which can limit detection of rare species.... Read moreIndustry
view channelGlobal Partnership Aims to Streamline NGS Tumor Profiling in Oncology Trials
CellCarta and Pillar Biosciences announced a global, multi-year strategic partnership on April 2, 2026 to broaden access to operationally streamlined next-generation sequencing (NGS) tumor profiling for... Read more







