A comprehensive review of new potential biomarkers in the detection of chronic kidney disease

Biomarkers. 2025 Nov;30(7):503-515. doi: 10.1080/1354750X.2025.2586589. Epub 2025 Nov 17.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) typically shows no symptoms in its initial stages. A quick diagnosis (stages 1-3) can change the course of CKD and lessen its effects. Significant kidney damage becomes apparent during stages 4 and 5, which typically leads to end-stage renal failure. Although blood urea and serum creatinine (sCr) values are mainly used to diagnose CKD, sCr has shown low predictive ability.

Methods: We searched Pubmed, google scholar, and various databases to see the role of various biomarkers in CKD. The advent of new methods will enable the discovery of new biomarkers in renal disorders due to advancements in transcriptomics, genomes, epigenetics, proteomics, and metabolomics.

Results: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), Galectin-3, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), Interleukin 18 (IL-18), Immunoglobulin G, Liver Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (L-FABP), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), miRNA biomarker, uromodulin, Nephrin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), proteomic and metabolomic biomarkers, as well as podocalyxin are few novel potential biomarkers for CKD detection as well as forecasting outcomes presented in this review.

Conclusion: It appears that novel markers could replace traditional ones in future and evaluation of their effectiveness, sensitivity, specificity etc. are also necessary.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; biomarkers; galactin-3; neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; serum creatinine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Arginine / blood
  • Biomarkers* / blood
  • Biomarkers* / urine
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-18 / blood
  • Lipocalin-2 / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / diagnosis
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1
  • HAVCR1 protein, human
  • Arginine
  • Lipocalin-2
  • Interleukin-18