Astute Medical previews upcoming AKI & CRRT 2015 conference to be held in San Diego

Astute Medical, Inc., developer of the NephroCheck^® Test, today previewed the upcoming AKI & CRRT 2015 conference to be held in San Diego from February 17 to February 20. Attended by global leaders in the fields of nephrology and acute kidney injury, AKI & CRRT 2015 is one of the most influential forums in the fields of critical care nephrology and continuous renal replacement therapy (dialysis).

"This year's focus on new paradigms for acute kidney injury (AKI) suggests that the medical community may be turning the corner toward better identification and management of this serious condition," said Paul McPherson, Astute Medical co-founder and chief scientific officer. "Among the highlighted advances is novel biomarker technology that can alert physicians to risk for AKI and may also have prognostic value."

Astute Medical's NephroCheck^® Test is a biomarker-based immunoassay that detects the presence of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth-factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) to aid in risk assessment for moderate to severe AKI. The NephroCheck^® Test is not cleared for prognostic use.

Among the featured events is a symposium, "Improving Outcomes in AKI: How do Biomarkers Fit In?" led by an international panel of nephrology and critical care experts, who will present results from recent clinical studies evaluating biomarkers of AKI. The event, supported in part by an educational grant from Astute Medical, is open to conference attendees.

Additionally, as part of the scientific program investigators will present the following abstracts reviewing new data on the performance of TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7 in regards to AKI risk stratification and prediction of risk for AKI:

• Cell cycle arrest biomarkers accurately predict acute kidney injury in cardiothoracic surgery patients
• Fluid Overload and Elevated Cell Cycle Arrest Biomarkers Independently Predict Death or Renal Replacement Therapy Following Acute Kidney Injury
• Common chronic comorbid conditions do not affect performance of cell cycle arrest biomarkers for risk stratification of acute kidney injury

AKI is an increasingly common complication in hospitalized individuals, and has been linked to a doubling in length of stay, cost and readmissions. Until now, the diagnostic protocol for AKI has largely relied on biomarkers that have been in clinical use for more than 50 years, but are insensitive and slow to change after kidney injury, often leading to a late and inaccurate diagnosis of AKI with resulting adverse outcomes. The guidelines published by the foundation "Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes" (KDIGO) recommend that patients be assessed for risk of AKI to protect their kidney function.