Proteomic Analysis of Amniotic Fluid to Predict Postnatal Renal Function in Fetuses With Renal and Urinary Tract Malformations

Overview

The aim of this project is to validate a previously established amniotic fluid 98 peptide signature predictive of post-natal outcome in fetuses with congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract (CAKUT) in a "real" clinical context. It includes the feasibility of collecting, transporting and analyzing the amniotic fluid peptidome from clinical centers all over France and of providing the result in a clinically accepted time-frame. Therefore, this multicenter study will not only allow to determine the added value of such new prenatal test but also to ensure the feasibility of its introduction in the management of CAKUT pregnancies.

CAKUT represent 20-30% of all inborn malformations. Whereas prognosis is generally favorable in unilateral disease, bilateral CAKUT are the predominant causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in childhood and account for \~50% of pediatric and young adult end stage renal disease (ESRD) cases. Current ultrasound- or amniotic fluid biochemistry-based prenatal clinical advice to parents expecting a child with bilateral CAKUT is far from accurate. This prognostic uncertainty of disease progression has particularly serious implications for parents confronted with the decision of continuation or elective termination of pregnancy. Such uncertainty has led to documented situations where half of the cases of severe bilateral CAKUT for whom termination of pregnancy was considered but not performed had normal postnatal renal function. In the case parents decide to continue the pregnancy, knowledge of the precise outcome would allow anticipating dialysis, transplantation or palliative care. 98 peptide signature have been identified in amniotic liquid that predicted with high sensitivity and specificity postnatal kidney function in fetuses with CAKUT (Klein, Buffin-Meyer et al., Kidney Int 2021). The aim of the current project is to validate this signature in an independent multicenter French study and determine added value and feasibility of its introduction in the routine management of CAKUT pregnancies. After the discovery of a CAKUT pregnancy in an associated French center and approval and informed consent of the parents, part of the amniotic fluid (\~ 1 mL) that is routinely collected for chromosomal anomalies is transferred to the research laboratory Inserm U1297 in Toulouse. The peptide content of the amniotic fluid is analyzed allowing the evaluation of the abundance of the 98 peptides of the signature. It will result in a risk score for developing severe kidney failure before the age of 2 years, postnatally. This score will be communicated by the clinicians from Toulouse responsible for the project to the clinicians of the center requesting the analysis.