Open Access Opinion

Known to Unknown: Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Aetiology in Sri Lanka, a Deductive Approach

T B Ananda Jayalal*

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka

Corresponding Author

Received Date: December 20, 2019;  Published Date: January 10, 2020

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease is a global health issue as its prevalence is increasing. Sri Lanka is facing a special kind of tubulointerstitial type of nephropathy in certain geographical locations of the island in epidemic proportions of which cause is not certain and it is not related to hypertension diabetes or other conventional known causative factors. Number or environmental toxins are incriminated as a causative factor for this disease. Nearly three decades have passed following identification of the clinical entity, up to date causation had not been established and appropriate public health intervention had not been agreed upon. This opinion paper was developed in order to guide the future researches on this subject after reviewing the literature. Considering the environmental toxins known to cause chronic renal failure and from available data and evidence, it may be concluded that heavy metals lead, cadmium along with fluoride can be considered as more important chemicals. They should be looked in to in researching the CKDu and designing public health interventions to reduce disease burden of CKDu in Sri Lanka. Most scientific and logical approach would be prioritize and investigate the most possible causes and other factors also looked into once the prioritized factors excluded in a resource constrained setting.

Keywords: CKDu; Sri lanka; Chronic kidney disease; CINAC; Lead; Fluoride

Abbreviations: CINAC: Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy among Agricultural Communities; CKDu: Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Aetiology

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