Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41893549›Full record

ReviewToxins2026

Uremic Toxins and the Lung Alveolar Capillary Barrier: A Narrative Review.

Saleh Kaysi, Maxime Taghavi, Alissa El Mourabi, Marie-Hélène Antoine, Eric De Prez, Joëlle Nortier

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Toxins, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Saleh KaysiNephrology and Dialysis Department, Brugmann University Hospital, 1020 Brussels, Belgium.
Maxime TaghaviNephrology and Dialysis Department, Brugmann University Hospital, 1020 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-1442-9716
Alissa El MourabiFaculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Brussels, Belgium.
Marie-Hélène AntoineExperimental Nephrology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-8600-1818
Eric De PrezExperimental Nephrology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Joëlle NortierNephrology and Dialysis Department, Brugmann University Hospital, 1020 Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUremic toxins have been shown to cause adverse pulmonary effects by inducing endothelial and epithelial dysfunction, disrupting the alveolar-capillary barrier, and increasing inflammation and oxidative stress. This article reviews these effects with a specific focus on chronic kidney disease and the mechanisms by which uremic toxins affect lung tissue.

methodsA narrative review was conducted using keywords related to uremic toxins and lung injury to search the PubMed database. An advanced literature review was conducted in PubMed to identify studies explaining the mechanisms underlying lung pathophysiology in chronic kidney disease (CKD), with particular focus on CKD-induced pulmonary epithelial and endothelial dysfunction. Additionally, to highlight the pathological processes of lung congestion in CKD, studies on CKD-induced dysfunction of the alveolar-capillary barrier were retrieved. Studies published up to November 2025 were evaluated.

resultsA total of 148 articles were reviewed in full text. Uremic toxins negatively impact lung tissue structure and function through multiple mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and direct effects. Uremic toxins appear to share signaling pathways in endothelial cells, including those linked to Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR), the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and pro-inflammatory transcription factors such as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Additionally, oxidative stress acts as a pro-inflammatory signal shared by several uremic toxins. The mechanisms behind the harmful interactions between CKD and lung disease are mostly unknown, although more evidence exists for acute kidney injury (AKI).

conclusionsChronic kidney disease, which leads to the buildup of uremic toxins, negatively affects the lungs. Overall, the accumulation of uremic toxins in CKD impairs endothelial and epithelial cells and the alveolar capillary barrier. Further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms underlying these effects and to identify therapeutic options to protect the lungs in these patients.

Indexed as

Blood-Air BarrierPulmonary AlveoliRenal Insufficiency, ChronicUremiaUremic ToxinsAnimalsEndothelial CellsHumansLungOxidative StressUremic Toxinsalveolar capillary barrierendothelial cellsepithelial cellsinflammationlunglung congestionlung edemaoxidative stressuremic toxins

Identifiers

PMID41893549
PMCPMC13030341

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.