Nephrology
Nephrology is the medical specialty that aims to prevent, diagnose and treat kidney diseases that affect blood filtration, the primary function of the kidneys. Diagnosis can be aided by the quantification of specific proteins in biological fluids such as serum or urine. These biomarker assays make it possible to verify the proper functioning of kidney filtration.
Nephrology biomarkers
Nephrology is the medical specialty that aims to prevent, diagnose and treat kidney diseases that affect blood filtration, the primary function of the kidneys.
Diagnosis can be aided by the quantification of specific proteins in biological fluids such as serum or urine. These biomarker assays make it possible to verify the proper functioning of kidney filtration.
Albumin: a protein marker of glomerular damage
In the search for proteinuria (presence of protein in the urine), the first line of investigation is the determination of urinary albumin, sometimes called microalbumin, which is a very good protein marker in nephrology for glomerular damage. Its assay is also verified in cases of factors favoring cardiovascular disease (diabetes, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, etc.).
Alpha-1-microglobulin: an early marker of choice
Beta-2-microglobulin: applicable as a marker of tubular damage
Although beta-2-microglobulin is a marker for multiple myeloma and malignant B lymphopathies, its determination in urine is also used as a marker for tubular damage due to a lack of reabsorption in the proximal tubule, provided that the urine is alkalinized before analysis.
The increase in serum beta-2-microglobulin concentration is a sign of impaired glomerular filtration. Its serum measurement is therefore an important marker for monitoring dialysis patients.
Other useful markers in nephrology:
There are other markers of glomerular damage such as urinary Alpha-2-macroglobulin which, because of its large size, cannot be filtered by the glomerulus.
These protein assays can be integrated into a urine protein profile (UPP). This protein mapping is proving to be a more effective tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of kidney disease than UPE (urine protein electrophoresis).
Due to its low molecular weight, cystatin C is completely eliminated by the kidney. Its serum measurement can be used to assess the glomerular filtration rate.
