Neurological experts in Southampton have developed a simple urine test that could help track the long-term health of patients with inflammatory conditions and avoid the need for blood tests.
Recent research, led by Dr Ian Galea, an associate professor in experimental neurology at the University of Southampton, has shown a new urine test could be used to monitor inflammation in humans.
The new test, which could replace the need for blood tests, was developed by Southampton PhD student Charlotte Stuart and successfully measured the levels of a biological indicator of overall inflammation in urine samples.
A new test
This study investigated the levels of a biological indicator of inflammation in urine samples.
Many different groups were tested, including young healthy individuals with infections, older people with higher levels of inflammation, and people with multiple sclerosis.
The substance measured, called neopterin, is a biochemical by-product of systemic inflammation and can be detected in urine.
To account for differences in how hydrated an individual may be when urine is taken, the test also measured the concentration of creatinine in the urine.
The results have been published in The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine.
“These two results, taken together as the neopterin-to-creatinine ratio, are an excellent way to track inflammation in both healthy participants and MS patients,” explained Dr Galea, who leads a programme of research into brain inflammation in Southampton. “The method was tested for its measurement properties, and these are excellent.
“Going forward, it could avoid the need for taking blood samples in monitoring the long-term health of people with inflammatory diseases, and help guide treatment decisions by identifying periods of increased inflammation.”
Posted on Wednesday 15 January 2020