Diagnostic performance of combined specific urinary proteins and urinary flow cytometry in urinary tract pathology

Urinalysis comprises three techniques: urinary flow cytometry, test strip analysis and determination of specific urinary proteins. We investigated the diagnostic possibilities of combining these methods for a cohort of patients with a variety of well-documented urological and nephrological pathology.

Urinary samples from 407 in- and out-patients with nephrological or urological pathology were retrospectively included in our study. Test strip analysis (URISYS 2400), urinary flow cytometry (UF-100) and urinary protein analysis [albumin, total protein, alpha1-microglobulin (A1M), alpha2-macroglobulin (A2M)] were performed.

In discriminating upper and lower urinary tract infections, A1M and A1M/log(white blood cells) can be used, whereas pathological casts only give poor discrimination. The ratio A2M/log(red blood cells; RBC) allows differentiation between cystitis and pyelonephritis, while glomerular diseases can be recognised by the log(RBCxurinary total protein). Combining A2M and urinary albumin allows the determination of acute prostatitis.

Using combined parameters provided by various urinalysis techniques, ratios can be proposed with diagnostic value for classifying renal and urological conditions. Possible integration in computer-based knowledge systems may offer valuable information for clinicians dealing with these pathologies.