Urinary proteome analysis to exclude severe vesicoureteral reflux

Jens Drube1, Eric Schiffer, Esther Lau

  • 1Clinic of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. jens.drube@web.de

Pediatrics
|January 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A new noninvasive urinary proteome test accurately identifies high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children with urinary tract infections (UTI). This test can help avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostics for most children.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • High-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) (grade IV-V) is a significant risk factor for renal scarring, impaired kidney function, and hypertension.
  • Current gold standard for VUR diagnosis, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), is invasive.
  • Most children with urinary tract infection (UTI) do not have high-grade VUR, leading to unnecessary invasive procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a noninvasive diagnostic test for identifying high-grade VUR in children.
  • To reduce the need for invasive diagnostics in the majority of children presenting with UTI.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study utilized capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry to establish a urinary proteome pattern.
  • The proteome pattern distinguished 18 children with VUR grade IV-V from 19 controls without VUR after UTI.
  • Independent validation was performed in a blinded cohort of 17 VUR patients and 19 controls.

Main Results:

  • The noninvasive test demonstrated 88% sensitivity and 79% specificity for detecting VUR grade IV-V in the blinded cohort.
  • Test accuracy was independent of patient age, gender, and contralateral kidney VUR grade.
  • A positive test result yielded an odds ratio of 28 for having high-grade VUR.

Conclusions:

  • A novel noninvasive urinary proteome test shows promise for identifying high-grade VUR in children with UTI.
  • This test is ready for prospective validation in larger cohorts.
  • The test could spare children without pathological proteome patterns from further invasive diagnostics like VCUG.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies VI: Voiding Cystourethrography and Cystography01:22

Imaging Studies VI: Voiding Cystourethrography and Cystography

Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG) and Cystography are specialized radiographic procedures used to examine the structure and function of the bladder and urethra.Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG)A Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG) is a diagnostic imaging procedure that assesses the anatomy and function of the lower urinary tract. It focuses on the bladder, bladder neck, and urethra, helping detect abnormalities such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)—the backward or reverse flow of urine into the...
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography01:22

Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography

IntroductionIntravenous Urography (IVU) and Retrograde Pyelography (RP) are important diagnostic imaging techniques used to evaluate the urinary system. These methods help identify structural abnormalities, obstructions, and functional issues in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Both procedures use iodine-based contrast media to enhance the visibility of urinary tract structures on X-ray images, though they differ in their methods and indications.1. Intravenous Urography (IVU)Intravenous...
Urine Studies I: Urinalysis01:29

Urine Studies I: Urinalysis

Urinalysis is a widely used diagnostic test that analyzes urine's physical, chemical, and microscopic characteristics. Healthcare providers use it to detect and monitor various health conditions, including renal disease, urinary tract infections (UTIs), diabetes, and metabolic or systemic disorders.Components of UrinalysisUrinalysis consists of three primary components: physical, chemical, and microscopic examination. Each provides unique insights into the urine sample and, by extension, the...
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management01:28

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:30

Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...