Inflammation

Inflammatory disease processes in patients are reliably and accurately determined by BÜHLMANN assays for certain biomarkers which include Calprotectin or MRP8/14, CIC and anti-C1q antibodies. Inflammation is one of the most common defence mechanisms in the body and is a part of non-specific immune response. Dysregulation of this basic mechanism of inflammatory process can be a fundamental cause of many chronic diseases, including both autoimmune pathologies and coronary heart disease.

When inflammation occurs, pro-inflammatory cytokines from white blood cells are released into the blood or affected tissues. These cytokines increase the blood flow to the area and cause leakage of fluid into tissues, resulting in swelling or oedema. The inflammatory process may stimulate nerves and also cause pain. While Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade, when the immune system goes beyond the natural defence mechanism it begins to attacks the body itself. This process, called autoimmunity, is determined by genetic influences and environmental triggers. The range of inflammation-caused and autoimmune health problems includes the following:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Around 2 million people in Europe suffer from IBD. Morbus Crohn and Colitis ulcerosa are incurable serious chronic diseases of the intestinal tract. The symptoms are distressing, embarrassing and even debilitating. Once symptoms appear, they resemble those of other conditions of functional origin (IBS), which make it very difficult for doctors to correctly diagnose. Calprotectin is a clear gatekeeper marker for the physicians timely decision making on weather to send the patients to colonoscopy or to treat them for IBS symptoms. This decision is supported by BÜHLMANN assays to measure calprotectin in patients stool samples
Calprotectin is a also good predictor of relapse in patients with IBD, thus giving the clinicians an effective tool to adapt the patients treatment to ease relapse intensity.

Acute coronary syndromes
The occurrence of elevated MRP8/14 in the systemic circulation prior to markers of myocardial necrosis makes it a prime candidate for the detection of unstable plaques and management of Acute Coronary Syndromes. The BÜHLMANN MRP8/14 assays have already been successfully used in clinical studies demonstrating the value of this marker for cardiovascular applications.

Transplant Rejection
Patients undergoing this kind of surgery run the risk of their bodies immune system not accepting the new organ. This is commonly known as transplant rejection. MRP8/14 measured with the BÜHLMANN ELISA is a proven very early marker for acute allograft rejection in kidney transplantation, already demonstrated in clinical studies.

Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus
Are chronic disease that cause inflammation of joints, surrounding tissues and organs like kidneys. Serum concentrations of MRP8/14 as well as anti C1Q antibodies and CIC, measured by BÜHLMANN assays represent useful markers for monitoring local inflammations and predicting the course of renal flares like in Lupus nephritis.