New method to diagnose membrane glomerular disease

A group of medical researchers at Boston Medical University and Boston Medical Center (USA) have announced that they have discovered a new way to diagnose membrane glomerular disease.

This method can be used primarily in the diagnosis and treatment of early stage disease. Currently, the only way to diagnose the disease is through biopsy. This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Membrane glomerular disease is a kidney disorder that leads to impairment of renal function due to inflammation of the glomeruli and changes in the glomerular membrane that are also called glomeruli . When antibodies attack glomeruli, a large amount of urine protein is released.

With the identification of protein antigens , the researchers found a blood test method to test specific antibody levels in the sample. About one third of patients with membranous glomerular disease have developed into nephrotic disease and need a kidney transplant.

The disease is currently thought to affect people over the age of 40 in both men and women and rarely in young children and the current treatment is chemotherapy.