A study from ibs.GRANADA has identified new clues in the urinary microbiota for diagnosing renal lupus

Researchers from the GENyO Centre and ibs.GRANADA, in collaboration with the University of Granada, the Andalusian Public Foundation for Progress and Health (FPS) and the University of Almería, have discovered that certain markers present in bacteria found in urine could help detect kidney damage associated with lupus. These findings point to the possibility of developing new, simpler and non-invasive diagnostic strategies for this disease.

Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks various organs, causing inflammation and, over time, impairing their function, including that of the kidneys. When it affects the kidneys, it is known as lupus nephritis, one of the most serious complications and a leading cause of death in these patients. Currently, the diagnosis of this kidney involvement is based on clinical tests that are not always specific and, above all, on the performance of a kidney biopsy, a highly complex and invasive procedure.

According to Virginia Pérez Carrasco, a pre-doctoral researcher in the Non-Canonical DNA Structures Biology group and lead author of the study, “identifying biomarkers in urine represents a step towards more personalised medicine for lupus. Our aim is to contribute to the development of tools that enable earlier diagnosis and more accurate monitoring of kidney involvement, thereby reducing the burden on patients associated with undergoing biopsies”.

More information: http://ibsgranada.es/un-estudio-del-ibs-granada-identifica-en-la-microbiota-urinaria-nuevas-claves-para-diagnosticar-el-lupus-renal/