2023-06-15 14:45:58
A way to diagnose a rheumatic disease has been discovered that is often not detected as such due to the lack of adequate methodologies for its detection.
Based on this finding, a researcher at the National University of San Luis (UNSL) in Argentina is now developing a protocol for the identification of crystals in synovial fluids. The objective is to reach an accurate diagnosis of said rheumatic disease.
It is a rheumatic disease that is characterized by the deposit of crystals in the joints, due to an imbalance in the levels of calcium and phosphate.
The scientific work, carried out at the Immunopathology and Flow Cytometry Laboratory of the National University of San Luis, has already managed to obtain a confirmatory diagnosis of the disease.
The project is directed by Dr. Carolina Gorlino and focuses on studying aspects of the role of carbohydrate metabolism in the inflammatory profile of cells of the immune system (neutrophils), against activation by these crystals.
“We want to study these cells that cause pain and inflammation and do a lot of damage to the point that they can generate a joint replacement (…). The idea is to prevent these cells from causing this damage, even if they are not the cause of the disease,” the scientist told Argentina Investiga.
At UNSL, work is being done on a protocol that will be used to diagnose a rheumatic disease that is often not detected as such due to the lack of appropriate methodologies for its detection. (Photo: UNSL Institutional Press)
The team of researchers works in a network with specialists from San Luis, Mendoza and Córdoba. Currently, a rheumatology center in Mendoza is interested in acquiring the service that the UNSL specialists have made known.
“Currently, in the clinic there is no methodology for accurate diagnosis, it is identified by discarding (…). The clinics or the rheumatologist do not have microscopy elements or spectroscopic techniques to detect these crystals and that is why they contact us”, explained Gorlino.
The UNSL specialists, from the scanning electron microscopy service (FQByF) and the polarized light microscope service (FCFMyN); and staining techniques, developed the protocol for the diagnosis and detection of these crystals.
The disease causes discomfort, pain, inflammation and over time can cause joint damage. It is usually seen in older adults. The patients who suffer from it are over 60 years of age, there is the same incidence in men as in women and it often goes unnoticed because it is underdiagnosed, since the precise way to obtain the diagnosis is from the observation of the crystals.
“We have not carried out a massive service, the idea is to be able to offer it as a potential service at the regional level”, comments Gorlino and adds: “We help to give an accurate diagnosis to be able to direct the therapeutic treatment and see what medications the doctor has to administer to the patient. We try to help in that sense, ”he concluded.
This project arises from the work of a Master’s thesis of the Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy (FQByF) in a rheumatology center in the province of Mendoza. (Source: Fabiola Gisel Aranda / UNSL / Argentina Investiga)
#protocol #detect #underdiagnosed #rheumatic #disease