Urine Proteins: Coronary Disease Markers

A Scottish research team has determined a set of 15 proteins found in urine can be used as biomarkers for coronary artery disease.

The University of Glasgow scientists said that since urine samples are easily obtained, urinary protein analysis is emerging as a powerful tool to detect and monitor disease.

Anna Dominiczak and colleagues tested whether urine could provide useful biomarkers for coronary disease, one of the leading worldwide killers. They analyzed samples from 88 CAD patients and 282 controls and found a 15 protein signature indicative of disease. Several of the protein fragments were collagens, which are components of arterial walls.

The researchers next examined how predictive their protein panel was and found it could identify the presence of CAD 83 percent of the time. The panel had a sensitivity of more than 98 percent.

The medical scientists also observed the protein signatures of CAD individuals became more normal after exercise, suggesting the biomarkers can be used to both help diagnose CAD and monitor the progress of treatment

The study is published in the February issue of the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics.