University Researchers Develop Lupus Diagnosis Kit

Malang, E. Java (Antara) - A team of researchers from the University of Brawijaya, Prof. Dr. Kusworini Handono and her colleagues, have been developing a kit to diagnose lupus erythematosus systemicus (LES) through clinical test at an affordable cost. Professor of University of Brawijaya Malang, East Java, Prof. Dr. Kusworini Handono and several colleagues have been conducting a study to develop a kit that is able to diagnose and conduct clinical trials of LES disease at a cheaper cost, the doctor said here on Thursday. "The kit is expected to reduce the cost of LES diagnosis, even to simplify the complexity in the clinical diagnosis of lupus that is experienced by doctors because of the lack of literature, Prof. Kusworini said, adding that the diagnosis procedure should meet international standards. She explained that seven clinical criteria according to the international standards must be met before diagnosing someone with lupus. The lupus disease includes acute cutaneous lupus, chronic cutaneous lupus, kidney or neurological symptoms such as seizures, psychosis, or mononeuritis. Prof. Kusworini noted that the background for developing the kit, in addition to the high cost of diagnosis, is because of the high rate of maternal mortality due to bleeding that is difficult to overcome because of LES. According to data on Indonesia's Demographic and Health 2012, maternal mortality rate has reached 359 per 100,000 live births, or about 28 percent of the eight other factors, such as infection, abortion, and eclampsia. The figure is the highest among the ASEAN countries. The professor explained that LES disease is due to an excessive immune reaction against cells or tissues. This imbalance causes damage to the immune and inflammatory systems. The fatal affect is bleeding during delivery, which is very difficult to overcome. We must be aware of the disease, so that it can be prevented as early as possible. (*)