Glaucoma Diagnostic Method Using Autoimmune Reactivity Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for glaucoma are inadequate as they rely on elevated intraocular pressure, which is not present in 30% of cases, and lack sensitivity and specificity, especially for early detection and normal tension glaucoma, necessitating the development of methods independent of intraocular pressure that can detect autoimmune reactivity patterns reliably.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic method involving the analysis of autoimmune reactivity in body fluids against partially purified ocular antigens, using antigen carrying elements and kits to measure autoimmune reactivity values, which are then transformed into a glaucoma score for diagnostic purposes, and a second method involving in vitro cultured retinal ganglion cells to assess protein expression and viability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional intraocular pressure measurement is used for diagnosis, then the method is simple and widely applicable, but it fails to detect 30% of glaucoma cases (normal tension glaucoma) and lacks sensitivity for early detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces body fluids (serum, aqueous humor) as intermediaries to detect autoimmune reactivity patterns. Instead of directly measuring intraocular pressure, the method uses antibodies in body fluids that react with ocular antigens, providing an indirect but more reliable diagnostic marker that works independent of pressure levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical measurement system (tonometry for pressure measurement) with an immunological detection system. Instead of mechanically measuring pressure, the method uses immune reactions between autoantibodies and ocular antigens, detected through immunological assays, to diagnose glaucoma.
2Measurement precision
If autoimmune reactivity analysis is performed against crude mixtures of ocular antigens, then the diagnostic coverage is broad, but the measurement precision and reliability are reduced due to complex interference patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the crude mixture of ocular antigens into individual purified antigen components. By analyzing autoimmune reactivity against each purified antigen separately, the method achieves higher measurement precision while maintaining broad diagnostic coverage through panel-based testing of multiple antigens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and purifies specific ocular antigens from the complex crude mixture. This extraction of individual antigen components eliminates interfering substances present in crude mixtures, thereby improving the precision and reliability of autoimmune reactivity measurements while maintaining comprehensive diagnostic capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The methods provide reliable, sensitive, and specific detection of glaucoma independent of intraocular pressure, enabling early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease progression, with high specificity and sensitivity, and the potential for therapeutic modulation of autoimmune reactivity.
Implementation Method 1
analysis of autoimmune reactivity in a body fluid against at least one sample comprising at least one at least partially purified ocular antigen, wherein the autoimmune reactivities are measured
Implementation Method 2
analysis of the effect of autoantibodies in body fluids, on the protein expression of in vitro cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a first diagnostic method for glaucoma based on an analysis of autoimmune reactivity in body fluids against at least one sample of at least partially purified ocular antigens, wherein the autoimmune reactivity against individual antigens is measured and transformed into a glaucoma score to determine the diagnostic result. Further aspects of the invention include antigen carrying elements carrying at least one sample of the at least partially purified ocular antigens and kits for diagnosis of glaucoma. Further aspects include methods of collecting a body fluid such as tears for the use in the diagnostic method for glaucoma. Yet further aspects include ocular antigens serving as diagnostic markers and/or for preparing pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of glaucoma. The invention further concerns a second diagnostic method for glaucoma comprising the steps of a) providing an in vitro culture of cells; b) incubating a body fluid from a test individual with the in vitro culture of cells or incubating components, which are fractionated from the body fluid or from a body specimen of the test individual with the in vitro culture of cells; c) analyzing protein expression of the cells and/or analyzing the viability of the cells after treatment according to step b); and d) comparing the results of the analysis in step c) with standard data to determine a diagnostic result.