Bence Jones protein in urine is a marker of severe diseases of the hematopoiesis system. The presence of this protein in urine is most often associated with malignant bone marrow pathologies. A urine test for this protein helps to identify dangerous oncological diseases at an early stage and conduct timely treatment. How to pass this analysis so that the results of the study are reliable? We will consider this issue in the article.
What it is
The appearance of protein compounds in urine is called proteinuria. Most often, albumin is found in the urine, this is often observed in inflammatory diseases of the kidneys. Bens-Jones Protein is a different type of protein. This compound is produced by special cells - plasmocytes, which produce antibodies. Bens-Jones protein in the urine appears with the growth of malignant tumors (myeloma) in the bone marrow.
This type of protein does not accumulate in the blood and is rapidly excreted through the excretory organs. Therefore, it is easily detected in the analysis of urine.
This type of pathological protein has a toxic effect on the kidneys. Passing through the excretory system, protein destroys nephrons. Therefore, patients with bone marrow diseases often have secondary renal lesions.
Conducting research
How is urine tested for Bens-Jones protein? This compound is easily detected by heating urine to a temperature of +60 degrees. When boiling the biomaterial, it dissolves, and when cooling, it reappears in the sediment.
In a laboratory analysis, urine is first subjected to oxidation, and then filtered and heated. If protein is present in the biomaterial, it precipitates. Then carry out the determination of Bens-Jones protein in the urine by weighing.
Indications
In what cases is such a study indicated? A referral for urine analysis for Bens-Jones protein is most often issued by an oncologist. This urine test is prescribed in the following cases:
- with suspected oncological pathologies of the blood;
- in identifying the symptoms of bone tissue tumors;
- with a hereditary predisposition to myelomas;
- with violations of protein metabolism.
This study is also indicated for patients with lung chain deposition disease. This pathology is accompanied by excessive production of immunoglobulins. As a result, pathological deposits appear in the kidneys that violate the normal function of the organ.
How to collect biomaterial
How to collect urine for Bens-Jones protein? This study needs to be prepared in advance. About a week before the test, doctors recommend a special diet. From the diet, it is necessary to exclude dishes from the liver and any meat products. Alcohol and sweet sparkling water are also prohibited. 24 hours before the analysis, you can’t eat vegetables and berries that color urine (tomatoes, beets, red currants, raspberries, cranberries).
It is important to remember that any malnutrition and taking medication before the study can adversely affect the reliability of the detection of Bence-Jones protein in the urine. The methodology for preparing for the study must be carefully observed.
You must pre-purchase in a pharmacy a special container for collecting urine. It is not recommended to use even a cleanly washed can of food products for this purpose.
Women should not be tested on menstruation days. Particles of blood in urine can lead to distorted test results.
Before urinating, hygiene procedures must be completed. You should not use soap, as well as foams and gels. The external genitalia should be washed with water and wiped dry.
You need to collect urine in the morning, immediately after sleep. For research, you need to type the middle part of urine:
- During the first few seconds, urinate in the toilet.
- Then, a container is placed under a stream of urine and material is collected for analysis.
- The last portion of urine is again secreted into the toilet.
Material must be brought to the laboratory no later than 2 hours after collection.
Decryption
Normally, a person does not detect Bens-Jones protein in the urine. In this case, the decryption of the analysis indicates a negative result.
If the test result is positive, then this indicates the presence of pathological protein in the urine. This is a pretty formidable symptom that often indicates bone marrow cancer.
False results
A urine test for Bens-Jones proteins can give a false positive. This is noted in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis. With such pathologies, specific antibodies are produced in the body that attack healthy tissues. Therefore, before the study, it is necessary to warn the attending physician about the presence of chronic rheumatic diseases.
Reasons for deviations
Most often, Bence Jones protein in urine is a sign of myeloma. This is a malignant bone marrow tumor that consists of plasmocytes. Such a pathology can be asymptomatic for a long time. And only an analysis of urine helps to identify this dangerous disease in the initial stage.
Bens-Jones protein can be determined with other diseases:
- Waldenstrom disease (a bone marrow tumor made up of lymphocytes);
- idiopathic amyloidosis (a violation of protein metabolism, in which proteins and polysaccharides accumulate in the tissues);
- osteosarcoma (a progressive malignant tumor of bone tissue);
- lymphogranulomatosis (malignant proliferation of lymphoid tissue);
- lymphocytic leukemia (malignant neoplasm affecting the spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes);
- endotheliosis (pathological changes in the walls of blood vessels).
A small amount of this type of protein is found in the analysis of monoclonal gammopathy. This disease is characterized by increased secretion of pathologically altered immunoglobulins. It is assessed as a precancerous condition of the bone marrow.
Signs of Bens Jones proteinuria
It can be concluded that the protein bodies of Bens-Jones in urine are a sign of rather serious diseases. Many of the above pathologies have a serious and not always favorable prognosis. How does the appearance of this protein in urine affect the well-being of a person?
Patients with Bens-Jones proteinuria most often complain of the following health problems:
- Headache and fatigue. These symptoms are associated with the presence of a pathological protein in the bloodstream. As a result, the patient's blood viscosity increases. This leads to poor oxygen supply to the tissues and hypoxia.
- Enlarged liver and spleen. Protein and plasma cells accumulate in these organs. Because of this, the patient has serious violations of the liver and spleen.
- Bone pain. Patients experience pain in the limbs, spine and pelvis. Subsequently, the bones become extremely fragile. Patients have frequent fractures. Injuries occur not only with falls and bruises, but also with careless movements.
In addition, immunity drops sharply in patients due to bone marrow damage. They quickly become infected with any infections. In this case, bacterial and viral diseases proceed in a severe form.
What to do when protein is detected
As already mentioned, the Bens-Jones protein is a tumor marker of myeloma. However, an accurate diagnosis of only one study of urine is impossible. Therefore, the doctor prescribes additional studies:
- Clinical studies of blood and urine. Patients with myeloma usually have elevated ESR and white blood cells. In urine, pathological cylinders and red blood cells are detected.
- Urinalysis by the method of Zimnitsky. It allows to identify signs of renal failure, which often develops with pathologies of the hematopoiesis system.
- Biochemical blood test. In bone marrow diseases, the metabolism of minerals and proteins is impaired in patients, which affects the results of the study.
- Bone marrow puncture. This study allows with high accuracy to detect malignant changes in the cells.
- X-ray of the skull, spine and ribs. With myeloma, a significant decrease in bone density, and sometimes signs of fractures, is determined in the picture.
Bone marrow diseases require persistent and long-term treatment. Patients are prescribed a course of anticancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy and blood transfusion. In severe cases, a bone marrow transplant is performed.
At the same time, they develop therapy for developing renal failure. Patients are advised to follow a diet with a limited amount of protein in food.
It is important to remember that the earlier treatment of a myeloma tumor is started, the more favorable the prognosis of the disease. At an early stage, the proliferation of malignant cells can still be avoided. In advanced cases, the survival of patients is sharply reduced. A study of urine for Bens-Jones protein allows you to identify dangerous diseases at an early stage, start treatment in time, and thereby save the patient's life.