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The independent network of clinical diagnostic laboratories "OLYMP" has been operating in the market of services in the field of laboratory diagnostics since January 2007.

"CDL OLYMP" today is the largest network of private laboratories in Kazakhstan - more than 550 treatment rooms and 18 laboratories.

The Company's mission is high-quality, timely and affordable laboratory diagnostics using modern and high-precision equipment.

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Lipoprotein (a): "Bad" cholesterol is not everything!

Everyone knows that cardiovascular disease is a global problem that threatens millions of people around the world. And what is the cause of this epidemic? It cannot be "bad" cholesterol and wrong lifestyle only. There is another, lesser-known but no less dangerous risk factor which is lipoprotein (a).

What is lipoprotein (a)?

Imagine a small molecule like "bad" cholesterol (LDL), but with a "tail" of protein attached to it. This "tail" is called apo(a) and it makes this lipoprotein (a) so dangerous.

Why is lipoprotein (a) dangerous?

Lipoprotein (a) "sticks" to the walls of arteries and promotes the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and blood clots, which can block blood vessels and cause:

  • Coronary heart disease as narrowing of the arteries that can lead to myocardial infarction.
  • Stroke as impaired blood flow to the brain that can lead to paralysis

Factors affecting lipoprotein (a) levels:

  • Genetics: Lipoprotein (a) levels depend largely on genetic predisposition. About 20% of people in the world have genetically high level of lipoprotein (a).
  • Nutrition: Excessive intake of trans-isomers of fatty acids;
  • Diseases: Kidney pathology.

What to know:

  • Lipoprotein (a) is an independent risk factor for CVD, i.e. its effect on the heart is independent of other factors such as blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure or smoking. 
  • It is not as easy to control compared to "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Diet and exercise can help, but it may not always be enough.

Remember:

  • It is important to know your lipoprotein (a) level;
  • Regular preventive check-ups allow you to detect elevated lipoprotein (a) level early and take steps to control it;
  • Early detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease reduces the risk of serious complications;
  • A healthy lifestyle plays a key role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with elevated lipoprotein (a) level.

 

Important : This article is for informational purposes and is not a medical consultation. Please contact your doctor for consultation and diagnosis.

CAST-test - identification of drug allergy

A drug allergy is an immune system’s reaction to medication, resulting from hypersensitivity to a particular drug that is perceived by the immune system as a harmful substance. People with a drug allergy can experience symptoms regarding different drugs, from antibiotics to anesthetics. Drug allergy symptoms range from mild to extremely severe life-threatening conditions such as anaphylactic shock. This is why timely and accurate diagnosis of drug allergy is extremely important.

Haptoglobin: key to the diagnosis and monitoring of haemolysis and inflammation

Haptoglobin, a free haemoglobin binding protein, plays a crucial role not only in the diagnosis and monitoring of haemolysis, but also in the assessment of inflammatory processes. Its unique properties and clinical relevance make it a valuable biomarker in various fields of medicine.

Diagnosis and monitoring of haemolysis

Low haptoglobin levels are a sign of haemolysis, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed. Measuring haptoglobin allows doctors to quickly diagnose haemolysis and determine its severity. In addition, monitoring haptoglobin is useful for evaluating the effectiveness of haemolysis treatment.

Assessment of inflammation

Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein, meaning its levels increase in response to inflammation. Measurement of haptoglobin can help in the diagnosis and monitoring of various inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Crohn's disease. Its level may correlate with disease activity and can be used to assess the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory treatment.

Differential diagnosis of anaemias

Haptoglobin can help differentiate haemolytic anaemia from other types of anaemia such as iron deficiency anaemia or anaemia of chronic disease. Low haptoglobin levels indicate haemolytic anaemia, while normal or elevated levels may indicate other causes of anaemia.

Diagnosis and assessment of the severity of liver disease

Low haptoglobin levels can be a sign of liver disease, especially chronic diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Measuring haptoglobin can help doctors diagnose liver disease and assess its severity. Lower levels are usually associated with more severe liver damage.

Conclusion

Haptoglobin is a significant biomarker for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of haemolysis and inflammatory diseases. Its measurement provides clinicians with the information needed to make informed decisions and provide optimal patient care. Understanding the role of haptoglobin in these processes is critical to improving treatment outcomes and reducing the burden of various diseases

Chronic kidney disease: An invisible but serious threat

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming increasingly common around the world, posing a serious threat to public health and the economy. It is a condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their function and can progress slowly over many years, sometimes without even noticeable symptoms in the early stages. However, CKD can lead to serious complications, including kidney failure and cardiovascular disease, if not detected and controlled in a timely manner.

The problem is in the numbers

Data from the World Health Organisation show that about 840 million people in the world suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Kazakhstan, one in ten people suffer from the disease, but only one in seven is diagnosed with CKD. Today, about 3,600 Kazakhstan citizens, including more than 80 children, are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.

Causes and risk factors

Diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and obesity are the main causes of CKD. Other factors such as genetics, inflammatory diseases, unhealthy habits and long-term exposure to toxins can also increase the risk of developing CKD.

Diagnosis and treatment

Several key tests are used for laboratory diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to determine kidney function, creatinine levels, and other important parameters:

  • Creatinine in the blood: Creatinine, a metabolic product formed in muscle tissue, is normally excreted through the kidneys. Elevated blood creatinine levels may indicate impaired kidney function as the kidneys become less able to remove it from the body.
  • Assessment of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR): This test assesses how well the kidneys are filtering blood. The CKD-EPI formula is used to calculate the glomerular filtration rate in adults and the Schwartz formula in children. The normal CBF is about 90-120 ml/min/1, 73 m².
  • Urine albumin-creatinine ratio: Urine albumin levels may be elevated in the presence of kidney damage, which can be an early sign of CKD. This test is often used to detect proteinuria.
  • Measurement of electrolytes (sodium, potassium and others) in the blood: CKD can cause disturbances in the balance of electrolytes in the body, so measuring their levels in the blood is important to assess kidney health.

These tests allow physicians to assess kidney function and detect the presence or progression of CKD. The results of laboratory tests can also be used to select appropriate treatment and monitor the effectiveness of ongoing therapy.

Instrumental diagonstics of CKD:

  • Kidney ultrasound (U/S);
  • Computed tomography;
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Radiography with injection of contrast agents:

Treatment is aimed at slowing the progression of the disease, controlling symptoms and preventing complications. This may include medication, lifestyle changes and in some cases even dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Challenges and prospects

Although medicine has made considerable achievements in the diagnosis and treatment of CKD, it remains a public health challenge. Improving access to healthcare and educating the public about risk factors and prevention methods can play a key role in reducing the prevalence of this disease.

Conclusion

CKD is a serious public health problem that requires a comprehensive approach by the medical community, society and government agencies. Providing resources for early diagnosis, public education and affordable treatment are key steps to reducing the health impact of CKD.

ASIT will help you forget about allergies

According to statistics, one in four people suffers from allergies. If you are among these people, do not despair! Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) will help you forget about allergies.

Tablets and capsules, drops and sprays only mask allergy symptoms. ASIT actually gets rid of the disease! At the moment, this is the only method of treating IgE-mediated allergic diseases that has a long-lasting effect on clinical manifestations and modifies the course of the disease.

The main advantages of ASIT:

  • Significantly reduces allergy symptoms until they disappear completely; 
  • Allows you to stop taking regular allergy medications; 
  • Helps to avoid subsequent sensitization; 
  • Prevents rhinitis from turning into asthma. 
  • ASIT is a way not only to eliminate unpleasant manifestations of the disease, but also to completely defeat allergies. This effect is achieved by exposing the body to allergens in increasing concentrations, starting with small doses. A gradualincrease in the dose allows you to develop resistance to the effects of the allergen.


Such therapy exists for various respiratory (inhaled) allergens:

  • Pollen (trees, cereals and weeds) 
  • Fungal molds mites 
  • Animal allergens (cats, dogs) 
  • Mould 

Not every country has the full range of allergens, but the professional communities of each country are working on this, and in the near future we will be able to treat all existing allergens.

There are several factors that may hinder the clinical effectiveness of ASIT. First of all, ASIT is prescribed only if the patient has allergy symptoms, which are confirmed by laboratory tests. If the tests are positive, but this does not coincide with the symptoms (or vice versa), then ASIT is not prescribed.

Diagnosis before ASIT and identification of a causally significant allergen is an integral part of preparation for therapy. It is known that the maximum effect of therapy is observed with true sensitization of the patient to the source of the allergen, and with a cross-reacting reaction, the effectiveness of ASIT will decrease.

To determine the true allergy, the determination of the IgE level to major and minor allergens is shown. Each source of allergens contains all these allergens together, therefore, extract allergodiagnostics is insufficient to predict the effectiveness of therapy. Molecular allergodiagnostics are necessary: ImmunoCAP helps to determine the level of IgE to individual allergenic components with maximum sensitivity.

A number of analysis have been registered to predict the effectiveness of ASIT to pollen, epidermal and mold allergens separately by ImmunoCAP and to allergens of fungal molds mites as part of ISAC

Timothy grass rPhl p1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Timothy grass rPhl p5, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Ambrosia nAmb a1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Birch rBet v1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Wormwood nArt v1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
ASIT is made in the period from November to March-April (before the beginning of flowering plants). If you are allergic to fungal molds mites, therapy can be made all year round (if it is not combined with a pollen allergy). The main mechanism of action of ASIT is the induction of antibodies that compete with IgE, thereby preventing the development of an allergen reaction. These blocking competing antibodies usually belong to IgG4. Thus, during the treatment of ASIT, the level of specific IgG4 increases.

So how do you know if ASIT is working or not? Molecular allergodiagnostics will help us answer this question again. But not with the determination of IgE, but with the determination of specific IgG4 by ImmunoCAP. The absence of an increase in the concentration of specific IgG4 to those allergen molecules to which therapy is given indicates either an unresponsiveness of the immune system to the drug or the absence of specific allergen components in the drug used for treatment. Thus, the detection of insufficient induction of a protective immune response during vaccination will help to decide whether to continue ASIT, modify it - for example, using a vaccine from another manufacturer - or discontinue this therapy.

Timothy grass rPhl p1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Timothy grass rPhl p5, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Ambrosia nAmb a1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Birch rBet v1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)
Wormwood nArt v1, IgG4 (ASIT monitoring)