[Clinical proteomics and new biomarkers in biological fluids]

Abstract

Protein analysis in biological fluids has been used for many years for diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. First it was quantification of total protein, afterwards the electrophoretic separation of proteins and later the quantification of specific proteins using immunoassays. These proteins are used as biological markers (biomarkers) of disease. Since a few years, proteomics allows the simultaneous analysis of hundreds of proteins, as well as the analysis of their structural modifications. In this review the current situation of clinical proteomics for the discovery of new biomarkers in biological fluids is presented.