Methods Inf Med 2000; 39(01): 93-98
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634246
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

From a Urinalysis Strategy to an Evaluated Urine Protein Expert System

M. Ivandic
1   Institut für Klinische Chemie, Krankenhaus Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany
,
Y. Ogurol
2   Technologie-Zentrum Informatik, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
,
W. Hofmann
1   Institut für Klinische Chemie, Krankenhaus Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany
,
W. G. Guder
1   Institut für Klinische Chemie, Krankenhaus Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 February 2018 (online)

Abstract:

Urine single protein analysis has developed into a routine method for the screening and monitoring of kidney diseases. In order to support clinical decision making by an interpretative report, a urine protein expert system (UPES) has been developed.

Based on a database containing more than 500 excretion patterns, a modular knowledge base was extracted in production rules and implemented in a modern expert system shell. The resulting interpretation system has been thoroughly verified and validated. After the need of interpretation of the complex findings had been documented in a survey, its usability in routine and its knowledge representation was evaluated in 11 hospitals. A user conference confirmed a high quality level of the reports proposed by UPES. It revealed that the problem of automatic data transfer as well as the common definition of diagnostic terms by laboratorians and clinicians play a crucial role for the use of knowledge-based systems in laboratory medicine.

 
  • REFERENCES

  • 1 Miller RA. Medical diagnostic decision support systems – past, present, and future: a threaded bibliography and brief commentary. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1994; 1: 8-27.
  • 2 Valdiguié PM. Role and use of expert systems within the clinical laboratory. Clin Chim Acta 1998; 278: 193-202.
  • 3 Guder WG, Hofmann W. Differentiation of proteinuria and hematuria by single protein analysis in urine. Clin Biochem 1993; 26: 277-82.
  • 4 Hofmann W, Regenbogen C, Edel H, Guder WG. Diagnostic strategies in urinalysis. Kidney Int 1994; 46 Suppl 47: S111-4.
  • 5 Guder WG, Ivandic M, Hofmann W. Physio-pathology of proteinuria and laboratory diagnostic strategy based on single protein analysis. Clin Chem Lab Med 1998; 36: 935-9.
  • 6 World Wide Web: http://wilas.zait.unibremen.de/upes/main.htm
  • 7 Trendelenburg C, Pohl B. Pro.M.D. – Medical diagnostics with expert systems. 1st ed. Frankfurt: Medisoft Verlag; 1995
  • 8 Ivandic M, Hofmann W, Guder WG. Development and evaluation of a urine protein expert system. Clin Chem 1996; 42: 1214-22.
  • 9 Ogurol Y, Zhao J, Wischnewsky MB. et al. WILAS – a knowledge based system for the request and for the interpretation of special findings in laboratory medicine. Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie in Medizin und Biologie 1998; 29: 3-11.
  • 10 Wyatt J, Spiegelhalter D. Evaluating medical expert systems: what to test and how?. Med Inform 1990; 15: 205-17.
  • 11 Lun A, Ivandic M, Priem F. et al. Evaluation of pediatric nephropathies by a computerized Urine Protein Expert System (UPES). Pediatr Nephrol 1999; 13: 900-6.