Abstract

A simple “self-test” principle is described which allows patients to evaluate their Th1/Th2 balance repeatedly over short periods of time to follow-up the effects of taking pre- and probiotics, neutraceuticals, drugs or any other therapeutic strategy to balance Th1/Th2 status. By analysing a large number of first morning urine samples obtained from individuals with medical conditions associated with an overactive Th2 arm (ulcerative colitis, autism, blastocystis, mercury poisoning and viral infection), a reaction principle was discovered that uses a redox-active colorimetric substrate changing color upon reaction with metabolites present at high concentration in the urine samples of Th2-shifted individuals. The development of color is time-dependent and quantitative. Moreover, 75% of urine samples obtained from chronic fatigue/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients produced a time-dependent and quantitative change of color compared to only 4% of the controls (perfectly healthy population), providing evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is a condition associated with an overactive Th2  arm.

Key words: Th1/Th2 balance, urine samples, self test, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).