Researchers have created a new blood test that can diagnose inflammatory diseases in children with greater speed and accuracy.

By Hot Chip Chick Team / September 20, 2024

Doctors might diagnose and manage inflammatory diseases in children much better with a revolutionary blood test.

The test offers potential ways of making quicker and more accurate diagnoses by examining RNA (cfRNA) molecules separated from cells.

Scientists had difficulty distinguishing between them because several inflammatory diseases often present similar symptoms. The conditions studied included Kawasaki disease (KD), multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and a range of viral and bacterial infections.

A research team, headed by Iwijn De Vlaminck, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, alongside Conor Loy, an Ignite Fellow for New Ventures, spearheaded the study.

A research team has conducted an analysis of blood samples taken from 370 children diagnosed with various childhood diseases in four hospitals across America.

The researchers studied blood samples of children having MIS-C, KD, bacterial or viral infections and a healthy control group encompassing children. The cfRNA patterns were analyzed using modern RNA sequencing to derive more information about these conditions.

Small parts of DNA are present in the blood and made by different cells inside the human body constitute a class of RNA that is free from cells. These RNA fragments are important for inter-cellular communication and can help understand health/disease.

While traditional blood tests primarily indicate the immune response, cfRNA offers deeper insights into the immune system’s activity and the condition of tissues and organs.

“When analyzing RNA in plasma, you’re examining RNA released from dying cells as well as RNA emitted from cells throughout the body,” explained Loy.

This knowledge is crucial in gaining insight into inflammatory diseases that often feature a huge amount of cell death. In particular cases, the cells may burst open and release their RNA in to circulation. This RNA can be separated and sequenced so that we can determine disease indicators and go further to find out where it came from, thus making it possible to measure the extent of cell death.

The research team identified unique cfRNA signatures associated with various inflammatory conditions through their analysis.

They developed a machine-learning model that accurately distinguishes between Kawasaki Disease and MIS-C, achieving 98% accuracy.

Distinguishing between these two illnesses can be challenging, but it’s crucial since they necessitate different treatment approaches. Therefore, the findings from the team are particularly important.

The research team developed an additional model. This model can distinguish between Kawasaki Disease (KD) and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). It is also capable of differentiating between viral and bacterial infections. This model achieved an impressive accuracy rate of 80% in identifying these four distinct illnesses.

 In addition, circulating free RNA (cfRNA) may reveal organ damage that traditional clinical tests often overlook.

This is important to understand in terms of implications resulting from MIS-C as well as Kawasaki Disease (KD). MIS-C can lead to inflammation affecting crucial organs including the heart, lungs and brain. On the other hand, KD has severe complications like myocardial infarction and cardiac aneurysms. This indicates why prompt medical attention is necessary especially considering possible outcomes associated with this condition.

An innovative blood test which can reveal cfRNA profiles can disrupt the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases in children. Normally, diagnosis includes multiple tests of blood, evaluation of clinical symptoms and in some cases it is invasive. The new procedure may reduce the number of tests, thus making them safer and more effective.

A single blood test that accurately identifies various conditions and assesses organ involvement could significantly speed up diagnostic procedures. Additionally, it may lead to more positive health outcomes.

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