Doctors could use different patterns of gene activity in blood to more quickly diagnose and treat children with life-threatening diseases appendicitisnew research suggests.
These genetic measurements could help doctors distinguish between so-called simple and complicated appendicitis in the early stages of the disease, the researchers say, published Monday (February 19) in the journal It was stated in a paper published by JAMA Pediatrics. The researchers noted that this method of diagnosis could indicate which patients should undergo emergency surgery and which may be treated with non-surgical methods such as antibiotics.
The appendix is a finger-like tube that extends from the large intestine. If the appendix becomes clogged with food or feces, disease-causing pathogens can become trapped inside the appendix and cause appendicitis. inflammation.Then the appendix may swell and press nearby blood vesselsthe blood supply to the organs is reduced, causing sharp abdominal pain.
There are several forms of appendicitis. One type is chronic, with repeated mild flare-ups over weeks, months, or years. The other type is “acute,” with symptoms that appear suddenly. 12-24 hours or more This can be life-threatening and requires immediate surgical removal of the appendix.
Related: What would happen if humans didn’t have an appendix?
One of the life-threatening complications of appendicitis is that the appendix can rupture due to pressure from swelling. This is known as “perforated” or “ruptured” appendicitis. In this scenario, infected fluids can leak into the abdomen and throughout the body, potentially causing infection. Sepsis or sepsis.if the appendix has not ruptured, or develop other complicationsthe patient is described as having “simple appendicitis”, which usually Shortened hospital stay And the risk of readmission is reduced. In some cases, simple appendicitis may occur. successfully treated with antibiotics Not surgery.
The children are Most likely age group However, when a child is brought to the hospital, doctors may have a hard time distinguishing between simple and complicated appendicitis, especially in the early stages of symptoms. This is because clinicians have something else to rely on besides ultrasound. insensitive laboratory diagnosis test and score system Based on physical symptoms such as nausea and fever. These measures can lead to misdiagnosis and delays in treatment, the study authors wrote.
In a new analysis, researchers looked at gene activity in more than 70 children aged 5 to 17 who were hospitalized with suspected appendicitis in Canada. They found that children could be retrospectively diagnosed with simple or complicated appendicitis based on the activity levels of four genes. The researchers measured gene activity by examining the following amounts: RNA — Molecule used in transformation DNA into the protein — from children’s blood samples taken upon hospitalization.
Gene activity analysis provided an accurate diagnosis 85% of the time. If this test can help doctors make accurate diagnoses faster, it could help them choose the best drugs to prescribe to patients – antibiotics – and prioritize who gets surgery first. The authors write that there is a
“It is well known that the sooner doctors apply appropriate treatment, the better the outcome.” bob hancockco-senior study author and director of the Center for Microbial Disease and Immunology Research at the University of British Columbia in Canada, told Live Science via email.
In the case of perforated appendicitis, “the diagnosis necessitates the use of strong antibiotics and supportive care, as well as the need to triage the patient to an intensive care unit,” he said.
In a separate analysis, the authors also found that children with perforated appendicitis had a dysregulated immune response to infection similar to that seen in sepsis. This was evidenced by the activity of immune-related genes in their blood.Recognizing the characteristics that perforated appendicitis shares with sepsis could help doctors recognize the deadly condition as soon as patients arrive at the hospital, pediatric surgeon said Dr. Maurizio Paciri and biomedical data researchers. Rishikesan Kamaleswaran wrote on Explanation of research.
Still, while these discoveries are a “step forward” in our understanding of appendicitis, the newly identified genetic markers need to be tested in larger clinical trials before being used in hospital diagnosis. The authors write:
Future research should also assess whether these tests have the potential to become widespread, taking into account how much they cost and how long they take to perform, the authors added. Ta.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.
Have you ever wondered why? Some people gain muscle more easily than others. or Why do freckles stand out in the sun?? Please send us your questions about how the human body works. community@livescience.com You may be able to see the answer to your question on the website by using the subject line “Health Desk Q”.