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A study has created a tool to faster and cheaper diagnose sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of small lumps known as granulomas in the lungs and other organs.
The technology, which uses a simple blood test, may allow selective use of more intrusive diagnostic tests that are typically employed to identify the disease. The results were reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
“Currently, diagnosing sarcoidosis is not a straightforward process and requires tissue removal and additional testing to rule out other diseases, such as tuberculosis or lung cancer,” said James Kiely, PhD, director of NIH’s Lung Division. Is required.” Diseases at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Blood tests to diagnose sarcoidosis:
“Using a blood test will help make a faster diagnosis, especially in organs that are more challenging to biopsy and cause less harm to the patient.”
Although the exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, researchers suspect that it is an immune disorder triggered by a group of specific antigens, usually foreign substances, that stimulate an immune response in the body. According to previous research, in the United States, an estimated 8–11 people per 100,000 are affected by sarcoidosis each year.
To identify the antigens and determine which ones might be linked to sarcoidosis, scientists collected lung fluid samples and blood cells from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and then extracted the genetic material.
Using a combination of molecular techniques, the researchers worked on two newly described disease-specific antigen biomarkers that bind only to antibodies from sarcoidosis-positive patients.
They then designed a highly specific blood test, which requires only a small amount of blood, to determine if they could accurately detect sarcoidosis. To validate the test, researchers compared blood samples from 386 people, including sarcoidosis patients, tuberculosis patients, lung cancer patients and healthy individuals.
The researchers confirmed that their test was able to distinguish patients with sarcoidosis from patients with other respiratory diseases.
“More testing needs to be completed before this screening method is ready for clinical use, but it’s possible this could be a reality within a few years,” Samavati said.
Vice President for Research at Wayne State University, Ph.D. Ezemenari M. Obasi said, “Dr. Samawati’s important work is an excellent example of how scientific research can have promising results, leading to solutions to major health challenges.”
“I look forward to the potential impact this research will have on the lives of people living with sarcoidosis.”
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