Researchers use biomarkers to help identify asthma

Researchers use biomarkers to help identify asthma

A team of researchers in Australia have been using biomarkers to help identify whether a particular patient with breathing difficulties is suffering from asthma. ABC news described the work as a "world first".

Around 5.4 million people in the UK are affected by asthma a condition which affects the airways. People will have different triggers for their asthma, but once they have come into contact with an irritant such as dust or pollen, the muscles around the walls of their airway will contract, making it difficult to breathe. Other common symptoms that many people experience include coughing, wheezing and a tightness across their chest.

Not all asthma sufferers will experience these symptoms though. Others will, but perhaps not all at the same time. A few sufferers may experience them all at the same time.

According to ABC news, researchers at the Hunter Medical Research Institute have found a simple blood test which they say doctors would be able to use in order to identify if a patient is suffering from asthma. Currently, there is no straightforward way of determining whether someone displaying symptoms of asthma is actually suffering from the condition. Patients are required to undergo a serious of tests in order to gauge their response to medication and the state of their lung functions.

However, the work which has been carried out in New South Wales may help to ensure the process of diagnosing asthma is far simpler in future. The researchers identified four biomarkers in the blood which can tell doctors if a person is a sufferer. According to Peter Gibson, the project's lead researcher, a sophisticated measurement technique was used to monitor proteins in the blood. The team then managed to identify four proteins which it appears can indicate if a person is suffering from asthma.

The research is just one more example of the vital role that biomarkers are playing in the world of medical research. Studies of this type allow researchers across the world to gain an insight into the work being carried out, and the type of discoveries being made. And while it can sometimes be a long road from discovery to product, the fact that progress is being made and that biomarkers are playing their part is indeed encouraging.

Across the world, companies and research teams place much more reliance on building up a biomarker database and making biomarker discoveries that have the potential to make huge differences to the lives of millions.

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