New Blood Test Developed to Diagnose Inflammatory Diseases in Children

Researchers at Cornell University have created a groundbreaking diagnostic tool utilizing cell-free RNA from blood plasma to identify pediatric inflammatory conditions, including Kawasaki disease and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), SciTeck Daily reported yesterday.

This machine learning-based tool distinguishes between viral and bacterial infections while monitoring organ health, addressing the challenge of misdiagnosis due to generic symptoms like fever and rash.

Led by Iwijn De Vlaminck, the team analyzed 370 plasma samples, converting RNA to DNA for sequencing. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal that cell-free RNA can serve as a biomarker for disease, providing insights into organ-specific injuries.

This innovative approach could enable early detection and treatment of these serious conditions, potentially preventing severe complications such as heart damage. The research was supported by the NIH’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.