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Assessing Biomarkers in Viral Infection
Elizabeth S Mayne1, Jaya A George2, Susan Louw3
1Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa. elizabeth.mayne@nhls.ac.za.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|June 28, 2023
Summary
New biomarkers show promise for predicting severe complications from viral infections like HIV and SARS-CoV-2. These markers could improve diagnosis and guide therapy for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Current biomarkers for viral infection complications are inadequate.
- Viral infections (HIV, HBV, HCV, herpesviruses, SARS-CoV-2) can lead to severe sequelae like cardiovascular disease, end-organ damage, and malignancies.
- There is a critical need for improved diagnostic and prognostic tools.
Approach:
- This review examines biomarkers for viral infection diagnosis and prognosis.
- Investigated biomarkers include inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction markers, and coagulation factors.
- The role of conventional markers like C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in predicting complications is also discussed.
Key Points:
- Biomarkers such as inflammatory cytokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction show potential in assessing viral infection severity and complications.
- Conventional markers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin) can aid in distinguishing viral from bacterial infections and indicate disease severity.
- Emerging biomarkers, though often in research settings, offer promise for predicting adverse outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Novel biomarkers and established markers like C-reactive protein and procalcitonin can enhance the prediction of secondary complications from viral infections.
- These markers may assist in developing diagnostic algorithms to guide therapeutic interventions.
- Further research and validation are needed for clinical integration of these promising biomarkers.
