Appendicitis 'telltale' discovered

Published on Monday 22 June 2009 22:52

DOCTORS yesterday revealed a simple test to end the agony of appendicitis among thousands of children each year.

They have discovered a urine test can pinpoint a type of protein which can indicate future appendix problems.

Appendicitis is the most common childhood surgical emergency, but diagnosis can be difficult. This can lead to unnecessary surgery in children without appendicitis or a ruptured appendix and serious complications if the condition is missed.

Now, emergency experts have found that a protein detectable in urine might serve as a "biomarker" for appendicitis.

Despite improved scanning, recent figures indicate up to 30 per cent of children have unnecessary appendectomies, while 30 to 45 per cent of those diagnosed with appendicitis already have a ruptured appendix.

Previous attempts to find chemicals in the body that could herald appendix problems have been unsuccessful.

Researchers led by Richard Bachur, acting chief of emergency medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, have identified the most accurate biomarker for acute appendicitis to date.

They examined 12 urine specimens – six from patients with appendicitis, taken before and after appendectomy, and six from patients without appendicitis – and identified 57 chemicals associated with immune response and inflammation.

They looked for these chemicals in scores of children seen at the hospital for suspected appendicitis over 18 months.

They found seven promising urine markers that could signal appendix problems, said the report in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.