Researchers Working on Test for Childhood Appendicitis

Medical researchers in Boston reportedly are working on developing a test to detect a newly identified chemical in the urine and allow doctors to better diagnose appendicitis in children.

Nearly one in 10 American boys and slightly fewer (about 7 out of 100) American girls develop appendicitis, making removal of the appendix (also called an appendectomy) one of the most common childhood emergency surgeries.

While the research is in the early stages, a team of scientists from Children’s Hospital Boston said they have identified a chemical called leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein or LRG, which is associated with an inflamed appendix. Now, they’re working on developing a test for LRG.

A study of 67 children found that the amount of the chemical in the urine reflects the degree of inflammation of the appendix, with just a 3-percent rate of false positive or false negative results from the test.

Use of CT Scans Questioned

Many doctors use CT scans to diagnose appendicitis and the use of such medical imaging can reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries to as low as five percent, according to a Reuters report. However, in as many as about half of appendicitis cases, the appendix has already ruptured by the time surgery can begin, which raises risks of complications and results in longer hospital stays.

There also are concerns about how frequent use of CT scans on children can expose them to high doses of radiation and an increased risk of cancers later in life.

Based on the encouraging preliminary study results, the research team is now working hard to develop a test for LRG that emergency-room doctors could use to quickly and accurately diagnose appendicitis.

It is not yet known whether the same test designed for diagnosing appendicitis in children would work for adults, the researchers said.

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