How might a diagnostic microRNA signature be used to speed up the diagnosis of sepsis?

Abstract

Sepsis is a heterogeneous illness characterised by inflammation secondary to suspected or proven infection. A clinical and research challenge in this area is the ability to diagnose true sepsis, defined as inflammation secondary to infection. Infection is often indirectly confirmed using surrogates, whilst awaiting microbiological confirmation. microRNAs are novel molecules with a potential to be point of care rapid diagnostic test for true sepsis.

Keywords::

• diagnosis
• humans
• infection
• micrornas
• sepsis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

GM Lord has received consulting fees and experimental costs from Cepheid, with whom he has collaborated on a study of sepsis diagnosis. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.