Japanese researchers say they have developed a blood test that can help coronavirus patients predict the risk of becoming seriously ill.
A team from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine studied blood samples from 28 people with coronavirus. They investigated possible links between blood components and changes in patients’ symptoms.
The study found that for 12 people who developed severe symptoms, the level of one type of protein – CCL17 – was lower than normal in the early stages of the infection. Normal protein levels were observed in people with mild or moderate symptoms.
Researchers also found that the levels of some four other types of proteins increased rapidly before patients became seriously ill.
They say analyzing the concentrations of five types of proteins in the blood of coronavirus patients can help predict whether they will develop severe symptoms.
The center says the ability to determine who will become seriously ill will make it possible to provide treatment at an early stage and save lives. Its goal is to develop a test kit as soon as possible.
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