Revolutionary Method Detects Newborn Diseases: PDE Screening Begins
A groundbreaking method has been developed to identify biomarkers for previously undetectable diseases, starting with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE). This discovery could revolutionize newborn screening and treatment.
Currently, only 2% of over a thousand known inborn metabolic diseases (IMD) can be detected through newborn screening. In the Netherlands alone, an IMD-affected child is born every other day, highlighting the urgent need for improved screening.
Researchers at Radboud University Medical Center and the FELIX laser laboratory have identified new biomarkers for PDE. These biomarkers can be detected through the routine neonatal heel prick, expanding screening capabilities. The method combines advanced analytical instrumentation with the FELIX laboratory's infrared laser, enabling biomarker identification.
PDE is characterized by intractable seizures and developmental delays, even with vitamin B6 treatment. The newly discovered biomarkers could lead to optimized treatment. The method is also being applied to other diseases lacking biomarkers, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases.
Newborn screening for PDE has begun, thanks to the discovery of new biomarkers. This marks a significant step forward in detecting and treating IMDs. Researchers are now applying this method to other diseases, potentially revolutionizing healthcare and improving the lives of countless individuals.
Read also:
- Is it advisable to utilize your personal health insurance in a publicly-funded medical facility?
- Dietary strategies for IBS elimination: Aims and execution methods
- Benefits, suitable dosage, and safety considerations for utilizing pumpkin seed oil in treating an overactive bladder
- Harmful Medical Remedies: A Misguided Approach to Healing
