Method of predicting acute appendicitis
Embodiments of the invention provide method and devices for predicting the likelihood of acute appendicitis without invasive exploratory medical procedures. Several protein biomarkers: leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein (LRG); S100-A8 (calgranulin); α-1-acid glycoprotein 1 (ORM); plasminogen (PLG); mannan-binding lectin serine protease 2 (MASP2); zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (AZGP1); Apolipoprotein D (ApoD); and α-1-antichymotrypsin (SERPINA3); are increased in the urine of patients with appendicitis. The method and devices comprise detecting the levels of these biomarkers and comparing with reference levels found in healthy individuals.
1. A method of treating a subject in need thereof comprising:
(a) performing an assay to measure for an increase in the level of a first acute appendicitis protein biomarker α-1-acid glycoprotein 1 (ORM), in a urine sample obtained from the subject, wherein the subject exhibits at least right-lower quadrant abdominal pain or tenderness, a symptom of acute appendicitis, and wherein the subject is suspected of having acute appendicitis;
(b) diagnosing the subject with acute appendicitis when an increased ORM level of at least 2-fold over a reference level is detected, wherein the reference level is the ORM level from a control group of subjects without acute appendicitis and having an appendicitis-like symptom;
(c) selecting the subject with acute appendicitis from step (b) for appendicitis treatment; and
(d) administering an appropriate appendicitis treatment comprising surgery.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring for an increase in the level of at least one second acute appendicitis biomarker protein, wherein the second biomarker protein is selected from a group consisting of calgranulin A (S100-A8), plasminogen (PLG), mannan-binding lectin serine protease 2 (MASP2), Zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (AZGP1), α-1-antichymotrypsin (SERPINA3) and apolipoprotein D (ApoD), adipocyte specific adhesion molecule, AMBP, amyloid-like protein 2, angiotensin converting enzyme 2, BAZ1B, carbonic anhydrase 1, CD14, chromogranin A, FBLN7, FXR2, hemoglobin α, hemoglobin β, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, inter-α-trypsin inhibitor, lipopolysaccharide binding protein, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan acid receptor 1, MLKL, nicastrin, novel protein (Accession No: IPI00550644), PDZK1 interacting protein 1, PRIC285, prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase, Rcl, S100-A9, serum amyloid A protein, SLC13A3, SLC2A1, SLC2A2, SLC4A1, SLC9A3, SORBS1, SPRX2, supervillin, TGFbeta2R, TTYH3, VA0D1, vascular adhesion molecule 1, versican, VIP36, α-1-acid glycoprotein 2, and β-1,3-galactosyltransferase.