Fibrosis Markers

Fibrosis is the excess buildup of connective tissue in an organ (for instance subsequent to chronic inflammation or induced by certain drugs), and may ultimately lead to severe organ failure.

Blood-based fibrosis biomarkers such as procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) can be useful in the non-invasive detection or monitoring of a fibrotic process.

Inflammation Markers

Inflammatory diseases develop when inflammation, basically a protective mechanism against infections or injuries, becomes uncontrolled and leads to the destruction of healthy tissue, as is the case in many autoimmune diseases. However, inflammation is also recognized as an important secondary component of many other disease processes (e.g. atherosclerosis).

Biomarkers of inflammation are widely used in clinical routines, and research into novel inflammatory biomarkers is being actively pursued in many institutions.

Neonates

Newborn screening programs have been implemented in many countries throughout the world, yet they vary in scope from country to country.

Laboratory tests frequently include measurements of (1) 17-hydroxyprogesterone to detect congenital adrenal hyperplasia, (2) TSH to detect congenital hypothyroidism, and (3) immunoreactive trypsin to detect cystic fibrosis.