Simple blood test can predict how much damage is suffered by victims of smoke inhalation

The research results were sent for presentation at the European Burns Conference to be held in Germany in September.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Updated: JULY 28, 2015 03:19
Dr. Yaron Shoham (photo credit: SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER)
Dr. Yaron Shoham
(photo credit: SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER)
Levels of free DNA in blood predict the severity damage to those harmed by smoke inhalation, according to study by Soroka University Medical Center researchers.
Dr. Yaron Shoham, a plastic surgeon at the Beersheba hospital, said early studies of smoke inhalation victims who participated in the research clearly show the ability of “free DNA” levels to be a predictor of the seriousness of harm, indicating how many days of hospitalization will be needed and whether they will need to be resuscitated.
It also potentially could help improve their treatment.
The blood test is a simple one, with the amount of free DNA testifying to the amount of damage in the cells. The more the free DNA, the more serious the damage.
A medical summary (poster) with the research presented in Chicago at the American Burns Association conference a few months ago took first prize out of 300 others displayed. The results have been sent for presentation at the European Burns Conference to be held in Germany in September.
Cooperation in recent years between Soroka’s plastic surgery department and the nephrology department headed by Prof. Amos Duvdevani led to a new technique for measuring free DNA in the blood of burn victims and using it as a predictor of how serious the damage is from burns.