Invasive Markers of Airway Inflammation

Question 1

Define a biomarker

Answer 1

One that can be objectively mesuared and evaluated as an indicator of normal/pathogenic processes to a therapeutic intervention

Question 2

What 5 factors make an ideal biomarker

Answer 2

1. Sensitive (true +ve)
   
   1. Can detect disease of interest
2. Specific (true -ve)
   
   1. Doesn’t give lots of false positive
3. Predictive
4. Robust
5. Accessible
   
   1. ​Cheap
   2. Repeated in patient

Question 3

Why do we measure biomarkers

Answer 3

Symptoms often subjective, provides obective-ness

Confirm diagnosis/Assess disease severity

Predict response to treatment

Monitor disease activity/treatment response

Question 4

What are some considerations that need to be taken before deciding to measure an invasive biomarker

Answer 4

• Invasive
  
  • Will patient want this done repeatedly
• Sample might not change management of patient
  
  • Risk vs benefit
• Ethically sound

Question 5

Name some types of samples taken from invasive interventions

Answer 5

Blood

Sputum

Biopsy (bronchoscopy)

BALF

Bronchial brushings

Lung resections

Question 6

How is blood used in clinic and in research

Answer 6

Clinic

• Cell counts for specific diseases
• Assesses severity

Research

• Isolation or differentiation of specific cell
• Cultured and supernatant observed using ELISA

Question 7

Differentiate between sample from spontaneous and induced sputum

Answer 7

Spontaneous - decreased cell viability/count

Induced - improved cell viability and count

Question 8

What are the two bronchoscopy types and when are they used

Answer 8

Flexible and rigid bronchoscopy

BALF, biopsy, brushings

Rigi used when taking larger samples - has a larger channel/port (large bleed/foreign bodies)