What is a Biomarker? Why is it important in Healthcare?

by admin-blog-kh | September 5, 2023 1:32 pm

Summary

Biomarkers, short for ‘Biological Markers’ are a physical, chemical or biological characteristic that is present in the human body, and measurable too. The measure of one or more biomarkers is an indication of the presence or absence of a disease. Or they indicate the body’s reaction to a drug or therapy. They are indispensable in diagnosing disease, prescribing the right medication, right dosage, and even while designing new drugs. While in the past, biomarkers were few in number, over time, their number has grown significantly. This comes as a boon for doctors and the patient alike. In this article, we will learn more.

Introduction

Diseases have been detected and diagnosed by doctors, throughout the history of mankind, using various physical characteristics seen in the patient and samples taken from his/her body. The colour and thickness of sputum, health of the skin, hair or nails[1], changes in the fingers and limbs, changes in body-weight, colour of the eyes, changes in colour of urine, changes in stools, location of pain, intensity of pain, pulse rate, heart rate, blood-pressure, sugar level, etc, etc have all been used by native doctors across the world, to diagnose disease.

The industrial revolution brought along with a Healthcare revolution in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Various instruments were invented to measure one or more health parameters. Advances in molecular biochemistry led to the discovery of various medicines and vaccines. Today, pharma and healthcare are extremely sophisticated sectors, and highly technology-driven.

Doctors and research scientists can isolate biomarkers quickly and with ease[2]. More and more biomarkers are being added to the roster of diseases every year. This is making detection and diagnosis of diseases easier, designing and developing new drugs easier, efficient and effective treatment of the patient easier. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that today, much of medicine and healthcare is built on the foundation of biomarkers.

Also Read: Affordable Healthcare Is At Our Core[3]

Why are Biomarkers important?

Biomarkers are associated with all of these roles. They….

The advantages of having biomarkers are:

What qualifies as a biomarker?

The WHO defines a biomarker as “any measurement reflecting an interaction between a biological system and a potential hazard, which may be chemical, physical, or biological. The measured response may be functional and physiological, biochemical at the cellular level, or a molecular interaction”.

To a layman, biomarkers may appear the same as signs and symptoms of a disease (such as temperature and heart-rate). However, the medical fraternity is clear on what qualifies as a biomarker. An ideal biomarker should have as many of the below attributes as possible:

Also Read: Seven common genetic diseases you might inherit from your elders[4]

Types and Classification of Biomarkers

Over the years, as more and more biomarkers were added or identified by the medical fraternity, they have been classified in different ways.

Based on their source or location

  1. Molecular – have biophysical properties, which allow their measurements in biological samples such as blood plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage, biopsy, urinalysis and faecal analysis
  2. Radiographic – obtained from imaging studies, example – bone mineral density
  3. Histologic – reflect biochemical or molecular alteration in cells, tissues or fluids, example – the staging and grading of cancers
  4. Physiologic – measures of body processes, example – blood pressure, pulse rate and heart-rate

Based on roles/functions

Susceptibility/Risk Biomarkers

As the name implies, these biomarkers indicate the person’s likelihood of developing a particular disease or condition in the near or distant future. Example:

Diagnostic Biomarkers

These are used to detect or confirm a particular disease or condition. They can also reveal the nature of the disease. Examples:

Prognostic Biomarkers

In people who already are confirmed to have a disease, prognostic biomarkers can predict the likelihood of disease progression or relapse. Examples:

Monitoring Biomarkers

These biomarkers are used for one or all of these reasons: to assess the stage or condition of the disease, to measure the exposure to a particular drug, and to measure exposure to an environmental agent. So, monitoring them is important for managing and treating the disease.

Examples:

Predictive Biomarkers

These are used to identify individuals who have a higher likelihood of experiencing a strong outcome (either favourable or unfavourable) when exposed to a particular drug or environmental agent. This will help decide the treatment options. Examples:

Pharmacodynamic/Response Biomarkers

These reveal that a biological response has happened in patients exposed to a particular drug or environmental agent. So, these are used in clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of the drug. Examples:

 

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – Alwarpet/Vadapalani 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801

Endnotes:
  1. The colour and thickness of sputum, health of the skin, hair or nails: https://kauveryhospital.com/blog/family-and-general-medicine/what-fingernails-tell-us-about-our-health/
  2. Doctors and research scientists can isolate biomarkers quickly and with ease: https://www.kauveryhospital.com/patients-visitors/ask-your-doctor
  3. Affordable Healthcare Is At Our Core: https://www.kauveryhospital.com/news-events/january-affordable-healthcare-is-at-our-core-2020
  4. Seven common genetic diseases you might inherit from your elders: https://kauveryhospital.com/blog/lifestyle/seven-common-genetic-diseases-you-might-inherit-from-your-elders/
  5. . HbA1c levels in the blood indicate the average blood-glucose level in the last three months: https://kauveryhospital.com/blog/family-and-general-medicine/faqs-on-hba1c-test/
  6. lower cholesterol-levels in patients with high cholesterol-levels in the blood: https://kauveryhospital.com/blog/family-and-general-medicine/great-tips-to-lower-your-bad-cholesterol/

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