Biomarkers to Predict, Prevent and Find the Appropriate Treatments of Disorders in Childhood

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Background

Neonatal and pediatric biomarkers can be used to predict, prevent, or diagnose disorders, and to find and monitor appropriate treatments. According to a guideline defined by FDA and NIH (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools; BEST), biomarkers can be divided into different categories: diagnosis, pharmacodynamics/response, monitoring, prediction, safety and susceptibility/risk. Molecular, histologic, radiographic, or physiological characteristics can serve as biomarkers. They can be a part of neonatal screening where measurements are performed on whole populations, or they can be used when a child is ill to find the diagnosis and treatment plan. In research projects, biomarkers are often used to understand the etiology of a disorder, to find connections between symptoms in different disorders, and to identify effective treatments.

Today, despite huge technological advancements, several disorders remain diagnosed solely by symptoms and not by measurable biomarkers. This is the case for neurodevelopmental and/or psychiatric disorders and, indeed, for early stages of many diseases which makes diagnosis less specific and vague than for disorders with clear biomarkers. Furthermore, diagnostic biomarkers for many disorders are not optimal, as they are measurable too late when the disorder is progressive, or are not specific for one diagnosis. In the future, it will be possible to find and treat earlier more disorders, for example by neonatal screening, thus preventing them from developing early in life. Many disorders, normally diagnosed in adulthood, are initiated early in life and, thus, the damage is already too extended to treat when found. Early biomarkers may thus be a way to prevent severe disorders. Precision medicine is an expanding area where biomarkers are central, and for children, finding the appropriate medication is even more complex. Genetic variations that indicate risks for the development of disorders are becoming increasingly acceptable and, despite the lack of optimal treatment, early intervention prior to the occurrence of symptoms may improve the quality of life.

This Research Topic welcomes article contributions in the area of biomarkers in newborns and older children. It will comprise Original Research articles on new biomarkers, improved biomarkers or methods to predict, prevent or diagnose all kinds of disorders in newborns and children, as well as to monitor treatment. The editors aim to highlight the broad and evolving topic of biomarkers in pediatrics and wish to present aspects such as the use of biomarkers and symptoms in the clinic, the laboratory dimension that relates to finding biomarkers in body fluids, or the optimization of existing biomarkers. As finding the optimal biomarkers can involve a number of steps, articles on studies without a perfect diagnostic marker but biomarkers that indicate disorders, are welcome, including animal studies that can expand our knowledge of treatments and disorders. Review articles regarding the improvement or overview of biomarkers are also welcome.

Keywords: biomarkers, prediction, disorder, early diagnosis, treatment

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