Random Urinary 5HIAA: new diagnostic test for acute appendicitis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Urinary 5-HIAA: a new diagnostic test for early acute appendicitis.
IRAS ID
163758
Contact name
Afshin Alijani
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Acute appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency. Despite its high incidence, the diagnosis of appendicitis is difficult. There are only 50% of cases that are correctly diagnosed with this condition. In early appendicitis, the diagnosis is often difficult due vague symptoms, atypical history and multiple differential diagnosis.
There is not a particular blood test which exclusively indicate presence of acute appendicitis. Imaging is not particularly helpful in the diagnosis the condition. Hence, a large number of patients with vague symptoms and signs often end up with multiple assessments, prolonged hospital stay, and unnecessary imaging. Even after prolonged observation when symptoms do not settle, large number of patients undergo operation with anaesthetic risk. Clearly, this places a patient in high health risk as well as huge cost to the health trust.Previous studies have indicated that appendix is enriched with cells that densely contain serotonin. Serotonin is particular chemical in the body that seem to interact with different systems in the body. Ninety five percent of the serotonin is secreted from these cells in the appendix. Most of the serotonin secreted in the body is broken down into 5-HIAA which is secreted in the urine.
Early studies showed strong relationship of rise in serum serotonin levels and urinary 5-HIAA with early acute appendicitis.
The aim of our study is to establish an exclusive diagnostic test for appendicitis which is cheap, clinically effective, and non-invasive. We hypothesise that early acute appendicitis is significantly associated with rise in random urinary 5-HIAA.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1383
Date of REC Opinion
11 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion