A protein in saliva that can be used for the early detection of sepsis cases offers new potential for tracking diseases, according to research from Malmö University in Sweden.
The protein suPAR can be used as a marker of sepsis, according to a university press release. Sepsis affects about 0.2% of the Swedish population and can lead to septic shock, one of the most common causes of death at the country's intensive care units.
Anna Gustafsson, a doctoral candidate at the school, found that the protein correlates with the so-called SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score, a measure of organ failure that is used in cases of blood poisoning. The occurrence of suPAR in saliva is 10 times higher than in the blood, the study found.
