Researchers from the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital have successfully trialed a blood test which aides emphysema patients to avoid sudden and severe coughing attacks and visits to hospital emergency rooms.

The latest findings have been reported in the world’s number one lung disease research journal, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The two year study investigated the triggers for acute episodes of smoking-related-lung diseases such as emphysema and severe bronchitis, episodes which lead most patients to be admitted to hospital.

Results revealed that by using a blood test for the protein SAA, seventy percent of acute emphysema patients monitored in the study avoided being admitted to hospital.

“Early detection is the key to managing these extreme episodes which cause great distress to the patient, increases their morbidity and costs our health system over $900 million annually, most of which is due to hospitalization, “said Professor Louis Irving, Head of the Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Fellow of the University’s Department of Medicine

“This research has the potential to become a self administered blood test giving patients the opportunity to administer their own treatment and offset the worsening of an attack.”

“It would work much like that of a diabetic taking their own blood tests and administering treatments,” he said. “With the University of Melbourne, we are developing this concept.”

The study involved research nurses visiting patients with a history of severe coughing episodes and a range of infection which triggers worsening of the conditions, in their homes. Patients were tested for blood levels of the protein SAA before, during and after a coughing episode.

“The analysis of the patient’s blood samples in our labs revealed that SAA was elevated during episodes and decreased when the episode had subsided, “Professor Gary Anderson, Head of the Lung Disease Research Group in the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne.

“Using latest technology we were identified and confirmed SAA as an early detection marker for the worsening of these conditions,” he said.

Professor Irving says that most emphysema sufferers who experience coughing attacks wait until the coughing is extreme and then go to emergency rooms at hospitals.

“Our collaborative research shows that the vast majority of severe episodes of coughing or breathlessness can be managed in the home and/ or under the supervision of a GP,” he said.

“What is also significant is that this protein will help us predict who is at risk of a severe or life-threatening attack. Furthermore, SAA may be an actual cause of the disease” said Professor Anderson.

Further research is being conducted by the University of Melbourne to investigate this aspect.