title: Circulating nucleic acids and critical illness.
abstract: This article reviews some of the early work that has been performed to investigate the potential roles of circulating nucleic acids as prediction markers in acute illness and injury. Circulating DNA and RNA concentrations are elevated early in patients with trauma, stroke and ACS, and are generally highest in patients with a high risk of death. Circulating nucleic acids may be useful markers for the evaluation and risk-stratification of such patients.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR. thrainer@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Rainer
authors.forename: Nicole Y L
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009696:Nucleic Acids