by: Katie Augustine
Posted: Jul 7, 2020 / 05:52 PM EDT
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – New cutting edge research at MUSC could give patients a little more insight into how COVID-19 could impact them individually.
The new test would tell patients with COVID-19 how bad their experience with the virus will be, and whether they’ll be able to ride it out at home or require a hospital stay.
The complex science behind the research comes down to looking at sugar molecules that are attached to proteins in the bloodstream. Those proteins, called immunoglobulins, fight the virus. The sugars change as the illness develops.
“That change appears to identify those patients who are going to develop a really significant disease,” said Dr. Anand Mehta, a member of the research team and a professor in the pharmacology department at MUSC. “That means they’re going on a ventilator, they’re going to be in a life or death situation as opposed to those patients who really have mild disease that really can just stay home. READ MORE