Children as Biomarker Orphans: Progress in the Field of Pediatric Biomarkers

Biomarkers are incorporated ubiquitously into clinical practice as surrogate endpoints of physiologic and pathologic processes that cannot be measured directly. For example, a lipid panel is used to evaluate cardiovascular disease but does not measure vascular heath directly. Biomarkers monitor health, detect exposures, diagnose disease, predict disease severity and outcome, and monitor treatment effects. The potential utility of biomarkers in pediatrics is high. Children are not only at risk of developing unique illnesses, but prevalent chronic diseases previously thought of as "adult" illness, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, have their origins in childhood.

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