Acute Rheumatic Fever Diagnostic Network (ARC Network) clinical recruitment protocol.
BMJ open·
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-114968
- PMID
- 41881537
- PMCID
- PMC13034315
- OpenAlex
- W7140627835
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Publisher unavailable
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The project addresses a critical testing gap in regions experiencing substantial disease burden by constructing a platform for future diagnostic development.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The investigation seeks to establish a standardized multinational cohort to facilitate the identification of biomarkers for acute rheumatic fever diagnostics.
Study design
The publication functions as a methodological protocol outlining a multicentre observational recruitment strategy.
Population and setting
Enrollment targets individuals aged three to eighteen years with suspected conditions alongside matched control participants across four participating nations.
Main findings
The text details the operational architecture, including harmonized data collection, centralized specimen banking, and rigorous quality control measures.
Public-health relevance
The project addresses a critical testing gap in regions experiencing substantial disease burden by constructing a platform for future diagnostic development.
Important limitations
Being a procedural outline, the document lacks empirical results and does not yet evaluate diagnostic accuracy or clinical utility.
GIDS interpretation
This record establishes the methodological groundwork necessary for systematic exploratory research within the specified disease category.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 7 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.