Novel Technology Diagnoses Immunothrombosis Using Breath Gas Analysis
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 11 Aug 2023 |
Immunothrombosis, the formation of microscopic blood clots during inflammation, is as a significant contributor to morbidity in patients grappling with sepsis or severe COVID-19. Thrombin, a key enzyme, plays a central role in this process. Presently, there are no methods for the early detection of immunothrombosis within a living organism. Now, researchers have developed a novel technology to diagnose immunothrombosis by measuring thrombin activity via breath gas analysis.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) have engineered hyperbranched polymeric nanoprobes, encompassing regions that are sensitive to thrombin and are bound to reporter molecules which can reach a gaseous state upon being released. In animals afflicted with immunothrombosis, thrombin in microvessels triggers the release of these volatile reporters which are subsequently exhaled through the lungs. Gas biopsies, obtained from exhaled breath samples, were subjected to analysis using gas chromatography mass spectrometry, enabling the determination of intravascular thrombin activity. These findings serve as the foundation for potential clinical application of the novel technology.
"Early diagnosis of immunothrombosis and intervention could prevent organ failure in patients with sepsis or severe COVID-19," said Ali Hafezi-Moghadam, MD, Ph.D., who led the study. "Our technology provides unprecedented knowledge of key enzymatic activity anywhere in the body. Such real-time measurement has the potential to improve personalized and precision treatments and save lives."
Related Links:
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Latest Hematology News
- Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns
- First 4-in-1 Nucleic Acid Test for Arbovirus Screening to Reduce Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections
- POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
- First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy
- Handheld White Blood Cell Tracker to Enable Rapid Testing For Infections
- Smart Palm-size Optofluidic Hematology Analyzer Enables POCT of Patients’ Blood Cells
- Automated Hematology Platform Offers High Throughput Analytical Performance
- New Tool Analyzes Blood Platelets Faster, Easily and Accurately
- First Rapid-Result Hematology Analyzer Reports Measures of Infection and Severity at POC
- Bleeding Risk Diagnostic Test to Reduce Preventable Complications in Hospitals
- True POC Hematology Analyzer with Direct Capillary Sampling Enhances Ease-of-Use and Testing Throughput
- Point of Care CBC Analyzer with Direct Capillary Sampling Enhances Ease-of-Use and Testing Throughput
- Blood Test Could Predict Outcomes in Emergency Department and Hospital Admissions
- Advanced Hematology System Allows Labs to Process Up To 119 Complete Blood Count Results per Hour
- Unique AI-Based Approach Automates Clinical Analysis of Blood Data
- Portable Tool Can Diagnose and Monitor Sickle Cell Disease