AmBeR UCD: Can we measure ammonia in breath sample? Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
AmBeR UCD: Assessment of a breath ammonia monitoring device for its potential to improve the management and care of patients with urea cycle disorders
IRAS ID
167957
Contact name
Julian Hamilton-Shield
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
We will investigate whether a device (called the AmBeR device) for measuring ammonia in people’s breath relates to the concentration of ammonia in their blood. We will do this in patients with urea cycle disorders. This is a group of genetic metabolic conditions that prevents correct conversion of nitrogen to urea and, instead, produces ammonia. These patients cannot effectively control the level of ammonia in their blood. If the ammonia reaches high levels, this can cause severe illness and even death in these patients. This is a lifelong debilitating condition which is difficult to manage, as it is hard to tell when a patient is well or when they are sick. If successful, this device would allow a simple, painless way of monitoring these patients in their own home. As well as significantly improving their quality of life, this would also be a significant reduction in the burden on the healthcare system. Proving the potential of the device to achieve this will require a significant clinical study. The purpose of this proposal is to gather sufficient preliminary feasibility data to warrant such a study through the NIHR.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1077
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion