Study of volatiles from pleural fluid
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of volatile organic compounds released by pleural effusions using the Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and spectroscopy techniques.
IRAS ID
196783
Contact name
Josep Sulé-Suso
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital of North Midlands
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, months, days
Research summary
Pleural effusions (fluid in the lining of the lungs) is a finding in pleural diseases and can occur in both benign and malignant conditions. The common causes include cancer (primary and metastatic), infection, inflammation, and heart, liver and kidney failure. At present, there are no robust or well-validated methods for identifying patients presenting with pleural infection who are at a high-risk of dying or of long-term illness. It is therefore obvious that quick, reliable and cost-effective techniques are required to improve the diagnosis of pleural effusions so that treatment can be initiated earlier.
A technique which could have a potential in the early diagnosis of pleural effusions is the Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). SIFT-MS can carry out accurately and in real time (minutes) analyses of air samples for several compounds (Volatile Organic Compounds –VOCs) simultaneously down to concentrations of parts-per-billion by volume (ppbv). More important, it obviates sample preparation.
On this basis, we intend to study the VOCs released by pleural effusions and in the breath of patients with pleural effusions and correlate the VOCs’ profile with clinical diagnosis. We will also use Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and spectroscopy techniques (all already available in our laboratory) for cross-validation of our results. Furthermore, we will also measure the levels of cotinine (a marker of smoking) in urine and correlate it with acetonitrile (another marker of smoking) in breath. It is well known that smoking is a major risk factor for most chronic lung and pleural diseases. Therefore, we will assess whether the measurement of acetonitrile using SIFT-MS in the breath of people with pleural effusions correlates with smoking habit. This study will set up the basis to establish SIFT-MS as a potential tool in the fast and reliable diagnosis of pleural effusions.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0034
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion