The possibility of having a tool that facilitates the screening of the population of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (MPOC) is getting closer. A multicenter study involving leading hospitals across Spain, led by Del Mar Hospital and its research institute, confirmed that people with mpoc show modified levels of specific metabolites in their blood. This observation can make it possible to use these biomarkers to identify, at an early stage, those who probably have the MPOC. The study, conducted with researchers from the respiratory diseases in Ciber (Cibes) and Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
This could serve as a screening method to define high -risk populations for MPOC, which could then be referred for the final diagnostic test, spirometry. “”
Dr Joaquim Gea, Emeritus chief of the pneumology department at Del Mar Hospital and coordinator of the myogenesis research group, inflammation and muscle functions at Hospital del Mar Research Institute
Currently, 70% of MPOC cases are underdiagnosed, largely due to the difficulty of correctly carrying out the reference test spirometry on a population scale. This leads to late or missed diagnostics, which delays the start of treatment and causes patients with care with advanced disease. It also increases the risk of conditions associated with MPOC such as lung cancer.
Ten modified metabolites
The study analyzed the data of 91 patients with MPOC and 91 healthy witnesses. All participants have undergone blood tests, which were analyzed using mass spectrometry to detect metabolite levels. Of the 360 molecules identified, around 50 were selected as the most relevant. Using artificial intelligence, researchers have identified the ten high -performance metabolites in combination to identify people with mpoc.
The results have shown that these metabolites had a very high sensitivity and specificity – out of 90% – in the distinction of patients with healthy individuals. These molecules are linked to energy production, which may explain fatigue and other limitations suffered by patients with mpoc, as well as lipid metabolism, which could be linked to cardiovascular comorbidities often found in these individuals. The results suggest that patients with mpoc have a reduced capacity to produce energy and altered lipid metabolism
Selecting a small group of markers can help its implementation in a population screening program in COPD. In addition, its application can be relatively simple, by being able to make them with a routine blood analysis. As Dr. Gea explains, this “It can allow us to have a tool for the early detection of people with COPD, a fact that implies the beginning of treatment at an initial moment of the disease and a narrower surveillance of possible comorbidities”.
Focusing on a limited group of biomarkers could facilitate their inclusion in a population screening program for MPOC. In addition, their application could be relatively simple because they can be detected by a routine blood test. As Dr. Gea points out, this “could give us an early detection tool for people with mpoc, which would allow treatment to start the early stages of the disease and allowed narrower surveillance of potential comorbidities”.
The next step in this search line is to check the effectiveness of these biomarkers in a larger and more diverse population. In case of success, this could open the way to their implementation in clinical practice.
