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Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) in Lung Transplant Recipients

Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) in Lung Transplant Recipients A Prospective Pilot Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06344117
Acronym
UHN
Enrollment
45
Registered
2024-04-03
Start date
2023-12-12
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2024-04-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Invasive Aspergillosis

Keywords

Invasive Aspergillosis, VOC, Breath, Lung Transplant

Brief summary

Prospective observational pilot study to evaluate the utility of breath VOCs to detect invasive aspergillosis in lung transplant recipients that are suspected of invasive fungal disease (IFD).

Detailed description

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. The diagnosis of IA is challenging due to lack of sensitive and specific clinical and radiological signs, and tissue biopsy is often precluded in many patients. Culture and microscopy of respiratory tract samples are relatively insensitive diagnostic tests. Early detection of IA can lead to specific therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes. Breath is a rich and complex sampling medium containing both volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and respiratory droplets carrying non-volatiles, proteins, lipids, viruses and even bacteria. The major advantage of exhaled breath analysis is non-invasiveness, with existing sampling methods already readily available. The diagnostic or prognostic value of exhaled breath analysis has been evaluated in many respiratory diseases, including asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as well as in some lung infections such as bacterial pneumonia. In the particular field of aspergillosis diagnosis, using a chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis of exhaled breath in immunocompromised hosts (organ transplantation, hematological malignancies or HSCT), researchers have been able to identify an exhaled breath metabolic signature (made of β-trans-bergamotene, α-trans-bergamotene, a β-vatirenene-like sesquiterpene, and trans-geranylacetone) that potentially allows the discrimination of probable or proven aspergillosis from other lung infections, with high levels of sensitivity and specificity. Exhaled breath therefore appears as a promising field for the improvement of IA diagnosis, and more broadly of respiratory infections. Volatile organic compound (VOC) detection via thermal desorption/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has emerged as a promising tool for early diagnosis of IA, however the sample sizes have been limited. As such, the proposed pilot study aims to identify potential VOC biomarkers for both IA and Aspergillus colonization and assess the feasibility of VOCs on breath for the diagnosis of IA in lung transplant recipients.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Owlstone Ltd
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Patients with the following criteria will be included in the study: 1. Over the age of 18 years 2. Recipient of single/double lung transplant 3. Willingness to participate in the study 4. Suspected of invasive fungal disease or undergo surveillance appointments 5. Capable of providing sample 6. Capable of providing consent \-

Exclusion criteria

Patients with the following criteria will be excluded from the study: 1. On mechanical ventilation, oxygen supplementation including nasal cannula; simple, fixed, or non-rebreathing face mask at presentation. 2. Admitted to the intensive care unit at presentation. 3. The subject is currently diagnosed with a confirmed bacterial or viral respiratory infection or has received a diagnosis of a respiratory viral or bacterial infection within the last 4 weeks. 4. Previous diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis 5. Use of antifungals in previous 4 weeks 6. Has been previously diagnosed with respiratory fungal infection other than aspergillus within the last 3 months upon presentation. 7. Declines participation in the study. 8. On mold antifungal for \>72 hours. \-

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Identifying a statistical relationship between Volatile Organic Compounds detection and the diagnosis of IA by existing International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) and MSG/EORTC criteria.18 monthsIdentifying a statistical relationship between Volatile Organic Compounds detection and the diagnosis of IA by existing International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (MSG/EORTC) criteria.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Identifying a statistical relationship between the set of VOCs found in exhaled breath and the diagnosis of Aspergillus colonization as defined by ISHLT criteria18 monthsIdentifying a statistical relationship between the set of VOCs found in exhaled breath and the diagnosis of Aspergillus colonization as defined by ISHLT criteria

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactShahid Husain, MD.MS
shahid.husain@uhn.ca(416) 340-3144

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026