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CompletedNCT04010760Updated Feb 15, 2022

Non-invasive Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism by Use of Biomarkers in Exhaled Breath Condensate

An observational study in Pulmonary Embolism, sponsored by Aalborg University Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-02-15.

Sponsored by Aalborg University Hospital · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
110
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

In this study, a new, non-invasive method for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) will be tested. In pre-clinical studies, we have identified 151 putative biomarkers for pulmonary embolism in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC). These biomarkers needs validation/consolidation in a clinical setting before further test of this new diagnostic method.

Read the detailed description

The study will compare the protein profiles of EBC collected from patients admitted to the department of cardiology with suspected pulmonary embolism and controls with same age (within a range of 10 years) and gender from the outpatient clinic awaiting elective cardiovascular surgery. The main-outcome (i.e. means of the relative amounts of specific proteins in the EBC samples) will be compared by unpaired t-tests after assessment of normality and standard deviations within the three groups (PE confirmed, PE suspected but not confirmed and controls). Furthermore, sensitivity and specificity will be calculated for relevant proteins. The results from analysis of EBC samples from the patients and controls will be compared with results from the porcine model in order to confirm and reduce the number of putative biomarkers for PE. Blood samples (i.e. excess plasma from routine blood samples drawn as a part of routine diagnostic work-up) from the study participants will be stored for standardization of the putative markers and verification and supplementing analysis of the EBC markers. In order to qualify the most suitable markers and substrates for standardization, the analysis of the EBC samples must be completed before the blood samples can be analyzed. Only biochemical, no genetic analysis will be conducted.

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Conditions studied

  • Pulmonary Embolism
03

In context

Pulmonary Embolism

739 studies on the registry are indexed under Pulmonary Embolism; 159 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 110 is below the median of 392 across 324 observational studies indexed under Pulmonary Embolism.

Browse Pulmonary Embolism studies →

Lead sponsor

Aalborg University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 195 studies on the registry; 39 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

It is expected that

  • 40 patients with confirmed PE,
  • 40 patients with suspected PE, but where diagnostic work-up did not confirm PE and
  • 40 healthy controls

will be included in the study over a six-month period.

Inclusion Criteria - Suspected/confirmed PE patients:

  • Admitted to the emergency department with initial diagnosis of PE, visited to the Department of Cardiology at Aalborg University Hospital.
  • Are conscious and able to understand the given study information.
  • Possess legal capacity.
  • Age above 18 years.
  • Informed, signed consent is obtained.
  • Clinically stable, which is defined as patients with stable blood pressure and not in need for other treatments .
  • No need for organ support, which comprises need for vasopressors or inotropes, mechanical ventilation, extra corporal circulation or renal replacement therapy.

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria - Controls:

  • Patients as the PE patients, but where the diagnosis of PE is rejected.

The rest of the control persons will be recruited as described:

  • Patients who are going to have elective procedures at the Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital.
  • Same gender and age (within a 10-year range) as an included PE patient.
  • Are conscious and able to understand the given study information.
  • Possess legal capacity.
  • Age above 18 years.
  • Informed, signed consent is obtained.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active malignant disease (i.e. ongoing anti-cancer therapy or palliation).
  • Current smokers
05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
110 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
Samples without dna

Groups and cohorts

  • PE confirmed

    Patients admitted with confirmed pulmonary embolism.

    Diagnostic Test: Test of biomarkers for PE in EBC

  • PE suspected

    Patients admitted with suspected, but not confirmed pulmonary embolism.

    Diagnostic Test: Test of biomarkers for PE in EBC

  • Controls

    Healthy controls same gender and age (within af range of 10 years) as PE patients

    Diagnostic Test: Test of biomarkers for PE in EBC

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testTest of biomarkers for PE in EBC

    New method for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in order to validate/consolidate 151 putative identified biomarkers for PE in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The EBC will be collected by use of the RTube(R) system which has been used in previous studies of EBC. As the patient breathes through a mouth piece, the exhaled breath is led through a cooling chamber where the vaporous part of the exhaled breath condenses. We aim at collecting a total minimum of 3.0 mL EBC per study subject in order to have a sufficient amount of protein for the subsequent analysis. We aim at collecting exhaled breath condensate for 2\*15 minutes with the possibility to stop the collection after less than 15 minutes if the volume is sufficient.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Prediction of pulmonary embolism by use of biomarkers in the EBC

    The primary outcome is prediction of pulmonary embolism by use of one or more novel biomarkers in the EBC.

    Time frame: 1-2 years

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Aalborg Hospital
    Aalborg, 9000, Denmark
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 15, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04010760
Lead sponsor
Aalborg University Hospital
Collaborators
University of Aarhus
Responsible party
Inger Lise Gade (MD, PhD, Registrar, Aalborg University Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 8, 2019
Start date
Apr 8, 2019
Primary completion
May 30, 2020
Completion
May 31, 2020
Last update
Feb 15, 2022

Study contacts

Inger L Gade, MD
principal investigator · Aalborg University Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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