In-vivo quantification of lactate using Near Infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Diagnostics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Elevated blood lactate (hyperlactatemia) indicates critical conditions like hypoperfusion or sepsis.
• Current lactate monitoring relies on intermittent blood sampling, lacking continuous data for timely diagnosis.
• Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy offers potential for non-invasive, continuous lactate monitoring in critical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of a portable NIR spectrometer for continuous lactate monitoring.
• To establish a non-invasive method for lactate detection in critical care settings.
• To identify significant NIR wavelengths for accurate lactate concentration determination.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study using a portable NIR spectrometer (900-1300 nm) on 8 healthy volunteers.
• Volunteers underwent a high-intensity incremental exercise protocol to induce varying lactate levels.
• Diffuse NIR reflectance spectra were acquired and analyzed using 2D correlation analysis and linear regression.

Main Results:

• Promising results were obtained for lactate concentration determination using NIR spectroscopy.
• Significant wavelengths for lactate detection were identified at 923 nm, 1047 nm, 1142 nm, 1233 nm, 1280 nm, and 1330 nm.
• The study demonstrated the potential for NIR sensor technology in critical care lactate monitoring.

Conclusions:

• NIR Spectroscopy is a feasible technology for non-invasive, continuous lactate monitoring.
• The identified wavelengths provide confidence for developing bedside NIR sensors for lactate detection.
• This research supports the translation of NIR spectroscopy from research to clinical application in critical care.