目的:代谢组学旨在全面表征和测量复杂生物基质中的小分子代谢物(<1700Da)。这项研究旨在评估全球实验室医学中代谢组学的当前理解和使用,并评估其承诺和未来实施的看法。
方法:IFCC代谢组学工作组进行了一项调查,调查了来自79个国家的400名专业人员。参与者提供了他们经验水平的见解,知识,以及代谢组学方法的使用,以及详细说明所采用的应用程序和方法。
结果:研究结果表明,受访者的经验水平各不相同,对代谢组学技术有不同程度的熟悉和利用。有针对性的方法主导了这个领域,特别是与三重四极杆质谱仪耦合的液相色谱,非目标方法也得到了显著的使用。应用跨越临床研究,流行病学研究,临床诊断,病人监护,以及各种医疗领域的预测,包括代谢性疾病,内分泌学,肿瘤学,心脏代谢风险,神经变性和临床毒理学。
结论:尽管对临床代谢组学的未来持乐观态度,技术复杂性等挑战,标准化问题,和财政限制仍然是重大障碍。该研究强调了代谢组学在临床实践中的前景广阔而复杂的前景,强调需要继续努力克服障碍,充分发挥其在病人护理和精准医疗方面的潜力。
OBJECTIVE: Metabolomics aims for comprehensive characterization and measurement of small molecule metabolites (<1700 Da) in complex biological matrices. This study sought to assess the current understanding and usage of metabolomics in laboratory medicine globally and evaluate the perception of its promise and future implementation.
METHODS: A survey was conducted by the IFCC metabolomics working group that queried 400 professionals from 79 countries. Participants provided insights into their experience levels, knowledge, and usage of metabolomics approaches, along with detailing the applications and methodologies employed.
RESULTS: Findings revealed a varying level of experience among respondents, with varying degrees of familiarity and utilization of metabolomics techniques. Targeted approaches dominated the field, particularly liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, with untargeted methods also receiving significant usage. Applications spanned clinical research, epidemiological studies, clinical diagnostics, patient monitoring, and prognostics across various medical domains, including metabolic diseases, endocrinology, oncology, cardiometabolic risk, neurodegeneration and clinical toxicology.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite optimism for the future of clinical metabolomics, challenges such as technical complexity, standardization issues, and financial constraints remain significant hurdles. The study underscores the promising yet intricate landscape of metabolomics in clinical practice, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to overcome barriers and realize its full potential in patient care and precision medicine.