Spectroscopic methods to quantify molecules of the heme‐biosynthesis pathway: A review of laboratory work and point‐of‐care approaches

Abstract

Spectroscopic methods for quantitative detection of molecules of the heme synthesis and heme metabolism are presented. This can be used to diagnose disease patterns such as iron deficiency, porphyria or free hemoglobin. This article combines an overview of clinical conditions associated with disorders of heme biosynthesis and presents selected laboratory findings in the development of portable diagnostic devices. An iron deficiency measurement device has already been validated as a portable device in clinical trials, two other methods have been tested according to EMA guidelines and are available for use in clinical validation studies. The presented rapid, low‐cost and low‐effort methods can support diagnosis in everyday clinical practice and initiate more targeted therapies, even for rare disease conditions.

Non-Invasive Zinc Protoporphyrin Screening Offers Opportunities for Secondary Prevention of Iron Deficiency in Blood Donors

“…In this way, ZnPP can be detected directly from whole blood without any prior blood processing. Moreover, the developed innovative device allows for completely non-invasive (NI) measurements of ZnPP through the red vermillion of the lower lip (NI-lip measurement) with a fiber-based applicator, delivers an immediate result and can be used at the point of care [ 25 , 26 ]. Therefore, it might provide a standard of measurement in the future.…”

Interrelation between Spectral Online Monitoring and Postoperative T1-Weighted MRI in Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy of Malignant Gliomas

“…Therefore, the absorption depends, critically, also on the blood oxygenation level, as the absorption coefficient of deoxygenated blood is about 8.5 times higher than that of oxygenated blood at this specific wavelength [ 20 ]. As PDT consumes tissue oxygen, the oxygenation status of hemoglobin—and thus its absorption coefficient—may dynamically vary during treatment as reported [ 21 , 22 ]. It can be hypothesized that intracerebral hemorrhages induced by the implantation procedure may, therefore, have a rather complex impact on treatment success.…”