Applications of FT-IR spectrometry to plasma contents analysis and monitoring

Here. we review recent methodological developments for plasma analysis by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry to provide both a high sensitivity and a global overview of its biomolecular contents along with the variations of these ones. Transmittance FT-IR spectrometry has been used to analyze plasma micro samples (50 mul) using an iterative process. Results in accordance with clinical data were obtained from a single FT-IR spectrum for the following biomolecules: amino acids, fatty acids, albumin. glucose, fibrinogen, lactate, triglycerides, glycerol, urea, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, alpha(2)-macroglobulin, transferin, Apo-A(1), Apo-B, Apo-C-3, IgA. I-D, IgG(1), IgG(2), IgG(3), IgG(4), IgM, haptoglobin, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, cholesterol, and cholesterol esters. Therefore, as only micro samples are necessary, high frequency blood analysis become available. We also present a novel application of this method for the monitoring of inflammatory processes related to given metabolic stresses in rugby players. We show that an FT-IR spectrum constitutes a "metabolic photography" of the subject, allowing classification between metabolic Groups (pathologic or others). It was used on difference spectra in order to raise "signal-to-noise" ratio by elimination of the unvarying spectral contribution. Among others, it allowed to uncover overtraining in high-level sportsmen several weeks before any physiologic or clinical symptom occurred. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.