Metabolomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in preterm infants complicated by respiratory distress syndrome: preliminary results

Objective: Metabolomics is a technique used to non-invasively determine a snapshot of the current metabolic status of an organism by analyzing intact tissue or bio-fluids. The aim of the present preliminary study was to analyze metabolic profiles in preterm infants complicated by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) trough bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) measurement. Methods: Twelve BALF samples collected at birth prior surfactant, post-surfactant during mechanical ventilation and at extubation time-points, were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: GC-MS analysis identified 25 metabolites of whom 10 had a known molecular structure. They were: undecane, decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9-octadecanoic acid, tetracosanoic acid, myristic acid, phosphate. These metabolites were over-expressed in BALF collected during mechanical ventilation after surfactant administration. Conclusions: The present preliminary data suggest that metabolic profile in BALF of RDS infants is becoming possible opening a new cue of metabolomics as promising tool in management of sick premature infants.