Exhaled breath condensate analysis in mechanically ventilated ICU patients

Proteomic Analysis of Exhaled Breath Condensate in Mechanically Ventilated Intensive Care Patients

The Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Czech Republic · NCT06189924

This project will collect small samples of exhaled breath condensate and blood from mechanically ventilated ICU patients to see if protein and molecular patterns can signal early lung or other organ problems.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Czech Republic (other)
Locations2 sites (Olomouc and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06189924 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Researchers will collect tiny amounts of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) from the ventilator circuit and paired venous blood samples from mechanically ventilated intensive care patients. EBC will undergo proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry while blood will be profiled for DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites. The team will standardize a sampling method that does not alter ventilation parameters and will freeze and process samples for molecular analysis. Resulting molecular profiles will be correlated with routine clinical and ventilation data to identify patterns that appear at early stages of lung or systemic pathology.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are intensive care patients receiving mechanical ventilation whose ventilator circuit is technically suitable for safe EBC sampling.

Not a fit: Patients whose ventilation is so unstable that inserting a sampling kit would risk respiratory deterioration, or whose circuits cannot be sampled, are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable earlier detection of lung and other organ problems, potentially shortening mechanical ventilation and ICU stays and reducing complications.

How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies of exhaled breath condensate and related breath-based proteomic approaches have shown promise, but the method remains largely exploratory and not yet widely validated.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Intensive care setting Mechanical ventilation Ventilator/ventilator circuit technically suitable for sampling of exhaled breath condensate

Exclusion Criteria:

Mechanical ventilation challenging to the extent that the insertion of the sampling kit into the ventilator circuit would substantially increase the risk for respiratory deterioration

Where this trial is running

Olomouc and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Acute Respiratory Failure, Critical Illness, exhaled breath condensate, proteomics, genomics, mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory failure, lung injury

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.