Clinical metabolomics in laboratory medicine: mapping of practices, state of the art, and proposals from the Société Française de Biologie Clinique Working Group
Métabolomique clinique en biologie médicale : cartographie des pratiques, état de l’art et propositions du Groupe de Travail de la Société Française de Biologie Clinique
Résumé
Metabolomics is an approach to systems biology which studies the metabolic profiles of biological fluids, cells, tissues or organisms as a function of pathophysiological conditions or in response to different stimuli or treatments. Despite its development in research, its use in laboratory medicine remains limited and the contours of clinical metabolomics are not clearly defined. In June 2024, the French Society of Clinical Biology (SFBC)'s'Clinical Metabolomics in Laboratory Medicine' working group conducted an online survey to establish the current status of clinical metabolomics players in France and to better define the issues and expectations involved. Of the 37 specialists who responded, 75% were affiliated to laboratory medicine, while the others were only affiliated to a research unit. The results revealed a wide range of analytical approaches, with mass spectrometry being the most widespread, with targeted and untargeted approaches depending on the objectives of the laboratories. The most frequently mentioned clinical areas of application were hereditary metabolic diseases (45%), metabolic diseases (45%), nutrition (35%), oncology (32%) and neurology (26%). The definitions of clinical metabolomics varied widely depending on the context in which the participants practiced. In this publication, the SFBC Working Group aims to define the scope and objectives of clinical metabolomics in laboratory medicine, relying in particular on a glossary designed to harmonize dedicated terminology.