In an analysis of blood samples from patients with schizophrenia and crack users, researchers from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) identified a series of metabolites that can help in the accurate diagnosis of drug addicts with symptoms similar to those of serious mental illnesses, such as hallucinations and delirium.
The technology improves a method based on nuclear magnetic resonance and chemometrics techniques – a statistical approach to data of chemical origin – to analyze patterns in a set of substances produced by metabolism. The invention had a protection strategy carried out by the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency.
"The use of a foreign compound, such as crack, causes a biological response that affects our entire metabolism. These changes can be seen in the change in concentration of one or another metabolite. What we did was map these serum metabolites to understand the molecular basis of crack addiction”, explains Ljubica Tasic, professor at the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Institute of Chemistry (IQ) at Unicamp.
Diagnostic support
Currently, the diagnosis of schizophrenia is based on the psychiatrist's clinical analysis and depends on the patient's ability to report symptoms. Identifying drug abuse in active crack users can be done with basic tests, but, in abstinence, the drug's biomarkers become undetectable in the body. At this stage, behavioral changes can be confused with psychotic episodes.
"With the method we were able to identify whether the change occurs due to the use of crack or because the patient is suffering from schizophrenia, even after the drug has been detectable. This is important, as the medication for each case is different”, says Mirian Hayashi, professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Escola Paulista de Medicina da Unifesp.
The methodology has already been applied to differentiate schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses, bipolar disorder. The positive results in identifying a group of specific biomarkers led to the granting of the patent. The same happened in studies with crack users, motivating the request for a certificate of addition for the patent.
The study still has some limitations. The research did not explore, for example, the relationship between the metabolic profile and other factors, such as smoking, eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, which can affect the results. Further investigations will be necessary to arrive at a consolidated group of diagnostic markers.
Search path
This is the first time that Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used on drug users, according to the researchers. The samples were collected by Department of Psychiatry at Unifesp, prepared at the Department of Pharmacology and sent to Campinas, where they underwent analysis at the IQ Department of Organic Chemistry from Unicamp.
In the first phase, the analysis of the metabolomic profile of the samples compared the results of blood tests in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and the control group of healthy people. Next, the researchers analyzed crack-dependent individuals and the control group. Part of this research was published in Journal of Proteome Research from the American Chemical Society (ACS). Finally, the group assessed the differences between patients with schizophrenia and crack users.
At least six key metabolites were identified in the process and analyzes showed their changes in all populations studied. “Once the possibility of differentiation based on this group of metabolites has been identified, the ideal would be to analyze them separately in a much larger number of patients”, points out Hayashi.
Chemical dependence on crack is considered a public health problem. Accurate diagnosis can guarantee greater assertiveness in treatment and, combined with clinical work, prevent the patient from experiencing new outbreaks. These intense manifestations are harmful and toxic to the brain, causing cognitive loss.
"New studies can contribute to a better biochemical understanding of the effects of crack on individuals. By understanding the influence of drugs on the body, we will be able, in the long term, to monitor the effects of drugs in the treatment applied”, concludes Tasic.
For now, there is no test approved for clinical use. The technology needs to go through other phases before reaching the market. It now depends on partnerships to advance clinical studies. Licensing negotiations are carried out with the support of Inova Unicamp and inventors actively participate in the technology transfer process.
