Raman spectroscopy for label-free identification of calciphylaxis.
Calciphylaxis is a painful, debilitating, and premorbid condition, which presents as calcified vasculature and soft tissues. Traditional diagnosis of calciphylaxis lesions requires an invasive biopsy, which is destructive, time consuming, and often leads to exacerbation of the condition and infection. Furthermore, it is difficult to find small calcifications within a large wound bed. To address this need, a noninvasive diagnostic tool may help clinicians identify ectopic calcified mineral and determine the disease margin. We propose Raman spectroscopy as a rapid, point-of-care, noninvasive, and label-free technology to detect calciphylaxis mineral. Debrided calciphylactic tissue was collected from six patients and assessed by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Micro-CT confirmed extensive deposits in three specimens, which were subsequently examined with Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra confirmed that deposits were consistent with carbonated apatite, consistent with the literature. Raman spectroscopy shows potential as a noninvasive technique to detect calciphylaxis in a clinical environment.
University of Michigan, Department of Chemistry, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
William R
WR
Lloyd
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Surgery, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Shailesh
S
Agarwal
Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medicine, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.
Sagar U
SU
Nigwekar
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Karen
K
Esmonde-White
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Surgery, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Shawn
S
Loder
Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Surgery, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.
Shawn
S
Fagan
Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Surgery, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.
Jeremy
J
Goverman
Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
Bjorn R
BR
Olsen
Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
Dolrudee
D
Jumlongras
University of Michigan, Department of Chemistry, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Michael D
MD
Morris
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Surgery, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Benjamin
B
Levi
D001031:Apatites / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D001031:Apatites; D015415:Biomarkers; D002118:Calcium