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Identification of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Prediction of Disease Severity via Machine Learning Analysis of Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and Complete Blood Count Data

  • IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS
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Abstract

Background

Diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) typically relies on high-resolution computed tomography imaging (HRCT) or histopathology, while monitoring disease severity is done via frequent pulmonary function testing (PFT). More reliable and convenient methods of diagnosing fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) type and monitoring severity would allow for early identification and enhance current therapeutic interventions. This study tested the hypothesis that a machine learning (ML) ensemble analysis of comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and complete blood count (CBC) data can accurately distinguish IPF from connective tissue disease ILD (CTD-ILD) and predict disease severity as seen with PFT.

Methods

Outpatient data with diagnosis of IPF or CTD-ILD (n = 103 visits by 53 patients) were analyzed via ML methodology to evaluate (1) IPF vs CTD-ILD diagnosis; (2) %predicted Diffusing Capacity of Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) moderate or mild vs severe; (3) %predicted Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) moderate or mild vs severe; and (4) %predicted FVC mild vs moderate or severe.

Results

ML methodology identified IPF from CTD-ILD with AUCTEST = 0.893, while PFT was classified as DLCO moderate or mild vs severe with AUCTEST = 0.749, FVC moderate or mild vs severe with AUCTEST = 0.741, and FVC mild vs moderate or severe with AUCTEST = 0.739. Key features included albumin, alanine transaminase, %lymphocytes, hemoglobin, %eosinophils, white blood cell count, %monocytes, and %neutrophils.

Conclusion

Analysis of CMP and CBC data via proposed ML methodology offers the potential to distinguish IPF from CTD-ILD and predict severity on associated PFT with accuracy that meets or exceeds current clinical practice.

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Data availability

Data will be made available upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge partial funding by University of Louisville office of Executive Vice-President for Research and Innovation (EVPRI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Alex N. Mueller

  2. Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Lutz Hall 419, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Hunter A. Miller & Hermann B. Frieboes

  3. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Matthew J. Taylor

  4. University of Arizona Medical Center Phoenix, 755 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA

    Sally A. Suliman

  5. Formerly at: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Sally A. Suliman

  6. Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Hermann B. Frieboes

  7. James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Hermann B. Frieboes

  8. Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Hermann B. Frieboes

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  1. Alex N. Mueller
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  2. Hunter A. Miller
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Contributions

Clinical study design: SS; Data collection: MT and SS; Machine learning implementation: AM; Machine learning analysis: AM, HM, and HF; Manuscript writing: AM and HF; Manuscript revision and editing: AM, HM, SS, and HF.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sally A. Suliman or Hermann B. Frieboes.

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Mueller, A.N., Miller, H.A., Taylor, M.J. et al. Identification of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Prediction of Disease Severity via Machine Learning Analysis of Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and Complete Blood Count Data. Lung 202, 139–150 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-024-00673-7

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