real-time monitoring of peripheral blood after electrochemical therapy by electrical impedance spectroscopy: a clinical trial study

Background: electrochemical therapy (echt) is a well-known tumor destruction method, but entering byproducts into the peripheral blood can be a concern. in recent decades, the electrical impedance spectroscopy (eis) technique has been noticed to help significantly analyze biological materials in real time.objectives: this study aimed to investigate the role of the eis technique for the first time in real-time monitoring of peripheral blood after echt. methods: this clinical trial study was conducted on 19 women with breast cancer who were routinely treated with echt between 2022 and 2023 at shohadaye tajrish hospital, tehran, iran. accurate real-time monitoring of dielectric properties of peripheral blood, including hematologic factors, blood ions, apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and the balance of peripheral blood properties before and after echt was measured using eis in the frequency range of 1 hz to 500 khz. results: peripheral blood impedimetric parameters before and after echt, based on eis findings, were similar at all measured frequencies. eis analysis did not show a significant difference in the mean level of potassium, sodium and calcium ions in the peripheral blood before and after echt. also, there was no significant difference in the level of red blood cells (rbc), platelets, and hemoglobin (hgb) before and after echt. although the level of white blood cells (wbc) after echt decreased by about 15%, this difference was not statistically significant. in addition, peripheral blood smear showed no changes in the appearance of peripheral blood cells, and peripheral blood properties were maintained in balance after echt. conclusions: eis can be used as a real-time method to monitor the patient's peripheral blood status without disturbing hematological factors and peripheral blood balance during echt in breast cancer patients.