Reproducibility and Respiratory Function Correlates of Exhaled Breath Fingerprint in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

作者：Incalzi Raffaele Antonelli; Pennazza Giorgio; Scarlata Simone^*; Santonico Marco; Petriaggi Massimo; Chiurco Domenica; Pedone Claudio; D' Amico Arnaldo

来源：PLos One, 2012, 7(10): e45396.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0045396

Background: The electronic nose (e nose) provides distinctive breath fingerprints for selected respiratory diseases. Both reproducibility and respiratory function correlates of breath fingerprint are poorly known. %26lt;br%26gt;Objectives: To measure reproducibility of breath fingerprints and to assess their correlates among respiratory function indexes in elderly healthy and COPD subjects. %26lt;br%26gt;Method: 25 subjects (5 COPD patients for each GOLD stage and 5 healthy controls) over 65 years underwent e-nose study through a seven sensor system and respiratory function tests at times 0, 7, and 15 days. Reproducibility of the e nose pattern was computed. The correlation between volatile organic compound (VOC) pattern and respiratory function/clinical parameters was assessed by the Spearman%26apos;s rho. Measurements and Main %26lt;br%26gt;Results: VOC patterns were highly reproducible within healthy and GOLD 4 COPD subjects, less among GOLD 1-3 patients. VOC patterns significantly correlated with expiratory flows (Spearman%26apos;s rho ranging from 0.36 for MEF25% and sensor Co-Buti-TPP, to 0.81 for FEV1% and sensor Cu-Buti-TPP p%26lt;0.001)), but not with residual volume and total lung capacity. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: VOC patterns strictly correlated with expiratory flows. Thus, e nose might conveniently be used to assess COPD severity and, likely, to study phenotypic variability. However, the suboptimal reproducibility within GOLD 1-3 patients should stimulate further research to identify more reproducible breath print patterns.

• 出版日期2012-10-15