Inflammatory Asthma Phenotype Discrimination Using an Electronic Nose Breath Analyzer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Patients with persistent asthma have different inflammatory phenotypes. The electronic nose is a new technology capable of distinguishing volatile organic compound (VOC) breath-prints in exhaled breath. The aim of the study was to investigate the capacity of electronic nose breath-print analysis to discriminate between different inflammatory asthma phenotypes (eosinophilic, neutrophilic, paucigranulocytic) determined by induced sputum in patients with persistent asthma.

METHODS:

Fifty-two patients with persistent asthma were consecutively included in a cross-sectional proof-of-concept study. Inflammatory asthma phenotypes (eosinophilic, neutrophilic and paucigranulocytic) were recognized by inflammatory cell counts in induced sputum. VOC breath-prints were analyzed using the electronic nose Cyranose 320 and assessed by discriminant analysis on principal component reduction, resulting in cross-validated accuracy values. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated.

RESULTS:

VOC breath-prints were different in eosinophilic asthmatics compared with both neutrophilic asthmatics (accuracy 73%; P=.008; area under ROC, 0.92) and paucigranulocytic asthmatics (accuracy 74%; P=.004; area under ROC, 0.79). Likewise, neutrophilic and paucigranulocytic breath-prints were also different (accuracy 89%; P=.001; area under ROC, 0.88).

CONCLUSION:

An electronic nose can discriminate inflammatory phenotypes in patients with persistent asthma in a regular clinical setting. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02026336.

• Authors: V Plaza, A Crespo, J Giner, J L Merino, D Ramos-Barbón, E F Mateus, A Torrego, B G Cosio, A Agustí, O Sibila
• Journal: Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology (J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol) Vol. 25 Issue 6 Pg. 431-7 ( 2015) ISSN: 1018-9068 [Print] Spain
• PMID: 26817140 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Volatile Organic Compounds

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Asthma (immunology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Electronic Nose
• Female
• Humans
• Inflammation (immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenotype
• Volatile Organic Compounds (analysis)