Metabolomic analysis of exhaled breath condensate in diagnostics of obstructive airway diseases

Metabolomic analysis provides molecular and biochemical profiles of metabolites in different biological fluids. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the potential of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) molecular profiling in discrimination patients with COPD and asthma and healthy subjects. Methods: Twenty patients with asthma, twenty patients with COPD and thirty healthy control subjects were enrolled in cross-sectional study. Every subject performed spirometry and EBC collection. EBC samples were analyzed by gas chromatography – mass-spectrometry method (GC-MS). EBC profiles from patients with asthma were separated from patients with COPD and from healthy control subjects using an algorithm based on linear methods of pattern recognition theory. Results: We have detected various profiles of semi-volatile organic compounds (SvOC) in EBC in patients with asthma, COPD and healthy subjects. Mathematical approach to available data revealed 9 SvOC which have been deemed the most appropriate for solving recognition problem (2-phenoxyethanol, decanol-1, ethyl citrate, 2,3–dihydro-1-H-inden-1-on and others). EBC profiles of healthy subjects can be distinguished from patients with asthma with reliability 75%, healthy subjects from COPD patients with reliability 85% and asthma patients from COPD patients with reliability 83%. Conclusion: Metabolomic analysis of EBC can discriminate patients with asthma and COPD and healthy subjects. We propose that differences in SvOC profiles between asthma and COPD are disease related.