Abstract
Introduction: Volatile organic compounds (VOC) within exhaled breath are produced as a consequence of oxidative stress procedure in cell membranes. This determining could be of interest in COPD biomarkers research.
Objective: Determine whether there are differences between VOCin exhaled breath of COPD patients and healthy controls.
Method: Case-control study. 157 volunteers divided into 2 groups: healthy controls and COPD patients. Informed consent accepted.
Samples were collected using Bio-VOC® devices and were transferred to universal desorption tubes. Compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
VOC analyzed: hexanal, heptanal, nonanal, nonanoic acid and propionic acid (end-product of lipid peroxidation).
Statistical analyses using SPSS version 20.
Results: 57 COPD patients. Average age: 73,6 (9,5) years; Smoking index 74,4 (39,2) pack-years.
Control group: 100 healthy volunteers (33 smokers, 39 never smokers and 28 former smokers). Average age: 49 (9) years; Smoking index 29 (20) pack-years.
Hexanal showed statistically significant difference comparing the COPD group and all healthy controls (p=0,023).
When comparing never smokers from control group to COPD group we found statistically significant differences in both hexanal (p=0,015) and nonanal (p=0,008).
When comparing former smokers to COPD group we found statistically significant differences in hexanal (p=0,013). However, there weren´t any differences when comparing healthy smokers to COPD group.
Conclusions: Hexanal showed differences between COPD group and healthy controls. The difference between them is greater when comparing COPD group and non-active smokers from control group.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016
