PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Timm Greulich
AU  - Akira Hattesohl
AU  - Antje Grabisch
AU  - Janine Koepke
AU  - Severin Schmid
AU  - Sarah Noeske
AU  - Christoph Nell
AU  - Marion Wencker
AU  - Rudolf A. Jörres
AU  - Claus Franz Vogelmeier
AU  - Ulrich Köhler
AU  - Andreas Rembert Koczulla
TI  - Detection of obstructive sleep apnoea by an electronic nose
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00091712
DP  - 2013 Jul 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 145--155
VI  - 42
IP  - 1
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/1/145.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/1/145.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Jul 01; 42
AB  - Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is technically demanding, cost-intensive and time-consuming. The measurement of volatile organic compounds by an electronic nose is an innovative method that determines distinct molecular patterns of exhaled breath in different patient groups. We addressed the following questions: What is the diagnostic accuracy of an electronic nose in the detection of OSAS and the ability to detect effects of standard therapy in patients with OSAS? Are these results related to changes in distinct markers of airway inflammation and extracellular remodelling? We included 40 OSAS patients and 20 healthy controls. Exhaled breath of all participants was analysed using the Cyranose 320 electronic nose. Pharyngeal washings were performed to sample the upper airway compartment. For statistical analysis linear discriminant analysis was employed. We identified a linear discriminant function separating OSAS from control (p<0.0001). The corresponding area under the receiver-operating curve was 0.85 (95% CI 0.75–0.96; sensitivity 0.93 and specificity 0.7). In pharyngeal washing fluids of OSAS patients, we observed higher levels of α1-antitrypsin and markers of extracellular remodelling compared to controls. The electronic nose can distinguish between OSAS patients and controls with high accuracy.