Breath Samples May Help Diagnose Diseases!
Breathomics may help to diagnose diseases and assess effectiveness of treatments
What is Breathomics?
Breathomics is the measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the breath. The Nobel laureate, Linus Pauling, took an interest in breath analysis in 1971 and found that exhaled breath contains in excess of 200 VOCs. We may not realize this, but exhaled breath contains a lot of information about our health.
Later, it was discovered that there are thousands of VOCs in our exhaled breath. These VOCs are indicative of the metabolic processes that are occurring in our bodies! An example of breath analysis being used is the use of breathalyzers to detect the alcohol levels of drivers. The technology already exists and is being used in some places.
Breath analysis is a non-invasive method that could be used in the future to help diagnose diseases instead of conventional methods such as blood tests.
Examples of Breathomics Research
Montuschi found that the severity of Asthma was associated with the levels of 8-isoprostane.
Patients with Hepatic encephalopathy cannot digest limonene properly and therefore have enhanced levels of limonene in their breath samples.
Children with Type 1 Diabetes had significantly higher amounts of ethanol, isopropanol, dimethylsulfide, isoprene, and pentanal compared to matched healthy children.
Greulich was able to distinguish between healthy individuals and those with Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), as individuals with OSAS had elevated 2-methylfuran.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Breath Analysis
Advantages
- Breathomics based tools are non-invasive.
- It is quick and easy to conduct.
- Can be used on a variety of people (different ages and health conditions).
- Breath analysis can be repeated without risk to health.
- Breath samples can be used to diagnose diseases and to assess the effectiveness of the treatment.
Disadvantages
- Humidity can interfere with the breath sample and therefore will affect the results.
- Breathomics based testing is not standardized across the board.
The Pending Clinical Trials
There are many clinical trials using breathomics that are occurring right now around the world. Here are some interesting clinical trials using breathomics:
Foch Hospital, a hospital located in France, began a clinical trial in April 2020 to test whether COVID-19 and the severity of COVID-19 could be identified with VOCs from the patient’s breath samples. The breath samples will be taken using the E-nose device. This clinical trial is estimated to finish by November 2020.
Foch Hospital is conducting another clinical trial assessing VOCs, but this time they are trying to find any markers that are indicative of acute transplantation rejection of the lungs. This trial began in 2017 and we can expect to see results after June 2021.
Some cancer patients do not respond well to specific immunotherapy agents. Researchers believe that breath analysis may help consultants choose which agents are beneficial for a specific patient depending on their VOCs. In a clinical trial by the University of Amsterdam, breath samples will be taken from cancer patients on various immunotherapy agents, and the patient response to these agents will also be assessed. The researchers hope that responders and non-responders will have specific VOC patterns that can be used in the future to decide the best treatment route for patients. This trial began in February 2020 and is estimated to be completed by May 2024.
