Background: Analysis of exhaled breath, especially of volatile organic compounds (VOCs

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COPD is a disease characterised by a chronic inflammation of the airways and a not fully reversible airway obstruction. The spirometry is considered as goldstandard to diagnose the disease and to grade its severity. In this study we used the methodology of Ion Mobility Spectometry in order to detect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath of patients with COPD. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the VOCs detected in patients with COPD were different from the VOCs detected in exhaled breath of healthy controls. 13 COPD patients and 33 healthy controls were included in the study. Breath samples were collected via a side-steam Teflon tube and directly measured by an ion mobility spectrometer coupled to a multi capillary column (MCC/ IMS). One peak was identified only in the patients group compared to the healthy control group. Consequently, the analysis of exhaled breath could be a useful tool to diagnose COPD.

Our results indicate that VOCs in lung cancer patients are produced locally in or around the tumor, and it is most likely that these VOCs represent underlying metabolic processes of the tumor.