ORIGINAL PAPER
Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for prediction of asthma exacerbation in children
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1
Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Pediatric and Allergy)
2
Copernicus Hospital, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Pediatric and Allergy, Korczak Pediatric Center)
3
Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
(Institute of Natural Products and Cosmetics)
4
Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Pediatric Pulmonology)
Online publication date: 2024-09-04
Corresponding author
Joanna Jerzyńska
Copernicus Hospital, Department of Pediatric and Allergy, Korczak Pediatric Center, Piłsudskiego 71, 90-329 Łódź, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3):351-9
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: To find possible relationship between asthma exacerbation and metabolomic profile of airways, assessed by non-invasive method –
free volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled air in children. Material and Methods: The study included 80 children aged 4–18 years with
asthma: 42 children with a min. 3 asthma exacerbations in the past 12 months, and 38 children without a history of exacerbations in the past
year. During the study visit, each patient was examined, medical history (including information regarding atopy and eosinophil blood count) was
taken, spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were tested, an exhaled air sample was taken to test for the presence of VOCs, and the
patient also completed standardized form – Asthma Control Questionnaire. Volatile organic compounds were measured by combined gas chromatography
coupled to mass spectrometry. Results: The obtained results of VOCs were correlated with the history of the disease. The 2 gas profiles
were defined and they formed 2 clinically distinct clusters (p = 0.085). Cluster 2 was characterized for children with a higher number of bronchial
asthma exacerbations and worse lung function parameters (predicted percentage forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] [p = 0.023], FEV1/ forced
vital capacity ratio [FVC] [p = 0.0219]). The results were independent of the age, sex, BMI, atopy (house dust mite allergy) and eosinophil blood
count. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that a relative group of gases may be a useful predictor of having asthma exacerbations in children.
Additionally, a single FeNO value was unlikely to be clinically useful in predicting asthma exacerbations in children. The VOCs profile reflecting the
metabolism of the airway epithelium and local microbiota was associated with the course of asthma, which strongly justifies further prospective
validation studies. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3):351–59