Exhaled volatile organic compounds in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and disease progression

  • Conal Hayton
  • , Dayle Terrington
  • , Waqar Ahmed
  • , Iain White
  • , Max Wilkinson
  • , Kirti Vekaria
  • , Nazia Chaudhuri
  • , Andrew Wilson
  • , Colm Leonard
  • , Stephen Fowler

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a heterogenous disease with variable prognosis. Novel biomarkers are needed to help predict disease progression. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detectable in exhaled breath may offer a source of clinically relevant biomarkers.

Aims: To determine if the VOCs present in exhaled breath predict disease progression at 6 months.

Methods: Patients with an MDT diagnosis of IPF were recruited to an ongoing prospective longitudinal observational cohort study (ISRCTN18106574). Demographic data, lung function parameters, breathless scores and exhaled breath were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Exhaled breath samples were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A targeted approach was used to identify VOCs which could predict disease progression at 6 months, defined as a relative decline in FVC % predicted of greater than 10% or death.

Results: 46 patients were included in the analysis [37 males, mean (SD) age 76 (7) yrs]. Mean (SD) baseline FVC was 81.0 (18.5) % predicted. 24 (52%) patients received at least one dose of antifibrotic treatment during the 6 months of follow-up. 20 (44%) patients showed disease progression at 6 months. Two VOCs, one identified as nonane and the other unidentified (VOC_114), discriminated between patients with different disease severity at baseline. VOC_114 was significantly increased in patients with disease progression at 6 months.

Conclusion: VOC_114 shows potential as a biomarker in IPF, demonstrating association with both disease severity at baseline and disease progression at 6 months.
Original languageEnglish
Article number727
JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
Volume56
Issue numberSuppl 64
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 28 Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.

This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).

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