Breath Analysis in Asthma

Exhaled Breath Analysis by Secondary Electrospray Ionization (SESI-MS) in Patients With Asthma

The purpose of this study is to answer the question whether a disease-specific profile of breath in patients with asthma can be detected by an untargeted metabolomic study using exhaled breath analysis by mass spectrometry.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Confirmed asthma. Diagnosis of asthma is made with episodic chest symptoms and a documented reversibility of at least 12% and/or 200 ml in FEV1 after 200 ug of inhaled salbutamol or airway hyperresponsiveness in the case of normal lung function testing (PC20 methacholine < 4mg/ml) at the time of diagnosis.
2. Age between 18 and 80 years at study entry.
3. Healthy controls: never-smokers, normal spirometry (baseline FEV1 > 85% predicted and FEV1/FVC greater than 0.7).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Asthma exacerbation within the last 6 weeks, defined as worsening of asthma symptoms requiring a change in therapy by a physician or a change in regular asthma therapy (including short course of oral corticosteroids)
2. Any lung disease other than asthma.
3. Acute inflammatory disease (e.g. common cold) within the last 4 weeks.
4. Regular intake of oral steroids.
5. Active smoking habits / positive history of smoking.
6. Acute or chronic hepatic disease.
7. Renal failure or renal replacement therapy.
8. Pregnancy.