Breath analysis in relapsing polychondritis using ion mobility spectrometry

Background: Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is a useful method in the rapid identification of volatile organic compound (VOC) peaks in respiratory diseases. Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease that is characterized by recurrent inflammatory changes in cartilage tissues in the auricle, nose, and lower respiratory tract.About 50% of RP patients experience respiratory tract complications, and 10% of RP patients die from these complications. Thus, early diagnosis in respiratory involvement is critically important in RP with respiratory symptoms. Aim: To identify specific VOC peaks in RP. Methods: Breath samples of 10 patients with RP and 19 healthy volunteers were analyzed using IMS coupled to a multi-capillary column (MCC/IMS) from August 2011 to February 2013. Diagnosis of RP was made according to the diagnostic criteria of McAdam et al. or Damiani and Levine. Results: Eighty-nine VOC peaks were detected. Eighteen VOC peaks in RP patients were significantly higher than in healthy volunteers and 14 VOC peaks were identified. Conclusion: IMS could detect biomarkers related to RP. Volatile metabolites occurring in exhaled air are postulated and correlated directly to different respiratory diseases.