Review Article
Free Access
Human exhaled air analytics: biomarkers of diseases
Bogusław Buszewski,
Martyna Kęsy,
Tomasz Ligor,
Anton Amann,
Corresponding Author
Bogusław Buszewski
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland.Search for more papers by this authorMartyna Kęsy
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorTomasz Ligor
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorAnton Amann
Department of Anesthesiology and General Intensive Care, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A–6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Search for more papers by this authorBogusław Buszewski,
Martyna Kęsy,
Tomasz Ligor,
Anton Amann,
Corresponding Author
Bogusław Buszewski
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland.Search for more papers by this authorMartyna Kęsy
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorTomasz Ligor
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 7 Gagarin St, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorAnton Amann
Department of Anesthesiology and General Intensive Care, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A–6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Over the last few years, breath analysis for the routine monitoring of metabolic disorders has attracted a considerable amount of scientific interest, especially since breath sampling is a non-invasive technique, totally painless and agreeable to patients. The investigation of human breath samples with various analytical methods has shown a correlation between the concentration patterns of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the occurrence of certain diseases. It has been demonstrated that modern analytical instruments allow the determination of many compounds found in human breath both in normal and anomalous concentrations. The composition of exhaled breath in patients with, for example, lung cancer, inflammatory lung disease, hepatic or renal dysfunction and diabetes contains valuable information. Furthermore, the detection and quantification of oxidative stress, and its monitoring during surgery based on composition of exhaled breath, have made considerable progress. This paper gives an overview of the analytical techniques used for sample collection, preconcentration and analysis of human breath composition. The diagnostic potential of different disease-marking substances in human breath for a selection of diseases and the clinical applications of breath analysis are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Abbreviations used
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- DMPP
-
dimethylallyl pyrophosphate
-
- PUFA
-
polyunsaturated fatty acid
-
- VOCs
-
volatile organic compounds
