Exhaled breath acetone for therapeutic monitoring in pneumonia using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS)

Abstract

Exhaled breath analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has great potential in terms of measuring physiological response to treatment. Exhaled breath acetone was measured in patients with community acquired pneumonia for the duration of their in-hospital treatment using Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). A positive correlation was observed between exhaled breath acetone concentrations and same-day serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Exhaled breath acetone concentrations and CRP levels decreased in the range of 76–90% and 67–80%, respectively, from the day of admission to the day of discharge. This proof of concept study demonstrates the potential of SIFT-MS exhaled breath analysis as a non-invasive tool for clinical therapeutic monitoring.