EBioMedicine (Jan 2021)

Metabolomics of exhaled breath in critically ill COVID-19 patients: A pilot study

  • Stanislas Grassin-Delyle, Ph.D.,
  • Camille Roquencourt, M.S.,
  • Pierre Moine, M.D.,
  • Gabriel Saffroy,
  • Stanislas Carn,
  • Nicholas Heming, M.D.,
  • Jérôme Fleuriet, Ph.D.,
  • Hélène Salvator, M.D.,
  • Emmanuel Naline, Ph.D.,
  • Louis-Jean Couderc, M.D.,
  • Philippe Devillier, M.D.,
  • Etienne A. Thévenot, Ph.D.,
  • Djillali Annane, M.D.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 63
p. 103154

Abstract

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Background: Early diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is of the utmost importance but remains challenging. The objective of the current study was to characterize exhaled breath from mechanically ventilated adults with COVID-19. Methods: In this prospective observational study, we used real-time, online, proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry to perform a metabolomic analysis of expired air from adults undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit due to severe COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Findings: Between March 25th and June 25th, 2020, we included 40 patients with ARDS, of whom 28 had proven COVID-19. In a multivariate analysis, we identified a characteristic breathprint for COVID-19. We could differentiate between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ARDS with accuracy of 93% (sensitivity: 90%, specificity: 94%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0·94-0·98, after cross-validation). The four most prominent volatile compounds in COVID-19 patients were methylpent-2-enal, 2,4-octadiene 1-chloroheptane, and nonanal. Interpretation: The real-time, non-invasive detection of methylpent-2-enal, 2,4-octadiene 1-chloroheptane, and nonanal in exhaled breath may identify ARDS patients with COVID-19. Funding: The study was funded by Agence Nationale de la Recherche (SoftwAiR, ANR-18-CE45-0017 and RHU4 RECORDS, Programme d'Investissements d'Avenir, ANR-18-RHUS-0004), Région Île de France (SESAME 2016), and Fondation Foch.

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