Despite recent publications, we are not close to finding a clinically valuable breath VOC biomarker for asthma or asthma phenotypes https://bit.ly/3heTgtK
“Breathomics” in asthma is a rapidly growing area of significant scientific interest, as indicated by a recently published review, two research articles, and their accompanying editorials in high impact pneumology journals [1–5]. The repeatedly observed associations between breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sputum or blood inflammatory cells [2, 3] suggest that breathomics are on the brink of introduction as a valuable clinically tool. However, there are also major concerns about unresolved methodological issues and a general paucity of high-quality data [1, 6]. In this letter we detail our concerns with breathomics based on data from a cohort of adult asthma patients with a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes.
eng Waschki has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: H. Watz has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: A. Kirsten has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: M. Abdo has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: F. Pedersen has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: M. Weckmann has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: O. Fuchs has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: A-M. Dittrich has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: G. Hansen reports grants from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), during the conduct of the study. Conflict of interest: M.V. Kopp reports grants from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), during the conduct of the study; personal fees for lectures and consultancy from ALK-Abello, Allergopharma, Chiesi, Meda, Novartis Pharma, Vertex, Abbvie and Infectopharm, grants from Allergopharma and Vertex, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: E. von Mutius reports grants from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), during the conduct of the study; authorship fees from Springer-Verlag GmbH, Georg Thieme Verlag and Elsevier Ltd, personal fees for consultancy from HiPP GmbH & Co. KG, OM Pharma SA and Peptinnovate Ltd, personal fees for lectures from Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, outside the submitted work; and has a patent LU101064, “Barn dust extract for the prevention and treatment of diseases” pending, a patent EP2361632, “Specific environmental bacteria for the protection from and/or the treatment of allergic, chronic inflammatory and/or autoimmune disorders” with royalties paid to ProtectImmun GmbH, a patent number EP 1411977, “Composition containing bacterial antigens used for the prophylaxis and the treatment of allergic diseases” licensed to ProtectImmun GmbH, a patent EP1637147, “Stable dust extract for allergy protection” licensed to ProtectImmun GmbH, and a patent EP 1964570, “Pharmaceutical compound to protect against allergies and inflammatory diseases” licensed to ProtectImmun GmbH. Conflict of interest: K.F. Rabe reports grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca, personal fees from Novartis, Sanofi, Regeneron, Roche and Chiesi Pharmaceuticals outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: J.M. Hohlfeld reports grants from German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF; grant DZL 2016-2020/82DZL002A2), during the conduct of the study; personal fees for consultancy from Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck & Co., Inc., personal fees for lectures from Novartis and HAL, grants from AstraZeneca AB, Novartis, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, ALK, Boehringer Ingelheim, LETI, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Astellas Pharma and Allergopharma, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: T. Bahmer reports grants from BMBF (unrestricted research grant for the German Center for Lung Research, DZL), during the conduct of the study; personal fees lectures and consultancy, and compensation of travel expenses from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Roche, outside the submitted work.
- Holz, O.
- Waschki, B.
- Watz, H.
- Kirsten, A.
- Abdo, M.
- Pedersen, F.
- Weckmann, M.
- Fuchs, O.
- Dittrich, A. M.
- Hansen, G.
- Kopp, M. V.
- von Mutius, E.
- Rabe, K. F.
- Hohlfeld, J. M.
- Bahmer, T.
