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Comparative analysis of gases exhaled in breath and dissolved in blood: development of a novel blood degassing apparatus
Author(s) -
Lee Hyun Ji,
Oliver Stacy R,
Galassetti Pietro R,
Blake Donald R
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.793.15
While several breath gases have been associated with various diseases, their potential as biomarkers remains inconclusive, partly due to their unclear origin within biological systems. Identifying the presence/concentration of exhaled gases in the bloodstream could significantly advance the field; this has been attempted with headspace measurement of cultured blood, a technique prone to contamination, loss and incomplete release of gases. Therefore, no systematic chemical comparison of breath and blood gas composition is yet available. We developed a novel apparatus that can completely degas blood via a flow of helium microbubbles, eliminating thermo‐purging/anti‐foaming agents necessary for headspace measurements. The apparatus was used in this study to chemically compare blood and breath gas composition in 4 healthy males (27±2 yrs). Of the 75 compounds analyzed with gas chromatography, 18 representative gases were selected; 9 were found only in blood, 3 only in breath, and 6 in both, but at markedly different concentrations (see Figure). Our data suggest a complex interaction between peripheral tissue gas production and gas concentrations in exhaled breath. Further clarification of all components of this interaction may help optimize the use of breath analysis as a diagnostic or monitoring tool in a variety of conditions, through the development of non‐invasive, portable breath‐testing device. Support: NIH grant 1UL1RR031985; ADA #7‐08‐CR‐22