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Am J Perinatol 2025; 42(09): 1162-1167
DOI: 10.1055/a-2463-5352
Original Article

Exhaled Breath Volatile Organic Compounds in Pregnancy: A Pilot Study

Mohsen A.A. Farghaly 
1   Neonatology Department, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Somaya Abuelazm
1   Neonatology Department, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Ruth M. Farrell
2   OB/GYN Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
3   Center for Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Marwa M. Elgendy
1   Neonatology Department, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
David Grove
4   Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Jalal M. Abu-shaweesh
1   Neonatology Department, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Raed A. Dweik   *
4   Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Hany Aly    *
1   Neonatology Department, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to assess the volatile organic compounds (VOC)s in breath samples collected noninvasively from pregnant women during pregnancy and postpartum and compare it with nonpregnant controls.

Study Design

This pilot study included 50 subjects: 10 pregnant patients in their first trimester, 10 in second trimester, 10 in third trimester, 10 in the first postpartum week, and 10 nonpregnant subjects as a control. We collected exhaled breath from subjects who reported to be healthy and free of any respiratory symptoms. Clinical and demographic data were collected. The samples were analyzed for VOCs using a selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometer.

Results

The VOCs monitored were 22 compounds selected for their common presence in exhaled breath. During pregnancy and postpartum period, there were differences in five compounds mainly: 2-propanol, acrylonitrile, 1-nonene, 2-nonene, and hydrogen sulfide. Significant differences in VOCs were identified during each trimester compared with controls.

Conclusion

VOCs could be measured safely and noninvasively in pregnant women. VOCs differed significantly among nonpregnant, pregnant women, and postpartum period. The utilization of this novel assay to identify fetal conditions or identifying women at risk of premature delivery, which should be further investigated in future studies.

Key Points

  • This study demonstrated that VOCs could be measured noninvasively in exhaled breath of pregnant women.

  • VOCs differed significantly among women who were nonpregnant, pregnant, and in postpartum period.

  • These findings might serve as a base to look for potential markers for maternal or fetal conditions.

Keywords

fetal - maternal - preterm - neonate - pregnant - metabolomics - VOCs

Authors' Contributions

H.A. conceptualized and designed the study, interpreted the results, and drafted, reviewed, and revised the manuscript. M.A.A.F. edited the protocol, got the ethical and IRB approvals, educated the staff, conducted the statistical analysis, interpreted the results, and drafted, reviewed and submitted the manuscript. M.A.A.F. and S.A. collected the samples. D.G. ran the biochemical analysis and wrote the methods. R.M.F., M.M.E., J.M.A., and R.A.D. helped designing the study, interpreted the analysis, and reviewed, and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript for submission.


Ethical Approval

The study's approval was obtained from the Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board, No. 21671. The study was performed following the human subjects' informed written consent and according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.


* Joint senior authorship.




Publication History

Received: 29 July 2024

Accepted: 07 November 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
08 November 2024

Article published online:
04 December 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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