Non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of Cystic Fibrosis by mass spectrometry of the exhaled breath

Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common lethal genetic diseases in Caucasians, in which the highermorbidity is associated with the pulmonary manifestation. As in many other cases, the increase of the life expectancy of CF patients is closely related with an adequate following and monitoring of the evolution of the disease, which is currently mostly based in spirometric test. The analysis of volatile organic compounds presents in exhaled breath using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction and Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry detection, shows that FC patients exhibit a distinctconcentration of chlorinated compounds (dichloromethane, chloroform, bromochloromethane) and non-chlorinated compounds (acetonitrile, isopropanol, pentane/isoprene and toluene), allowing the differentiation from the healthy subjects.