title: Differences in microbial metabolites in urine headspace of subjects with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) detected by volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis and metabolomics.
abstract: ITP is an organ-specific autoimmune disorder characterised by a low platelet count whose cause is uncertain. A possible factor is food intolerance, although much of the information linking this with ITP is anecdotal. The role of food intolerance in ITP was studied by replacing a normal diet with an elemental diet (E028), but this did not increase platelet counts. Clear differences, however, were apparent between the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the urine headspace of patients with ITP and those present in healthy volunteers, which leads to speculation that abnormal metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiome may be a factor causing ITP. However, further work is needed to confirm this. There were also differences between the VOCs of patients on a normal diet and those on the elemental diet, and in this case, the VOCs involved are very likely to be of bacterial origin, as their production is affected by dietary manipulation. Many of these VOCs are known to be toxic.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.affiliation: Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cauchi
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Research Dept., Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Research Dept., Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woolner
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Haematology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baglin
authors.affiliation: Dept. Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055432:Metabolomics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: ITP; Immune Thrombocytopenia; Metabolomics; Selective ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS); VOCs; Volatile organic compounds