title: Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and assessment of treatment response through analyses of volatile compound patterns in exhaled breath samples.
abstract: We determined the performance of a sensor array (an electronic nose) made of 8 metalloporphyrins coated quartz microbalances sensors for the diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) using exhaled breath samples.
  
  
  
  TB cases and healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. Signals from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath samples were measured at days 0, 2, 7, 14, and 30 of TB therapy and correlated with clinical and microbiological measurements.
  
  
  
  Fifty one pulmonary TB cases and 20 healthy HIV-uninfected controls were enrolled in the study. 31 (61%) of the 51 pulmonary TB cases were coinfected with HIV. At day 0 (before TB treatment initiation) the sensitivity of our device was estimated at 94.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83.8-98.8%) and specificity was 90.0% (95% CI, 68.3-98.8%) for distinguishing TB cases from controls. Time-dependent changes in the breath signals were identified as time on TB treatment progressed. Time-dependent signal changes were more pronounced among HIV-uninfected patients.
  
  
  
  The identification of VOCs' signals in breath samples using a sensor array achieved high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of TB and allowed following signal changes during TB treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: nzetola@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicola M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zetola
authors.affiliation: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: ntungwana@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Chawangwa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Modongo
authors.affiliation: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: ogopotsem@bup.org.bw.
authors.forename: Ogopotse
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsiri
authors.affiliation: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of Pennsylvania, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: tsaone.tamuhla@gmail.combontle.
authors.forename: Tsaone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamuhla
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: mbongwe@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Bontle
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mbongwe
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: matlhagelak@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Keikantse
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matlhagela
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Electronic address: enoch.sepako@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Enoch
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sepako
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: catini@ing.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Alexandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catini
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ricerca, Ospedale San Pietro Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: gsirugo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sirugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: martinelli@ing.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.paolesse@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paolesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: dinatale@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Natale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001944:Breath Tests; D060085:Coinfection; D018450:Disease Progression; D062609:Electronic Nose; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Biomarkers; Diagnosis; HIV/AIDS; Sensors; Tuberculosis; Volatile organic compounds