Correlation between Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) with Leukotriene B4 and Eosinophil Counts in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder characterized by increasing Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and eosinophil counts. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have shown promise as non-invasive biomarkers, reflecting COPD pathophysiology. Identifying specific VOCs associated with increased LTB4 and eosinophil counts could lead to the discovery of potential biomarkers for COPD severity or progression. AIMS: This study aims to investigate the correlation between VOCs and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) levels, as well as eosinophil counts counts in COPD patients. METHOD: Using an observational-analytic method with a case-control approach, 20 COPD patients and 20 controls were enrolled from the respiratory outpatient department of Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Malang. VOC levels were measured using a breath analyzer, while LTB4 levels were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Spearman’s correlation tests examined associations between VOCs, LTB4, eosinophil counts, and comorbidity, with Mann-Whitney tests comparing results against the control group. Data significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULT: There were 40 COPD patients and 40 controls in this study. There were significant differences between VOCs in the COPD group and the control group (p < 0.05). LTB4 level significantly increased in the COPD group than in the control group (p < 0.001), and there was no difference in the eosinophil level. There was a correlation between LTB4 and VOC level of C2H5OH in COPD patients (p = 0.009; r = 0.410). There was no correlation between eosinophil counts and VOCs (p = 0.939). The level of VOCs was significantly different between patients with only COPD and patients with COPD and comorbid lung cancer (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between VOC and LTB4 in COPD patients.