ABSTRACT
Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the levels of serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide [pro-BNP] and inter-leukin [IL]-6 in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and to correlate these markers with health-related quality of life using the COPD assessment test [CAT]
Materials and Methods: Serum pro-BNP and IL-6 levels were measured in 82 patients with stable COPD. Serum pro-BNP and serum IL-6 levels, pulmonary function, and oxygen saturation (Sp02) were measured according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] stage and CAT score. Also, the associations of both pro-BNP and IL-6 with the clinical parameters of patients were tested
Results: The serum levels of IL-6 [7.57 [5-11.16] pg/mL] and pro-BNP [120.55 [92.89-144.20] pg/mL] were higher with enhancing disease severity based on the GOLD classification [p = 0.034 and 0.068, respectively]. Also, serum levels of pro-BNP [120.55 [89.50-147.90] pg/mL] and IL-6 [6.68 [4.40-11.97] pg/mL] were increased in patients with high CAT scores [p = 0.004 and 0.017, respectively]. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma pro-BNP and IL-6 levels [r = 0.332, p = 0.002]
Conclusion:The results demonstrated that with increased severity of obstruction based on the GOLD criteria both IL-6 and pro-BNP were elevated. This increase in inflammatory markers was associated with a reduced quality of life and the severity of hypoxia. These findings indicated that lowering IL-6 and pro-BNP could be useful in the management of COPD patients