RESUMO
Macrophages numbers are elevated in the lungs of smokers and those patients with COPD, where they accumulate in the alveoli, bronchioles and small airways. The slow progression and chronicity of COPD parallels the chronic increase of macrophages that is seen in sites of tissue injury / damage and supports the concept that macrophages are at least in part responsible for the pathological consequences. The aim of this work was to study the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood macrophages in COPD patients, either in the stable and during acute exacerbation compared to the normal subjects, which might be reflected on the therapeutic intervention strategies. Prospective case - control study. Seventy subjects were enrolled in this study, divided into two groups: Group I: 50 patients with COPD and Group II: 20 healthy volunteers serving as a control group. All subjects were submitted to ABG analysis, spirometric studies and assessment of phagocytic function, namely phagocytic and lytic indices using opsonised suspension of candida of their peripheral blood macrophages. Results showed a highly significant statistical difference as regards both phagocytic and lytic indices among COPD patients [group 1] and control group [group 2] where both indices were significantly lower among the COPD group as compared to the control group indicating obvious phagocytic dysfunction among peripheral blood macrophages in COPD patients, and both indices were significantly lower in patients in exacerbation than patients in stable state. This study is directed to the evaluation of the phagocytic function of peripheral blood macrophages among COPD patients, results revealed that there is actually a phagocytic dysfunction and that it is not always positively correlating to the severity of the disease. This also draws the attention to the peripheral blood cell population in COPD disease which had not taken its share of proper assessment. Hence, it would be recommended to include the peripheral blood cell population and macrophages in particular while searching in the pathophysiology and management of COPD disease