ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of nebulized budesonide and systemic glucocorticosteroids (GCS) (SGCS) in the treatment of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their effects on the serum concentration of soluble leukocyte differentiation antigens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight hospitalized patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD were randomized into two groups: 1) 37 patients took nebulized budesonide 4 mg/day; 2) 41 patients received intravenous prednisolone. The symptoms of COPD, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and other spirometric indicators, peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and adverse events were studied. The serum levels of the soluble adhesion molecules CD50 (sCD50) and CD54 (sCD54) and the lymphocyte activation molecules CD38 (sCD38) and CD25 (sCD25) were investigated by an enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: There was a significant resolution of the symptoms of COPD, FEV1, and SpO2 in both groups after treatment. The incidence of hyperglycemia episodes was lower in the budesonide group than in the sGCS group. GCSs caused a decrease in the serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sCD25) in both groups. A prednisolone cycle, unlike a budesonide one, was found to reduce the concentrations of sCD54, sCD50, and sCD38. CONCLUSION: Nebulized budesonide is an effective and safe alternative to SGCS in treating an exacerbation of COPD. Inhaled GCSs, unlike SGCSs, exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, but exert no immunosuppressive activity.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/pharmacology , Antigens, CD/blood , Bronchodilator Agents/pharmacology , Budesonide/pharmacology , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/drug therapy , Administration, Inhalation , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Adult , Antigens, CD/drug effects , Bronchodilator Agents/administration & dosage , Budesonide/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nebulizers and Vaporizers , Prednisolone/administration & dosage , Prednisolone/pharmacology , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Fas-induced apoptosis plays an important role in the mechanisms of tissue injury in myocardial infarction. The level of membrane Fas mRNA was elevated during the postinfarction period in the blood of patients and did not change in response to levocarnitine. The mRNA level of soluble Fas, inhibiting Fas-dependent apoptosis, remained normal during the first 7 days, but increased 14 days after myocardial infarction, which corresponded to previously detected increase of serum level of soluble Fas molecules. Addition of levocarnitine, inhibiting Fas-dependent apoptosis, to therapy caused no changes in the level of soluble Fas mRNA, presumably because of similar effects of soluble Fas and levocarnitine on the apoptotic processes in myocardial infarction.
