ABSTRACT
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a cause of appreciable social and economic losses. Airway inflammation is the main factor at the early stages of COPD pathogenesis and persists for many years after cessation of the action of provoking factors. In the last years, researchers have shown much interest in biomarkers associated with various diseases including COPD. Biomarkers of COPD are related to pathophysiology ofthe disease and inflammatory processes in the lungs. This review is designed to summarize the currently available data on systemic COPD biomarkers, their use for the assessment of activity of the disease and the possible role in the formation of COPD phenotype. Most systemic biomarkers are not specific for COPD. Moreove, evaluation of their significance encounters difficulties due to the presence of concomitant pathologies, in the first place cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, studies involving a large number of patients with COPD provided information about the role of biomarkers in the activity of COPD and formation of its phenotype with systemic inflammation. The introduction ofbiomarkers in protocols ofexamination ofCOPD patients needs further substantiation.
