RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic inflammatory disease. We investigated whether serum inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, and nutritional status (assessed by measurement of serum levels of prealbumin and anthropometry) correlated with COPD severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred and two COPD patients (mean age 56.94 ± 10.95 years) were recruited and classified into severity categories based on the GOLD guidelines. Serum concentrations of CRP, prealbumin, and leptin were measured. Anthropometry included body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and sum of four skinfold thicknesses (triceps, biceps, suprailiac, and subscapular). RESULTS: Twenty-one patients had moderate, 44 had severe, and 37 had very severe COPD. Levels of CRP (mg/dl) (mean ± standard error [SE]) in moderate, severe, and very severe COPD were 0.60 ± 0.096, 2.16 ± 0.39, and 4.15 ± 0.463, respectively. Levels of prealbumin (mg/dl) (mean ± SE) in moderate, severe, and very severe COPD were 15.7 3 ± 0.92, 10.95 ± 0.85, and 11.15 ± 0.79 mg/dl, respectively. Levels of leptin (ng/ml) (mean ± SE) in moderate, severe, and very severe COPD were 13.81 ± 3.88, 8.45 ± 2.25, and 4.40 ± 1.06, respectively. BMI values in the three groups were 23.44 ± 1.16 kg/m2, 20.33 ± 0.62 kg/m2, and 18.86 ± 0.52 kg/m2, respectively. Sum of four skinfold thickness and MUAC was significantly reduced in very severe group as compared to moderate and severe group. Very severe COPD patients had a significantly lower leptin, BMI, and 6-min walk test. Serum CRP was significantly higher in very severe COPD. CONCLUSION: Patients with increasing severity of COPD had a significantly greater serum inflammatory marker level and poorer nutritional status.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers have an important bearing on outcomes of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), but the temporal profile of these compounds during an acute episode is unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma leptin, prealbumin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were estimated at baseline and before hospital discharge in patients with AECOPD. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were evaluated (66 males; mean (standard deviation) age, 61.6 (10.1) years. Of these, 74 subjects (90.2%) were current or former smokers, with median (range) pack-years of 15 (0-96), duration of COPD of 8 years (range, 2-25 years) and duration of current symptoms being 5 days (range, 1-30 days). Majority (41.5%) had type I (severe) exacerbation. During the current episode, 46 patients (58.9%) required mechanical ventilation for a median of 6 days (range, 1-34). The median duration of hospital stay was 13 days, (range, 1-110). At discharge, significant reduction was observed in dyspnea, total leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), partial pressure of carbon dioxide, hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, potassium, aspartate transferase, and TNF-α levels compared to baseline, whereas arterial pH, PO2, serum albumin, prealbumin, and leptin significantly improved. No difference was seen in leptin, prealbumin, and TNF-α between patients with mild/moderate and severe exacerbation, or between patients who required or did not require mechanical ventilation. Change in leptin correlated with body mass index and change in ESR; no associations were observed between leptin, prealbumin, and TNF-α with other clinico-laboratory variables. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of novel inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers, i.e., leptin, TNF-α, and prealbumin are altered in AECOPD episodes and lag behind other parameters during recovery. These biomarkers are not reliable predictors of clinical outcomes in these patients.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The temporal profile of inflammatory markers during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and their relationship to clinical response are not well characterized. The aim was to assess the changes in levels of inflammatory markers in AECOPD and correlate these with clinical and laboratory indices of recovery. METHODS: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 and fibrinogen were measured in patients with AECOPD within 24 h of hospitalization and pre-discharge (stable state). RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were evaluated (79 males; mean (SD) age, 61.4 (10.3) years). Eighty eight (90.7%) were current or former smokers, with a median consumption of 15 (0-75) packs/year. The median duration of COPD was 8 (2-25) years. Forty-six patients (56.9%) required mechanical ventilation for a median of 5 days (1-34) while in hospital. The median duration of hospital stay was 13 days (1-77). At reassessment before planned discharge, the levels of dyspnoea, leucocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, creatinine, partial pressure of oxygen, and albumin normalized. The levels of CRP, IL-6 and fibrinogen reduced significantly but did not reach the normal range. Changes in IL-6 and fibrinogen levels correlated significantly with the acute physiologic assessment and chronic health evaluation II score, smoking history, blood pressure and leucocyte counts. Baseline IL-6 and fibrinogen levels significantly predicted a prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: During AECOPD, the inflammatory response lags behind clinical and biochemical improvement. Fibrinogen and IL-6 are potentially useful markers for monitoring clinical response following an acute episode.
