title: Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
abstract: COPD is characterised by damage to small airways due to an inflammatory process as well as an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. Several cytokines and cell adhesion molecules enhancing a mainly neutrophilic inflammation have been associated with COPD. The aim of the study was to investigate whether inflammation or oxidative markers gave an indication of the course of COPD during an exacerbation. Fourteen patients with moderate to severe COPD admitted to the St. Antonius Hospital because of an exacerbation have been monitored during treatment with prednisolone 50 mg intravenously during 24 h at admission, reduced to 25 mg at day 3 and tapered off with oral prednisolone at day 7. On three separate occasions, day 1, 3 and 7, H2O2 in exhaled air, IL-8 and the soluble cell adhesion molecule sICAM and sE-selectin in serum were measured. We compared the patients at day 1 with healthy controls (in both non-smokers and smokers). Furthermore, we examined the changes from the study group in time during therapy. At admission all the markers were raised in comparison with the control groups. During treatment H2O2 concentrations in breath condensate declined significantly (P<0.001) as well as IL-8 and sICAM in serum (P=0.002, respectively, P<0.001). There was no significant change in sE-selectin (P=0.132). No significant improvement has been found in spirometry. These data suggest that the markers H2O2 in exhaled air, IL-8 and sICAM in serum are suitable markers in monitoring exacerbated COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, P.O. Box 2500, 3430 EM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. w.gerritsen@kcl-azn.demon.nl
authors.forename: Wim B M
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: Jerryll
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Asin
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanen
authors.forename: Jules M M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van den Bosch
authors.forename: Fred J L M
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D011239:Prednisolone; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide