Respiratory viral infections in patients with chronic, obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to apply reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays to clinical specimens collected from patients with acute respiratory illness and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
One hundred and ninety-four samples from two different study cohorts were analysed using RT-PCR assays for picornaviruses, coronaviruses 229E and OC43, influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza types 1-3 viruses, and human metapneumovirus and a PCR assay for adenoviruses. The results were added to results obtained previously using cell culture and serologic methods.


RESULTS
RT-PCR assays identified an additional 35 respiratory virus-associated illnesses not identified previously by cell culture or serology (n=46). Picornaviruses and coronaviruses were the most common viral infections identified only by RT-PCR. Overall, 41.8% of the acute respiratory illnesses evaluated were associated with a respiratory virus infection, with picornaviruses, coronaviruses and influenza viruses being the most common infections recognized. No human metapneumovirus infections were identified by RT-PCR assay.


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory viral infections are commonly associated with acute respiratory illness in COPD patients, and the use of RT-PCR assays significantly increases the ability to diagnose these infections.
Beckham
J David
JD
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Ben Taub General Hospital, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Cadena
Ana
A
Lin
Jiejian
J
Piedra
Pedro A
PA
Glezen
W Paul
WP
Greenberg
Stephen B
SB
Atmar
Robert L
RL
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus; D008875:Middle Aged; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*