title: Evaluation of oxidative stress and effectiveness of low-dose glucocorticoid therapy on exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its exacerbation are considered to be related to oxidative stress. We determined the levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and a biological antioxidant potential (BAP) in blood before and after the exacerbation.
  
  
  METHODS
  For these determinations, the Free Radical Analytical System 4 was used. Twenty-one male patients were divided into two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A patients (n = 11, for whom the disease was end-stage) showed high ROM levels and low BAP levels. Meanwhile, Group B patients (n = 10, for whom the disease was not end-stage but the exacerbation was repeated) exhibited variable ROM levels corresponding to the symptoms. Before the exacerbation, ROM levels increased. After administering high-dose glucocorticoids, the exacerbation disappeared and ROM levels decreased to the baseline. To suppress the relapse, the Group B patients were medicated with low-dose glucocorticoids by inhalation and systemic administration. Then, ROM levels did not increase or the relapse did not occur. BAP levels continued to be low, and were restored after a stable state was obtained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overproduction of ROM may precede exacerbation of COPD, and the low-dose glucocorticoid therapy may be effective to suppress its overproduction and to preserve COPD in a stable state.
authors: The High Technology Research Center, Kagawa Nutrition University, Saitama, Japan. komatsu@eiyo.ac.jp
authors: Fumio
authors: F
authors: Komatsu
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Kudoh
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Kagawa
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species