title: [The prophylactic effect of thymosin alpha 1 on the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prophylactic effect of thymosin alpha 1 and its mechanism on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided into two groups. In the treatment group, 42 patients received thymosin alpha 1 1.6 mg hypodermic injection, quague die alterna, for 10 times. All patients were followed for 6 months, and were assessed the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation at 3 and 6 months. In two groups, before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment, the pulmonary function tests were measured, and the blood samples were collected for the measurement of the blood IgA, IgG, IgM, CD3, CD4 and CD8 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treatment group, the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation were significantly lower in comparison with those of the control group. After treatment of thymosin alpha 1, blood CD4 and CD4/CD8 levels were significantly increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thymosin alpha 1 has a good protection for the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by incresing body cellular immune activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Bi-xia
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: De-yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li-li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000097:blood; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin