title: Evaluation of atopy in patients with COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of atopy and to evaluate clinical, laboratory, and radiological profiles in patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving outpatients with stable COPD (defined by the clinical history and a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70% of the predicted value). The patients completed a questionnaire regarding clinical characteristics and atopy, after which they underwent nasal lavage cytology, skin prick testing, chest X-rays, arterial blood gas analyses, and determination of total serum IgE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 149 subjects studied, 53 (35.6%), 49 (32.8%), and 88 (59.1%) presented with nasal eosinophilia, a positive skin prick test result, and symptoms of allergic rhinitis, respectively. Correspondence analysis confirmed these findings, showing two distinct patterns of disease expression: atopy in patients with COPD that was less severe; and no evidence of atopy in those with COPD that was more severe (reduced FEV1 and hyperinflation). There was a statistically significant association between nasal eosinophilia and a positive bronchodilator response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using simple and reproducible methods, we were able to show that there is a high frequency of atopy in patients with COPD. Monitoring inflammation in the upper airways can be a useful tool for evaluating respiratory diseases in the elderly and in those with concomitant asthma and COPD, a clinical entity not yet fully understood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Professor Edgard Santos Hospital Complex, Federal University of Bahia, School of Medicine, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Margarida Célia Lima Costa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Yuri Costa Sarno
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Carlos Mauricio Cardeal
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Monalisa Nobre
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Aquiles Assunção
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Camelier
authors.forename: Cleriston Farias
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Bernardo Fonseca
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos Moreira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Argemiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Oliveira Junior
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires