title: Glutathione and nitrite levels in induced sputum at COPD patients and healthy smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of oxidative stress at the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is known. The aim of this study is to investigate the oxidative stress with sputum induction that is a simple method in COPD patients and healthy smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sputum induction was performed in 21 COPD patients (10 stable, 11 acute exacerbations), nine healthy smokers, and ten healthy non-smokers. Glutathione, NO2 (-) levels, and cell counts at sputum, and plasma NO2 (-) contents were evaluated in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean sputum glutathione and NO2 (-) levels were significantly higher in acute exacerbations with COPD patients than healthy smokers (P=0.007 and P<0.001 respectively), and non-smokers (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). On the other hand, sputum glutathione and NO2 (-) levels did not show significant differences between stable and acute exacerbations with COPD patients. Although, sputum glutathione levels were higher in stable COPD patients than healthy smokers', no statistically significant difference was established. In addition, sputum glutathione levels were significantly higher in healthy smokers than non-smokers (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result, we can say that oxidative stress increases not only in COPD patients but also in healthy smokers. In addition, sputum induction that is a simple method can be used to demonstrate to show oxidative stress.
authors: 1 Department of Chest Diseases, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 2 Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 3 Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey ; 4 Department of Chest Diseases, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors: Teyfik
authors: T
authors: Turgut
authors: 1 Department of Chest Diseases, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 2 Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 3 Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey ; 4 Department of Chest Diseases, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors: Nevin
authors: N
authors: Ilhan
authors: 1 Department of Chest Diseases, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 2 Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 3 Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey ; 4 Department of Chest Diseases, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors: Figen
authors: F
authors: Deveci
authors: 1 Department of Chest Diseases, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 2 Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 3 Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey ; 4 Department of Chest Diseases, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors: Nusret
authors: N
authors: Akpolat
authors: 1 Department of Chest Diseases, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 2 Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 3 Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey ; 4 Department of Chest Diseases, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors: Ersin Şükrü
authors: EŞ
authors: Erden
authors: 1 Department of Chest Diseases, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 2 Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey ; 3 Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey ; 4 Department of Chest Diseases, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors: M Hamdi
authors: MH
authors: Muz
keywords: Glutathione; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); induced sputum; nitrite