title: Blood Level of Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil Leukocytes and Bronchial Hyperreactivity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMNL) have an important defensive role against various microorganisms and other agents, but by liberating various substances, first of all the superoxide anion (O 2¯), they can damage the bronchial mucosa and influence the development of bronchial inflammation which is the fundamental of bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to show the role of the PMNL for development and level of BHR in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We observed 160 patients with COPD treated in Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases and TB "Podhrastovi" Sarajevo during three years :from 2012 to 2014. They were divided into groups and subgroups according to the first registration of BHR in the course of illness and to the number of exacerbations of the disease in one year. The number of blood PMNL was measured in a stable state of disease at the begging and at the end of investigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of blood PMNL was significantly greater in patients with 3 or more exacerbations per one year (p <0.01). Patients with BHR had significantly greater number blood PMNL than patients without BHR (p< 0.05). Patients with 3 exacerbations per year had a statistically significant increase of number of PMNL between first and last examination (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is statistically significant correlation between the number of blood PMNL and the level of BHR in COPD, but future examination need to be done to determine real role and mode of action of PMNL for these processes.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis "Podhrastovi", Clinical Centre of Sarajevo University, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cukic
mesh_terms: D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: BHR; COPD; polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes