Elevated Airway Purines in COPD

The Relationship between the Severity of Airway Obstruction and COPD Diagnostic Questionnaire Score in COPD Patients

Background & objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation and systemic inflammation which is also associated with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary complications. COPD Diagnostic Questionnaire (CDQ) is a valid questionnaire that is used to identify patients with COPD. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between ...

Airway Inflammation in COPD*

Inflammation of the airways has been regarded as a cardinal pathophysiologic feature of asthma for some 20 years. This concept has been based on evidence from a variety of sources: the histologic changes in the airway wall, hyperresponsiveness of the asthmatic airways to a wide range of natural and pharmacologic agents, the presence of activated inflammatory and immune cells and their mediators...

Homocysteine is Elevated in COPD

Eosinophilic airway inflammation in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common condition and a major cause of mortality. COPD is characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction. The physiological abnormalities observed in COPD are due to a combination of emphysema and obliteration of the small airways in association with airway inflammation. The predominant cells involved in this inflammatory response are CD8+ lymphocyte...

Airway β-Defensin-1 Protein Is Elevated in COPD and Severe Asthma

BACKGROUND Innate immune antimicrobial peptides, including β-defensin-1, promote the chemotaxis and activation of several immune cells. The role of β-defensin-1 in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. METHODS Induced sputum was collected from healthy controls and individuals with asthma or COPD. β-defensin-1 protein in sputum supernatant was quantified by E...