Abstract:

Objective To investigate serum C reactive protein(CRP) and alpha₁-antitrypsin(α₁-AT) levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and the correlation with the severity of COPD. Methods Serum levels of CRP and α₁-AT were determined by immunoturbidimetry in 43 patients with acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD),47 patients with stable COPD and 40 healthy subjects (healthy control group),and the results were analyzed statistically. Results Serum levels of CRP and α₁-AT had emerge rise trend with the severity of disease. Serum levels of CRP and α₁-AT in AECOPD group and stable COPD group were higher than those in healthy control group(P<0.01) . Serum levels of CRP and α₁-AT in AECOPD group were higher than those in stable COPD group(P<0.05). Serum level of CRP was correlated positively with serum level of α₁-AT in AECOPD group (r=0.704,P<0.01). However, serum level of CRP was uncorrelated with serum level of α₁-AT in stable COPD group (r=0.232,P>0.05). Conclusions The airway inflammation is continuously existing in patients with COPD. CRP and α₁-AT are sensitive indicators for the patients with COPD, and are positively correlated with the severity of airway inflammation. CRP is more sensitive than α₁-AT for AECOPD patients, and there is no obvious increasing of α₁-AT level.

Key words: Alpha₁-antitrypsin, C reactive protein, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Acute exacerbation