Antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Abstract

Background: Despite its high and increasing prevalence and mortality, the pathogenesis of COPD remains unclear and there is no effective treatment available that halts the irreversible and progressive tissue destruction and small airway wall fibrosis which are characteristic of the disease. Aim of the work: investigation of ANA and CRP in COPD patients and their relation to;smoking behavior & lung function. Patients and methods: the study included 80 subjects, 20 stable COPD (group 1 ), 20 with COPD exacerbation (group2); 20 smokers non COPD (group3) and finally 20 non COPD non- smokers (healthy controls). ANA and CRP were estimated according to methods described by (Jaskowski et al., 1996), and (Koenig et al., 1999) respectively. Results: There was significant difference between groups regarding positive CRP (90% of COPD exacerbation group had positive CRP, 25.0% of stable COPD, 10% of non COPD smokers and 5.0% of non -smoker non COPD groups had positive CRP).ANA was positive in 24 cases out of 80 cases (30.0%) and there was significant difference between studied groups (it was positive in 65.0%, 45.0%, 5.0% and 5.0% in COPD exacerbation, stable COPD, non COPD smokers and non-smokers non COPD groups respectively). There was significant association between CRP and ANA with ECG changes, but no association was found with BMI. Conclusion: CRP and ANAs increased levels are correlated to the severity of COPD. These results confirmed that inflammation and autoimmunity play a role in COPD pathogenesis. In addition, the results of the present study might suggest a role for immunomodulating anti-inflammatory drugs in treatment of COPD.