Effect of tiotropium bromide on IFN-γ level: Results from 180-days study in moderate COPD patients with viral-induced exacerbations in anamnesis

Abstract

Background: . Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-threatening lung disease, leading cause of high mortality and morbidity worldwide. Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic drug for COPD treatment that reduce symptoms and exacerbations, and improve quality of life with once-daily dosing. Objective: We9ve investigated the effects of treatment with the long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist tiotropium on IFN-γ level in bronchoalveolar fluid before and during the treatment in patient with COPD II stages. Methods: The IFN-γlevel was tested using commercially available ELISA kits, in accordance with the manufacturer9s recommendations. The content of IFN-γ level was investigated in bronchoalveolar fluid after bronchoscopy in 45 patients with stage 2 COPD before and after treatment. Results: The IFN-γ level in bronchoalveolar fluid of COPD group before the treatment were significantly lower than those after the treatment with tiotropium bromide, and both were lower than those of control group. We identified practically complete normalization of IFN-γ levels in bronchoalveolar fluid only during 6-month of tiotropium bromide admission in patients with stage 2 COPD. This rate was loweronly at 7,8 % (p Conclusions: IFN-γ contributes to the development of COPD and its continuous low level may be one of the important factors resulting in chronic airway inflammation.