Evaluation of human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level in asthma-COPD overlap syndrome of elderly patients

Abstract

Aims: Human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein considered as a noninvasive prognostic biomarker in Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACO). In this study we aimed to show the usability of NGAL as a biomarker in ACO characterized with airway inflammation in over 65 years old. Methods: Three patient groups (Group I: COPD, n: 50, Group II: Asthma, n:50, Group III: ACO, n:50) and a healhty non smoker group (Group IV, n:50) are taken into study. The serum NGAL levels of groups are compared. In Group I, II, III the level of serum NGAL is compared with the age, duration of smoking (pocket/year), number of attack per year, respiratory function values, serum C reaktive protein (CRP, mg/dL), serum IgE (IU/mL) and blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte rate and atopy. Results: In patients having ACO when the maximum level of serum exist, it is observed that serum NGAL level is increased as the number of attacks is increased (p<0.002). On the other hand in the patients having ACO there was also positive correlation between NLR and serum NGAL level (p<0.05). Conclusion: The increase in serum NGAL levels in chronic inflammatory lung diseases suggests that serum NGAL levels can be used as a biomarker to assess inflammation severity