No Correlation between Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphisms and the Severity and Clinical Control of Geriatric Asthma and COPD

Inderpal Randhawa Andrew Pham

doi:10.4172/2155-6121.1000196

Abstract

Background: Polymorphisms of the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) have previously been associated with non-specific bronchial hyper-responsiveness, adverse response to β2-agonists and variable effects on lung function. The objective of this study was to determine whether genotypic variance in ADRB2 polymorphisms in a cohort of geriatric men and women with asthma and/or COPD correlate with disease severity, baseline pulmonary function, and the ability to maintain clinical control of their disease. Methods: This comparative, prospective cohort study sequenced two ADRB2 polymorphisms, Arg16 --> Gly and Gln27 --> Glu, in 103 geriatric patients with a clinical history of asthma and/or COPD. Primary endpoints included pulmonary exacerbation rate, hospitalization rate, and quality of life scores. Results: Arg/Arg genotype comprised 13.6% of the cohort. No significant differences in baseline pulmonary functions were noted across genotypic variants. No significant difference was associated with genotype and change in lung function, exacerbations, clinical hospitalizations, exercise tolerance and subjective quality of life assessment over 6 months of follow-up. Conclusion: We conclude that in a geriatric asthma and/or COPD population, ADRB2 polymorphisms are not a factor in the ability to control disease.

Highlights

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) fall under the category of obstructive lung disease, both characterized physiologically by air flow obstruction
The demographic, as expected from the VA population, was predominantly male, with 88 males enrolled in the study (85.4%)
The COPD population, including geriatric patients, may be susceptible to such predilection based upon recent studies [25]

Summary

Introduction

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) fall under the category of obstructive lung disease, both characterized physiologically by air flow obstruction. The obstruction in asthma is largely reversible whereas the airflow limitation in COPD tends to be persistent and not fully reversible [1,2]. Overlap between the two conditions exists characterized by airway limitation which does not fully remit in addition to symptoms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Polymorphisms of the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) have previously been associated with non-specific bronchial hyper-responsiveness, adverse response to β2-agonists and variable effects on lung function. The objective of this study was to determine whether genotypic variance in ADRB2 polymorphisms in a cohort of geriatric men and women with asthma and/or COPD correlate with disease severity, baseline pulmonary function, and the ability to maintain clinical control of their disease

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion