Reactive oxygen species generation and the total antioxidant status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the total antioxidant status (TAOS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods. Fifty-five hospitalized patients with COPD were involved in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (COPD group; n = 28), and patients with COPD and CAP (COPD + CAP group; n = 27). Severity of symptoms, clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed. ROS generation was assessed using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (ChL) of the blood. TAOS was evaluated in the blood serum using TAS RANDOS kit (RANDOX laboratory Ltd., GB). Results. Both spontaneous and pyrogenal-induced ChLs in the blood were reduced in all patients that indicated reduced ROS generation. TAOS was also decreased. The intensity of ChL and TAOS were related to lung function and serum level of C-reactive protein. After treatment, the inflammation has not been resolved and abnormal TAOS and ROS were still detected. Conclusion. CAP in patients with COPD and the acute exacerbation of COPD were associated with reduction in ROS generation and TAOS in the blood. Clinical symptoms were more prominent, C-reactive protein level was higher, and TAOS was lower in COPD + CAP patients compared to patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.