CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CORRELATIONS IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Abstract

Background: To improve differential diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma (BA), identification of new biological markers is needed. Aim: To differentiate between COPD and BA using modern immunological methods. Materials and methods: Surface markers of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied in patients with COPD (n=37) and BA (n=49) exacerbation. Immunological status was also assessed in 24 healthy controls. Results: In both COPD and BA, typical inflammatory changes of T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and NK-cells counts were found. Lymphocyte surface phenotype changes were significantly different in COPD and BA. In COPD, a significant elevation of blood cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) up to 34% was demonstrated; on the contrary, in BA patients, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) decreased to 21%. CD16+ lymphocytes (NK-cells) were significantly increased (up to 33%) in COPD patients and corresponded to normal values in BA (~10%). Conclusion: Differences in biological markers in COPD and BA reflect distinct pathogenesis of the diseases and may be used for differential diagnosis.

Keywords

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• bronchial asthma
• bronchial and pulmonary immune inflammation
• cytotoxic lymphocytes