Clinical Relevance Of Serum CRP, IL-8, TNF-α In Different Stages Of COPD Patients

ObjectiveTo investigate the levels of CRP, IL-8, TNF-α in the serum of COPD patientsduring acute exacerbation, stable period and control group, and their effect on thepathogenesis of COPD.MethodsThirty acute exacerbation COPD patients, thirty stable COPD patients,30healthyvolunteers were enrolled in the study. The data of medical history, pulmonary functionparameters, serum CRP, IL-8, TNF-α were collected. The serum CRP, IL-8, TNF-α andFEV1%were analysed with SPSS17.0software.Results1. The serum levels of CRP, IL-8and TNF-α in the acute exacerbation COPD groupwere significantly higher than that of the stable group and control group (P<0.001); Thelevel of serum CRP in stable group is no significant different from that in controlgroup(P>0.05); The levels of IL-8and TNF-α in stable group were significantly higherthan control group (P<0.001).2. In the stable group: there were no significant correlation between CRP and FEV1%pred(r=-0.187P=0.322); serum levels of IL-8negatively correlated with FEV1%pred(r=-0.779P<0.001); serum levels of TNF-α negatively correlated with FEV1%pred(r=-0.800P<0.001).3. In COPD exacerbation group: the levels of IL-8and TNF-α was positivelycorrelated (r=0.781P<0.001). In the stable group: the levels of IL-8and TNF-α waspositively correlated (r=0.712P<0.001).Conclusion1. CRP in acute exacerbation stage is significantly higher than that in stable stage andin control group. This indicates that CRP can be used as a marker of acute inflammation. 2. IL-8and TNF-α in acute exacerbation stage were significantly higher than that instable stage and control group. The levels of IL-8and TNF-α in stable group weresignificantly higher than that in control group. It showed that inflammation not only existin acute exacerbation, but also in stable stage. IL-8, TNF-α negatively correlated withFEV1%pred, which means that the increase of serum IL-8and TNF-α level was associatedwith the damage of lung function. IL-8and TNF-α can be used as supplementary indicatorsof disease severity and asessment of prognosis.3. The elevation of serum IL-8level was correlated with TNF-α, suggested that theyplayed a potential role in COPD pathophysiological process.