Clinical significance of combined detection of TNF-α,high-sensitivity C reactive protein and prealbumin in patients with COPD

Objective To study the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),high-sensitivity C reactive protein(hs-CRP)and prealbumin(PA)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)in different stages. Methods 58 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, 24 patients in remission stage and 50 healthy persons in the same period were detected for serum levels of TNF-α,hs-CRP and PA. Results Serum levels of TNF-α and hs-CRP in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were significantly higher than those in remission stage of COPD, and serum levels of TNF-α and hs-CRP in remission stage or acute exacerbation of COPD were significantly higher than those of healthy persons(P0.01).Serum level of PA in acute exacerbation or remission stage of COPD was lower than that of healthy persons,while the level of PA in acute exacerbation of COPD was lower than that of patients in remission stage of COPD(P0.01). With the improvement of lung function, the serum levels of TNF-α and hs-CRP were gradually increased(P0.01);in contrast, with the improvement of lung function,the level of PA was gradually reduced(P0.01). Conclusions TNF-α,hs-CRP and PA are involved in airway inflammation of COPD,and there is relationship between their expression levels and the severity of disease,hence combined detection of these three makers can be used as indices of clinical stage and degree of airflow limitation in patients with COPD.