High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Values in Patients with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Patients with COPD experience systemic inflammation that can be evaluated by measuring the levels of Creactive protein (CRP). Recently, the development of a high-sensitivity (HS) CRP test has made it possible to assess low grades of inflammation. Because there is systemic, as well as local, inflammation in COPD patients and because the disease cannot be staged by spirometry alone. Objectives: We evaluated the usefulness of HSCRP values as a readily available and cost-effective auxiliary marker for determining COPD stages in a group of COPD patients. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 160 COPD patients who were admitted due to exacerbations of their condition to Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran. The patients’ demographic characteristics, pulmonary function tests, and laboratory results of arterial blood gases and HSCRP levels were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Results: A significantly positive correlation was found between serum HSCRP levels and the stage of the disease (as defined by the criteria of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease). There was a significant relationship between HSCRP levels and the patients’ sex, body mass index (BMI), and smoking history. Specifically, males and smokers had higher HSCRP values, and patients with normal BMIs had lower HSCRP levels. Patients with higher pCO2 values also showed higher levels of serum CRP. Conclusions: This survey supports the role of HSCRP as a simple auxiliary marker that can be used to stage COPD and determine patient prognosis and early management.