Clinical application of thymosin alpha 1 in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of thymosin alpha 1 on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods 60 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided into two groups at random.The two groups were given conventional treatment,and the treatment group was received thymosin alpha 11.6 mg hypodermic injection,1 every other day for 4 weeks,since then 2 times/week for 5 months.All patients were followed for 6 months,clinic every 2 weeks,1 follow-up,evaluation of clinical condition.In two groups,before treatment and 6 months after treatment the blood samples were collected for the measurement of the blood CD3,CD,and CD8 levels.Results In the treatment group,the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation were significantly lower in comparison with those of the control group(all P＜0.01).After treatment with thymosin alpha 1,blood CD4 and CD4/CD8 levels were significantly increased(all P＜0.01).Conclusion Thymosin alpha 1 had a good protection effect for the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by incresing body cellular immune activity. Key words: Pulmonary disease,chronic,obstrutive; Thymosin alpha 1; T lymphocyte subset