Markers for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Non-Invasive Markers for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The primary aim of this study is to exploit a difference between COPD patients, chronic smokers without COPD and healthy non-smoking subjects. This will help to assess the utility of inflammatory and oxidative markers in exhaled air and sputum and to compare them with the lung function, clinical parameters and computerised tomography (CT).

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy non-smokers

• FEV1 >80% predicted
• FEV1 reversibility of <10% after inhaled (beta2-agonists

Current smokers

• FEV1 no less than 80% predicted
• FEV1 reversibility of <10% after inhaled (beta2-agonists
• Smoking history of > 10 pack-years

Moderate COPD

• FEV1 40-59% predicted
• FEV1 reversibility of <10% after inhaled (beta2-agonists
• Smoking history of > 10 pack-years**

Severe COPD

• FEV1 <40% predicted
• FEV1 reversibility of <10% after inhaled (beta2-agonists
• Smoking history of > 10 pack-years

Exclusion Criteria:

• FEV1 increases by 200 ml and 15% of the baseline value after inhaled (beta2-agonists
• Asthma
• unstable disease (FEV1 <35% predicted) and/or current, or within the last 4 weeks, respiratory tract infection.