Calprotectin I Serum as a Diagnostic Marker

Calprotectin I in Serum as a Diagnostic Marker of Pneumonia in Patients Hospitalised With Acute COPD Exacerbation

Lower respiratory tract infection is the most common cause of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Patients diagnosed with pneumonia in addition to an AECOPD experience more severe clinical and laboratory disease manifestations, increase in-hospital morbidity and worse outcome. Clinicians have sought for new biomarkers that together with clinical assessments can improve the diagnostic accuracy of pneumonia in patients with AECOPD.The aim of the present study is to compare the accuracy of calprotectin with procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC).

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinically confirmed acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (AECOPD)
• COPD diagnosis previously confirmed by spirometry according to the GOLD criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

• known malignant disease
• bronchiectasis
• chronic bacterial colonisation of the airways
• treatment with an immunosuppressive drug or long-term treatment with antibiotics.
• not examined with a chest X-ray at admission