Blood eosinophils to direct corticosteroid treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and responses to treatment are heterogeneous.

Objectives

Investigate the usefulness of blood eosinophils to direct corticosteroid therapy during exacerbations.

Methods

Subjects with COPD exacerbations were entered into a randomized biomarker-directed double-blind corticosteroid versus standard therapy study. Subjects in the standard arm received prednisolone for 2 weeks, whereas in the biomarker-directed arm, prednisolone or matching placebo was given according to the blood eosinophil count biomarker. Both study groups received antibiotics. Blood eosinophils were measured in the biomarker-directed and standard therapy arms to define biomarker-positive and -negative exacerbations (blood eosinophil

SUBMITTER: Bafadhel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3400995 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature