Blood eosinophil count thresholds and exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with exacerbations and responsivity to steroids, suggesting potential shared mechanisms with eosinophilic asthma. However, there is no consistent blood eosinophil count that has been used to define the increased exacerbation risk.

Objective

We sought to investigate blood eosinophil counts associated with exacerbation risk in patients with COPD.

Methods

Blood eosinophil counts and exacerbation risk were analyzed in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD by using 2 independent studies of former and current smokers with longitudinal data. The Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene) study was analyzed for discovery (n = 1,553), and the Evaluation of COPD

SUBMITTER: Yun JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5994197 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature