[C-reactive protein level and the correlation between lung function and CRP levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of C-reactive protein (CRP) level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and to analyze the correlation between the lung function and CRP levels.

METHODS

Sputum and serum specimens were obtained from 30 COPD patients diagnosed according to the national criteria. The CRP level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The lung function indexes such as the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were also determined.

RESULTS

The sputum CRP level in COPD patients was 30-50 times higher than that of the health controls. The sputum CRP level in COPD patients is significantly higher than that of serum in these patients (P < 0.05). The correlation between changes of serum and sputum CRP levels and sputum CRP levels was positive (r = 0.625, P < 0.05). The correlations between changes of serum CRP levels and FEV1 were negative (r = -0.610, -0.725, respectively, P < 0.001). And the correlations between changes of serum and sputum CRP levels and FEV1/FVC were negative (r = -0.639, -0.600, respectively, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The CRP may be secreted from the local respiratory tract. The damage of lung function in COPD patients is associated with the increase of CRP level.