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Inflammation and chronic colonization of Haemophilus influenzae in sputum in COPD patients related to the degree of emphysema and bronchiectasis in high-resolution computed tomography

Tufvesson, Ellen LU ; Markstad, Hanna LU ; Bozovic, Gracijela LU ; Ekberg, Marie LU and Bjermer, Leif LU (2017) In International Journal of COPD 12. p.3211-3219
Abstract

The presence of bacteria in the lower airways in COPD results in inflammation, further airway structural damage, and might lead to repeated exacerbations. We have previously shown that chronic colonization of Haemophilus influenzae during stable disease is related to increased inflammation, and we now aimed to relate previous findings of bacterial colonization and inflammation to the degree of radiological findings of bronchiectasis and emphysema. Thirty-nine patients with COPD were included in their stable state, and a high-resolution computed tomography of the lung was performed. They were followed-up monthly for up to a maximum of 6 months or until exacerbation, and they answered questionnaires, performed spirometry, and induced... (More)

The presence of bacteria in the lower airways in COPD results in inflammation, further airway structural damage, and might lead to repeated exacerbations. We have previously shown that chronic colonization of Haemophilus influenzae during stable disease is related to increased inflammation, and we now aimed to relate previous findings of bacterial colonization and inflammation to the degree of radiological findings of bronchiectasis and emphysema. Thirty-nine patients with COPD were included in their stable state, and a high-resolution computed tomography of the lung was performed. They were followed-up monthly for up to a maximum of 6 months or until exacerbation, and they answered questionnaires, performed spirometry, and induced sputum at every visit. Thirty-five patients had emphysema with an emphysema degree of median 20% (interquartile range 10-50), and five patients had bronchiectasis, of which only four could expectorate sputum. The degree of emphysema correlated with several inflammatory mediators in sputum, such as interleukin-8 concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, and Leukotriene B4 concentration. Ten patients were chronically colonized with H. influenzae (ie, had a positive culture for H. influenzae at all visits). The four sputum patients with bronchiectasis were chronically colonized with H. influenzae and showed higher degree of H. influenzae growth compared to patients without bronchiectasis. During exacerbation, there was no longer any correlation between emphysema degree and inflammation, but patients with bronchiectasis showed higher sputum purulence score than patients without bronchiectasis. Emphysema and bronchiectasis in COPD patients show different clinical features. The presence of emphysema is more related to inflammation, while bronchiectasis is associated with bacterial colonization. We believe that both emphysema and bronchiectasis are therefore COPD phenotypes of highest impact and need evaluation to prevent further disease progression.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bronchiectasis, Chronic colonization, COPD, Emphysema, Inflammation, Pathogenic bacteria
in
International Journal of COPD
volume
12
pages
9 pages
publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • pmid:29138549
  • wos:000414222200002
  • scopus:85032805916
ISSN
1176-9106
DOI
10.2147/COPD.S137578
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
99856cec-b928-4a19-bd43-71c750879241
date added to LUP
2017-11-22 12:34:43
date last changed
2024-07-08 05:27:28
@article{99856cec-b928-4a19-bd43-71c750879241,
  abstract     = {{<p>The presence of bacteria in the lower airways in COPD results in inflammation, further airway structural damage, and might lead to repeated exacerbations. We have previously shown that chronic colonization of Haemophilus influenzae during stable disease is related to increased inflammation, and we now aimed to relate previous findings of bacterial colonization and inflammation to the degree of radiological findings of bronchiectasis and emphysema. Thirty-nine patients with COPD were included in their stable state, and a high-resolution computed tomography of the lung was performed. They were followed-up monthly for up to a maximum of 6 months or until exacerbation, and they answered questionnaires, performed spirometry, and induced sputum at every visit. Thirty-five patients had emphysema with an emphysema degree of median 20% (interquartile range 10-50), and five patients had bronchiectasis, of which only four could expectorate sputum. The degree of emphysema correlated with several inflammatory mediators in sputum, such as interleukin-8 concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, and Leukotriene B4 concentration. Ten patients were chronically colonized with H. influenzae (ie, had a positive culture for H. influenzae at all visits). The four sputum patients with bronchiectasis were chronically colonized with H. influenzae and showed higher degree of H. influenzae growth compared to patients without bronchiectasis. During exacerbation, there was no longer any correlation between emphysema degree and inflammation, but patients with bronchiectasis showed higher sputum purulence score than patients without bronchiectasis. Emphysema and bronchiectasis in COPD patients show different clinical features. The presence of emphysema is more related to inflammation, while bronchiectasis is associated with bacterial colonization. We believe that both emphysema and bronchiectasis are therefore COPD phenotypes of highest impact and need evaluation to prevent further disease progression.</p>}},
  author       = {{Tufvesson, Ellen and Markstad, Hanna and Bozovic, Gracijela and Ekberg, Marie and Bjermer, Leif}},
  issn         = {{1176-9106}},
  keywords     = {{Bronchiectasis; Chronic colonization; COPD; Emphysema; Inflammation; Pathogenic bacteria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  pages        = {{3211--3219}},
  publisher    = {{Dove Medical Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{International Journal of COPD}},
  title        = {{Inflammation and chronic colonization of Haemophilus influenzae in sputum in COPD patients related to the degree of emphysema and bronchiectasis in high-resolution computed tomography}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S137578}},
  doi          = {{10.2147/COPD.S137578}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}