RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Skin autofluorescence is not a good marker for disease status in COPD
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP p3573
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Poornima Gopal
A1 Erica Rutten
A1 Niki Reynaert
A1 Nick Ten Hacken
A1 Emiel Wouters
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3573.abstract
AB Rationale: Skin autofluorescence (AF) is measured non invasively and is shown to correlate with collagen linked fluorescence and skin levels of specific advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (Meerwaldt, R. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2005; 1043:290-298). The aim of this study was to determine weather AF is a measure of disease status in patients with COPD.Methods: AF was measured with an optical non invasive autofluorescence reader using ultraviolet light for excitation at 300-420nm. AF was measured on the arm in 100 patients with COPD admitted for pulmonary rehabilitation. Lung function parameters (FEV1, FVC), 6min walking distance, BMI, MRC dyspnea score and the Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI) were recorded as markers of disease status. Data are expressed as mean and SD.Results: Our study group consisted of 55% males, mean age of 63.9±8.2 years, mean FEV1 of 46.8±17.2%pred, median BODE of 4 (2-5) and median CCI of 1.0 (0-1.75). Mean AF was 3.4±0.7AU and correlated positively with age (r=0.26, p<0.01). We found no difference in AF between sex, GOLD criteria, BODE index and CCI. No correlation with FEV1 was observed, but AF was positively correlated with the amount of pack years smoked (r=0.278, p<0.05). In multivariate regression analysis age and pack year smoked predicted AF for 16%.View this table:Table 1. linear regression of severe COPD patients (n=100) with skin autofluorescence as dependent variableConclusion: Although AF correlated with age and the amount of pack years smoked in a group of severe and complex COPD patients, AF was not associated with any criteria of disease status, suggesting that AF is not a good marker of disease status.