PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ebymar Arismendi
AU  - Tomas Luque
AU  - Yolanda Torralba
AU  - Alvar Agusti
AU  - Daniel Navajas
AU  - Roberto Rodriguez-Roisin
TI  - Peripheral neutrophil stiffness is increased in COPD severe exacerbations
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3226
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3226.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3226.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Introduction: Stable COPD patients increase peripheral neutrophils stiffness (E). We hypothesized that during exacerbations the increase in E can be enhanced.Objective: To determine peripheral neutrophils E in patients with COPD severe exacerbations during hospitalisation and at convalescence (12 wks after discharge).Methods: 25 COPD patients (70±[SD]9 yrs; all smokers) were assessed during the follow-up period, of whom 11 recurred (median, 7±4 wk). E was measured using atomic force microscopy. Both, CAT questionnaire and ADO index were also assessed. Ten smokers with normal lung function were used as controls.Results: On admission, E in COPD patients (956±422 Pa) is increased compared to controls (439±216 Pa) (p&amp;lt;0.05). Compared to admission, the 14 patients who completed the study improved lung function (FEV1 and PaO2), CAT score (from 23±6 to 13±6), C-RP values and number of leukocytes at convalescence; however, E remained unchanged (1,008±474 vs 903±448 Pa). In the 11 patients who recurred, no differences were observed between admission and recurrence (907±376 vs 801±359 Pa). A significant association between ADO index and E at admission in COPD patients (n, 25) (Rho 0.60, p&amp;lt;0.05) was observed.Conclusions: Neutrophils E is increased in patients with COPD severe exacerbations but did not vary at convalescence despite clinical, functional and biochemical improvement. These findings suggest that the rheological properties of neutrophils may be driven by a different underlying inflammatory response.Supported by SEPAR- 2010, CIBERES Almirall and Esteve.