Human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: A new biomarker in asthma-COPD overlap syndrome

Abstract

AIM: HNGAL(human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) is a protein considered as a noninvasive prognostic biomarker in Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). In this study we aimed to show the usability of HNGAL as a biomarker in ACOS characterized with airway inflammation.

METHOD: Three patient groups [Group I: COPD (n: 29), Group II: Astim (n:29), Group III: ACOS (n:29) ] and a healty non smoker group are taken into study. The Serum HNGAL levels of groups are compared. In addition, in Group I,II,III the level of serum HNGAL is compared with the age, duration of smoking (pocket/year), number of attack per year, breathe function values, serum C reaktive protein (CRP, mg/dL), serum IgE(IU/mL), serum neutrophil (%) and oxygen saturation levels.

FINDINGS: In patients having AKOS when the maximum level of serum exist, it is observed that the serum HNGAL level is increased as the number of attacks is increased(p: 0.002). In the patients having COPD, there was a positive correlation between serum CRP ve serum HNGAL. On the other hand in the patients having ACOS there was also positive correlation between serum Ig E, serum neutrophil ve serum HNGAL. There was no other relation found among the other variables.

CONCULISION: In the chronic inflamatuar lung diseases the findings of increase in serum HNGAL levels while the severity of the disease suggest us the HNGAL levels might be used as a biomarker for evaluating the inflammation.