TY - JOUR T1 - Variability of sputum inflammatory mediators in COPD and α<sub>1</sub>-antitrypsin deficiency JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 561 LP - 569 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00162811 VL - 40 IS - 3 AU - Helen Stone AU - Gillian McNab AU - Alice M. Wood AU - Robert A. Stockley AU - Elizabeth Sapey Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/3/561.abstract N2 - There is inherent daily variability of sputum inflammatory mediators in stable-state patients with usual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The variability of pulmonary inflammation in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) is unknown. Our study aimed to quantify this variability, in comparison to patients with usual COPD, in order to facilitate power calculations for proof of concept trials of putative specific anti-inflammatory agents in both groups. Sputum interleukin (IL)-8, myeloperoxidase (MPO), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and differential cell counts were measured in 12 usual COPD patients and 12 A1ATD patients on nine occasions over a 1-month period. All samples were obtained in the stable clinical state. There was significant daily variability in all mediators in all patients. A1ATD patients had higher sputum concentrations of IL-8 and LTB4 compared with usual COPD, but lower levels of MPO and absolute neutrophil counts. Patients with usual COPD had more intra-patient variability, A1ATD patients demonstrated greater inter-patient variability. There are increased concentrations of pulmonary inflammatory mediators but fewer sputum neutrophils in A1ATD compared with usual COPD. The daily variability of inflammatory mediators and cell counts was significantly reduced in both groups by averaging sequential samples. This can be utilised to perform power calculations for future proof of concept studies; averaging three sequential samples appears optimum. ER -