PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - James D. Chalmers
AU  - David Kilpatrick
AU  - Brian McHugh
AU  - Pallavi Mandal
AU  - Maeve Smith
AU  - Cathy Doherty
AU  - John Govan
AU  - Adam T. Hill
TI  - Mannose binding lectin deficiency is associated with disease severity in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p2538
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2538.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2538.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Background: Mannose binding lectin (MBL) is a serum protein involved in phagocytic clearance of bacteria, viruses and apoptotic cells. Deficiency of mannose binding lectin is associated with disease severity in cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis but has not been studied in adult non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.Methods: 470 patients with adult non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (confirmed by HCRT) and matched controls were recruited. MBL serum levels were measured by ELISA. MBL deficiency was defined as a serum level <0.5μg/ml. Quantitative microbiology was performed on spontaneous sputum samples to determine bacterial load- expressed as Log10 colony forming units/ml (cfu/ml).Results: MBL deficiency was not more frequent in bronchiectasis patients than controls (27.2% vs. 29.6%, p=0.4). MBL deficient patients had more severe disease as defined by radiology (39.8% vs. 19.3%, p<0.0001). They suffered more frequent exacerbations (mean 2.8/year vs. 1.4/year, p<0.0001) and were more frequently hospitalised for severe exacerbations (31.3% hospitalised vs. 18.1% hospitalised during follow-up). MBL deficient patients more frequently met the criteria for chronic colonisation (70.3% vs. 51.5%, p=0.002). Among those colonised, MBL deficient patients had a higher airway bacterial load (7.2 sd 3.1 cfu/ml vs 6.37 sd 3.3 cfu/ml,p=0.001). MBL deficient patients were also more frequently colonised with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.7% vs. 12.3%, p=0.005).Conclusion: Mannose binding lectin deficiency is associated with more severe disease in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.