TY - JOUR T1 - Plasma pro-surfactant protein B and lung function decline in smokers JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1037 LP - 1045 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00184214 VL - 45 IS - 4 AU - Janice M. Leung AU - John Mayo AU - Wan Tan AU - C. Martin Tammemagi AU - Geoffrey Liu AU - Stuart Peacock AU - Frances A. Shepherd AU - John Goffin AU - Glenwood Goss AU - Garth Nicholas AU - Alain Tremblay AU - Michael Johnston AU - Simon Martel AU - Francis Laberge AU - Rick Bhatia AU - Heidi Roberts AU - Paul Burrowes AU - Daria Manos AU - Lori Stewart AU - Jean M. Seely AU - Michel Gingras AU - Sergio Pasian AU - Ming-Sound Tsao AU - Stephen Lam AU - Don D. Sin A2 - , Y1 - 2015/04/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/45/4/1037.abstract N2 - Plasma pro-surfactant protein B (pro-SFTPB) levels have recently been shown to predict the development of lung cancer in current and ex-smokers, but the ability of pro-SFTPB to predict measures of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity is unknown. We evaluated the performance characteristics of pro-SFTPB as a biomarker of lung function decline in a population of current and ex-smokers.Plasma pro-SFTPB levels were measured in 2503 current and ex-smokers enrolled in the Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer Study. Linear regression was performed to determine the relationship of pro-SFTPB levels to changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) over a 2-year period as well as to baseline FEV1 and the burden of emphysema observed in computed tomography (CT) scans.Plasma pro-SFTPB levels were inversely related to both FEV1 % predicted (p=0.024) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (p<0.001), and were positively related to the burden of emphysema on CT scans (p<0.001). Higher plasma pro-SFTPB levels were also associated with a more rapid decline in FEV1 at 1 year (p=0.024) and over 2 years of follow-up (p=0.004).Higher plasma pro-SFTPB levels are associated with increased severity of airflow limitation and accelerated decline in lung function. Pro-SFTPB is a promising biomarker for COPD severity and progression.High plasma pro-SFTPB levels are associated with more rapid short-term declines in FEV1 in current and ex-smokers http://ow.ly/E9Gmx ER -