Changes in serum STREM-1 and PCT in patients with AECOPD before and after treatment and its correlation with the severity of COPD

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the changes in serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) and procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) before and after treatment and its correlation with the severity of COPD. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with AECOPD admitted to the respiratory department of our hospital from September 2016 to May 2018 were selected as the observation group. According to the sputum culture results, 30 patients with bacterial infection were designated as the infection group, and 38 patients without bacterial infection were designated as the non-infected group. Another 55 healthy people in our hospital were selected as the control group. The serum levels of sTREM-1 and PCT were detected by ELISA at the same time on the day of admission and after two weeks of treatment. The patients in the observation group were tested for pulmonary function in stable disease after treatment. According to the results of pulmonary function test, the patients were divided into three groups: mild-moderate, severe and extremely severe. The correlation between the changes in serum sTREM-1 and PCT levels and pulmonary function indicators was analysed. Results: The serum levels of sTREM-1, PCT and CRP in the observation group were higher than those in the control group before and after treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum sTREM-1 levels before and after treatment in the observation group (P>0.05). The serum levels of PCT and CRP in the observation group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). The serum levels of sTREM-1, PCT and CRP in the infected group were significantly higher than those in the non-infected group and the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum sTREM-1 and PCT between the non-infected group and the control group (P>0.05). Serum levels of sTREM-1 and PCT in the mild-moderate patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the severe group and in the extremely severe group (P<0.01), and the serum levels of sTREM-1 and PCT in the severe group were significantly lower than those in the extremely severe group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum CRP levels among the three groups (P>0.05). Serum sTREM-1 and PCT levels in the observation group were negatively correlated with the predicted value of lung function FEV1% (r=-0.398, -0.438, avg. P<0.05). Conclusion: The levels of sTREM-1 and PCT in serum of AECOPD patients are significantly increased, and may be involved in the inflammatory process of AECOPD. These levels may be related to the severity of AECOPD.