Blood eosinophil count and exacerbation risk in patients with COPD. Issue 1 (20th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kerkhof, Marjan; Sonnappa, Samatha; Postma, Dirkje S.; Brusselle, Guy; Agustí, Alvar; Anzueto, Antonio; Jones, Rupert; Papi, Alberto; Pavord, Ian; Pizzichini, Emilio; Popov, Todor; Roche, Nicolas; Ryan, Dermot; Thomas, Mike; Vogelmeier, Claus; Chisholm, Alison; Freeman, Daryl; Bafadhel, Mona; Hillyer, Elizabeth V.; Price, David B.
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 50:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-07-20
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00761-2017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are major contributors to worsening lung function, impaired quality of life, emergency healthcare use and COPD-related mortality. COPD exacerbations are heterogeneous in terms of airway inflammation and aetiology. About 60% of COPD patients have blood eosinophil counts of ≥2%, which appears to be associated with an increased risk of exacerbations [1–3]. However, the association between blood eosinophil counts at stable disease and COPD exacerbations in the subsequent year is incompletely understood. Blood eosinophil count may serve as a biomarker of exacerbation risk in subgroups of patients with COPD http://ow.ly/6tm530cEAeO