Expression levels of induced sputum IL-8 and IL-10 and drug intervention effects in patients with acute exacerbated COPD complicated with chronic cor pulmonale at high altitude

The aim of this study was to assess the expression levels of induced sputum interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10 levels in patients with acute exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) complicated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) at high altitude, and to evaluate the intervention effects of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a β(2)-adrenoceptor agonist in this disease. A total of 186 patients with AECOPD complicated with CCP were randomly divided into three groups, with 62 cases in each. With regard to the two treatment groups, group A was treated with salmeterol/fluticasone (50 μg/250 μg, respectively) by airway inhalation twice daily, while group B received budesonide (1 mg) as a spray inhalation, twice daily. The routine treatment group (group C) received only routine treatment. The levels of IL-8 and IL-10 in the induced sputum and the predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1%pred)), partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO(2)) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO(2)) were examined on admission and at a stable stage two weeks following treatment. Forty healthy volunteers served as a control group (group D). Compared with group D values, the IL-8 induced sputum level and the PaCO(2) were significantly increased, while the level of IL-10, FEV(1%pred) and the PaO(2) were markedly decreased in the three COPD groups prior to treatment. Following treatment, the induced sputum IL-8 level and the PaCO(2) were significantly decreased, while the induced sputum IL-10 level, FEV(1%pred) and the PaO(2) were markedly increased in the three treatment groups compared with the values pre-therapy (all P<0.01). The post-treatment parameters were significantly different among the three groups (P<0.01). The results indicate that IL-8 and IL-10 are involved in the airway inflammation of AECOPD complicated by CCP. Treatment with an ICS was demonstrated to be a successful method of reducing the local expression of IL-8 and increasing the local expression of IL-10; however, ICS combined with a long-acting β(2)-adrenoceptor agonist (LABA) was more effective than the sole administration of ICS in patients with AECOPD complicated by CCP at high altitude.