Inhaled corticosteroids in stable COPD patients - Do they have effects on cells and molecular mediators of airway inflammation?

Study objective: To investigate possible changes in cells and molecular mediators of airway inflammation following inhaled steroid treatment of stable COPD patients. Design: Six-week open preliminary prospective study. Setting: A university respiratory disease clinic. Patients: Stable COPD patients with mild disease. Intervention: Six-week treatment with inhaled beclomethasone (1.5 mg die). Measurements: The levels of interleukin (IL)-8, myeloperoxidase, eosinophilic cationic protein and tryptase, and cell numbers in bronchial lavage specimens were determined, and the symptom score, the endoscopic bronchitis index, and functional parameters were recorded. Results: After treatment there were significant reductions in the lavage levels of IL-8 ([mean +/- SEM] 1,603.4 +/- 331.2 vs 1,119.2 +/- 265.3 pg/mL, respectively; p = 0.01) and myeloperoxidase (1,614.5 +/- 682.3 vs 511.2 +/- 144.2 mu g/L, respectively; p = 0.05), in cell numbers (250.6 +/- 27.7 vs 186.3 +/- 11.5 cells x 10(3)/mL, respectively; p = 0.04), neutrophil proportion (59.7 +/- 14.3% vs 31.5 +/- 10.1%; p = 0.01), symptom score (4.5 +/- 0.6 vs 1.4 +/- 0.5; p = 0.01), and bronchitis index (8.5 =/- 0.8 vs 5.5 +/- 0.7; p = 0.007). Conclusions: In stable patients with COPD, inhaled steroid treatment may induce changes on some cellular and molecular parameters of airway inflammation.