Relationship among bacterial colonization, airway inflam-mation, and bronchodilator response in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

摘要

Bronchodilator reversibility, a response of airway to bronchodilator, occurred in 64% of stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In patients with COPD who have a significant response to bronchodilators, a clinical and functional response to inhaled corticosteroids is similar to that in asthmatics. A significant number of patients with stable COPD have lower airway bacterial colonization. Higher airway bacterial load is associated with greater airway inflammation. One study suggested that bronchodilator response is associated with increased exhaled nitric oxide and sputum eosinophilia, indicating a relationship between inflammation and the reversibility of airflow limitation. However, the role of bacterial colonization in modulating airway response to bronchodilators in patients with COPD is unknown. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship among bacterial colonization, airway inflammation, and bronchodilator response.