Abstract
Compelling evidence has demonstrated that systemic inflammation among patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is linked with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects associated with anti-reflux treatment on pulmonary ventilation function and inflammatory cytokines in patients with stable COPD and gastroesophageal reflux (GER). One hundred and thirty-six stable COPD and GER patients were recruited for the study and randomly designated into the routine treatment and the anti GER groups. Six months prior to and after treatment, pulmonary ventilation function, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and times of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) were recorded. The levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-13, IL-18, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-βl) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the sputum were detected by ELISA. BODE indexes, including body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea and exercise, were analyzed in order to evaluate patient prognoses. In comparison with the routine treatment group, patients in the anti-GER group displayed improved pulmonary ventilation function, increased 6MWD as well as decreases in AECOPD, levels of IL-13, IL-18, TGF-βl and TNF-α in the sputum and BODE index 6 months after treatment. The results obtained suggested a correlation between the BODE indexes after treatment and the course of disease as well as the frequency of exacerbation. The key findings of the study suggested that conventional treatment combined with anti-reflux treatment could effectively improve pulmonary ventilation function, while acting to decrease the levels of inflammatory cytokines and improve the prognosis of patients with stable COPD along with GER.