TY - JOUR
T1 - Anemia and inflammation in COPD
AU - John, Matthias
AU - Hoernig, Soeren
AU - Doehner, Wolfram
AU - Okonko, Darlington D.
AU - Witt, Christian
AU - Anker, Stefan D.
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - Background: Anemia in patients with COPD and its pathophysiology is an understudied issue. Methods: In a group of 101 COPD patients (FEV1 percentage of predicted, 37 ± 2% [mean ± SEM]; mean age, 61 ± 1 years; 35% female gender), the prevalence of anemia and its relationship to body mass and weight loss, inflammatory parameters, and erythropoietin levels was determined. Data were compared to a control group (healthy persons with matched age) in order to identify potential factors that may influence the development of anemia in patients with COPD. Results: Anemia was diagnosed in 13 patients (hemoglobin levels <13.5 mg/dL in male patients and <12.0 mg/dL in female patients), which represents a prevalence of 13%. Anemic COPD patients showed elevated erythropoietin levels (41.8 ± 25.4 U/L vs 16.3 ± 2.9 U/L) and an increased inflammatory response compared to nonanemic patients. A significant inverse correlation of hemoglobin vs erythropoietin (r = -0.84, p <0.01) was observed in anemic COPD patients, but not in the nonanemic group. Conclusion: Anemic COPD patients show high erythropoietin levels, which may indicate presence of erythropoietin resistance. The latter may be mediated through inflammatory mechanisms, which is typical for anemia of chronic illness.
AB - Background: Anemia in patients with COPD and its pathophysiology is an understudied issue. Methods: In a group of 101 COPD patients (FEV1 percentage of predicted, 37 ± 2% [mean ± SEM]; mean age, 61 ± 1 years; 35% female gender), the prevalence of anemia and its relationship to body mass and weight loss, inflammatory parameters, and erythropoietin levels was determined. Data were compared to a control group (healthy persons with matched age) in order to identify potential factors that may influence the development of anemia in patients with COPD. Results: Anemia was diagnosed in 13 patients (hemoglobin levels <13.5 mg/dL in male patients and <12.0 mg/dL in female patients), which represents a prevalence of 13%. Anemic COPD patients showed elevated erythropoietin levels (41.8 ± 25.4 U/L vs 16.3 ± 2.9 U/L) and an increased inflammatory response compared to nonanemic patients. A significant inverse correlation of hemoglobin vs erythropoietin (r = -0.84, p <0.01) was observed in anemic COPD patients, but not in the nonanemic group. Conclusion: Anemic COPD patients show high erythropoietin levels, which may indicate presence of erythropoietin resistance. The latter may be mediated through inflammatory mechanisms, which is typical for anemia of chronic illness.
KW - Anemia
KW - COPD
KW - Inflammation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=15844378090&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=15844378090&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1378/chest.127.3.825
DO - 10.1378/chest.127.3.825
M3 - Article
C2 - 15764763
AN - SCOPUS:15844378090
VL - 127
SP - 825
EP - 829
JO - Chest
JF - Chest
SN - 0012-3692
IS - 3
ER -